Wondering what it takes to be a surrogate in Texas?
Well, it’s a bit more than just time and energy. You have to meet some important requirements before starting.
If you’re wondering whether you are eligible to be a gestational carrier, please contact American Surrogacy today. Our surrogacy specialists are well-experienced in the surrogate requirements in Texas and elsewhere across the U.S. They are here to make sure that surrogacy will be a positive experience for you — and that starts with making sure you are 100% ready for this journey.
Contact our agency for more information about the basic requirements to be a surrogate today. In the meantime, learn about the three basic surrogate mother requirements in Texas below.
Step 1: Meet Our Program’s Rules to Be a Surrogate Mother in Texas
When women consider becoming gestational carriers, they often have a few big questions:
What are the health requirements for surrogacy?
How old do you have to be to be a surrogate mother in Texas?
What if I don’t meet all the requirements; are there ever exceptions to the rules?
Surrogate requirements in Texas may seem extensive, but it’s for good reason. Being a surrogate means voluntarily undergoing physical and emotional stressors to carry a child for someone else — so a woman must first prove she can handle those responsibilities before being accepted for this process.
Over the years, surrogacy professionals (including American Surrogacy) have developed basic surrogacy requirements that best indicate the future success of a prospective surrogate. In order to be a gestational carrier, you must:
- Be between the ages of 21–38
- Have a BMI between 19–32
- Have already carried a successful pregnancy to term with no complications
- Be raising a child in your own home
- Have waited at least six months from your last delivery
- Be able to travel as needed for surrogacy appointments
- Not be receiving state assistance
- Have no tattoos or piercings in the last six months
- Have not been on anti-depressants or anti-anxiety medication in the last 12 months
Remember: These are just the basic surrogate mother requirements in Texas. Each requirement serves a purpose in protecting a woman and her intended parents from the risks and liabilities of the surrogacy process. While exceptions to these base requirements may be made, only a surrogacy professional can determine if being a gestational carrier is a safe path for you.
Step 2: Meet With Our Surrogacy Professionals.
If you meet the basic surrogate requirements for Texas, you can always contact our surrogacy professionals to get started. Our specialists are happy to answer whatever questions you have about being a gestational surrogate — including whether exceptions can be made for certain requirements you don’t meet.
At American Surrogacy, our goal is making sure that every surrogate feels comfortable and supported every step of the way. That starts with ensuring that every prospective surrogate can safely pursue the gestational surrogacy process.
When you contact our agency, we will start the preliminary screening process to be a surrogate in Texas. You will need to submit your initial medical and social history forms, which we’ll use to confirm you have what it takes to be a surrogate in Texas. We will also run background checks on you and your spouse (if applicable) and schedule an in-home assessment with a licensed social worker. This is to ensure a safe home environment while you are pregnant with the intended parents’ child.
The steps to be approved can seem overwhelming at the start — but they are crucially important to preparing you and your family for the challenges ahead. Our specialists will always be happy to answer your questions and further explain the purpose behind each of our surrogacy requirements in Texas.
Step 3: Complete Medical and Psychological Screening.
There is one more step in ensuring that you meet the rules to be a surrogate mother in Texas: You must undergo medical and psychological screenings.
First: the psychological screening. You and your spouse (if applicable) will meet with a mental health professional. This screening will be more like a conversation; the professional will ask you questions about and discuss with you your understanding of the surrogacy process. They may talk about how you will feel during pregnancy and after delivery, as well as what your surrogacy journey will mean to the rest of your family. They’ll go over the “what-ifs” of surrogacy to ensure that you are 100% comfortable with the challenges and responsibilities ahead of you.
You will also need to ensure you are 100% medically ready for the process of surrogacy — determined from a thorough medical screening. You will undergo this screening at your intended parents’ fertility clinic, where a doctor will:
- Review your personal and sexual history
- Complete a physical exam, including an examination of your uterus
- Test your blood and urine
- And more, depending on your medical history
All of these steps will confirm that your body is ready for pregnancy and the additional medical steps of the surrogacy process. If the doctor clears you, you will be officially cleared as a gestational carrier in the Lone Star State!
We know that surrogacy requirements in Texas can be confusing. That’s why we’re here to help. Want to know if you would qualify or not? Contact our surrogacy specialists at 1-800-875-BABY(2229). They can answer all of your remaining questions about surrogate mother requirements in Texas and help you start your screening process whenever you are ready.