As you’re considering surrogacy for your family, you’ve probably come across something called surrogacy agencies. But, what exactly are they, and how do you know if one of these professionals is right for you?
Unlike with professional agencies in fields like adoption, defining what a surrogacy agency is can be a little trickier. Because the surrogacy and assisted reproductive technology field is still rather new and constantly changing, there are no state regulations for the organizations that provide these kind of services. Whereas “agency” is usually a term that is earned by meeting certain licensing standards, there is no set of requirements for surrogacy and ART professionals who want to use this term.
But this doesn’t mean that you should avoid working with surrogacy agencies; on the contrary, the majority of surrogacy agencies have well-developed programs that provide almost all the necessary services for intended parents and prospective surrogates — American Surrogacy’s being one of them.
Therefore, before you choose a surrogacy professional, you’ll need a full understanding of the options available to you. The most common will be an agency for surrogacy solutions.
What is a Surrogacy Agency?
As mentioned before, a surrogacy agency is a professional that provides a broad range of surrogacy services for intended parents and prospective surrogates. These services usually include matching, screening and background checks, case management, emotional and practical support and referrals to trusted legal and medical professionals to complete your surrogacy.
Despite their name, surrogacy agencies are not licensed by the state they operate in — but not because they’re ineffective or can’t complete a surrogacy safely. There is just no system in place currently for the regulation of surrogacy agencies.
That’s why you’ll see many professionals who provide all the services of a typical “surrogacy agency” describe themselves in other ways: a surrogacy group, a surrogacy center, a surrogacy program or a surrogacy clinic, to name a few. American Surrogacy is a surrogacy program that offers all the services you might expect from a surrogacy agency but uses the term “program” to be clear about the fact that we are not licensed by any state organization.
Why Work with a Surrogacy Agency?
Currently, surrogacy agencies and programs like American Surrogacy are usually the best option for intended parents and prospective surrogates. When you work with a surrogacy agency, you will be provided guidance every step of the way. These surrogacy professionals have developed a well-crafted process that makes it easy and efficient for those hoping to become parents through surrogacy and those hoping to become surrogates. For most people, this is a better option than navigating the surrogacy process on their own.
It’s important to know that most of these professionals are only gestational carrier agencies, meaning that they will only complete surrogacies where a surrogate is not genetically related to the child she’s carrying. If you’re looking for a traditional surrogacy agency, you may have to complete your surrogacy without a professional program because of the inherent risks of a traditional surrogacy.
However, for those who are seeking a gestational surrogacy agency, there are plenty of options. Like other surrogacy companies, American Surrogacy provides assistance through every step, including:
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Thoroughly vetting and screening all intended parents and prospective surrogates
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Using national outreach programs to find the perfect match for you
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Provide practical and emotional support and guidance through every step of the process
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Referring you to trusted legal professionals and medical professionals to complete what steps we cannot in-house
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Serving as your case manager throughout your entire surrogacy process
How Do I Find a Surrogacy Agency?
Whether or not it’s specifically stated in a surrogacy clinic’s materials, many professionals out there act as “surrogacy agencies,” providing all the same services without using this term to describe their program. When you search for a list of surrogate agencies online, you will likely be presented with many options. Deciding which one is best for you will depend on the information you can get from thoroughly researching and interviewing them.
If you’re looking for a surrogacy agency you can trust, American Surrogacy’s program may be the one for you. Our surrogacy professionals can offer you all the services you need and make sure that your surrogacy process is completed safely, legally and efficiently.
To learn more about the services we can provide you as part of our well-developed surrogacy program, please feel free to contact us today.