FAQ: Answers to Surrogate Mothers' Most-Asked Questions

Surrogate requirements may vary by agency. At Reproductive Possibilities, here are general criteria for women who wish to become surrogate mothers:

• Have given birth before (with no medical complications, and no more than 3 c-sections)
• Be a non-smoker
• Be between the ages of 21 to 44 years old (exceptions may be made for experienced surrogates)
• Have a BMI (Body Mass Index) of 18 to 33
• Must live in the U.S. (we do not currently work with women from HI, LA, MI, AK)

We review all surrogate applications on a case-by-case basis. If you’re interested in applying to become a surrogate, you can fill out our Surrogate Application.

Gestational surrogacy uses an embryo created outside of the surrogate mother’s body, and the embryo is then implanted into the surrogate’s uterus. Using IVF, intended parents can establish a biological relationship to the child by using their own sperm and/or eggs. The eggs are fertilized in an IVF facility outside of the woman’s body, and the embryo is transferred to the gestational carrier’s uterus. Intended parents may also use donor eggs and/or donor sperm to make their embryos.

Traditional surrogacy, meaning that the surrogate mother is biologically related to the baby, and gestational surrogacy, where the surrogate is not related.

The first step in the process of becoming a surrogate mother is to complete our Surrogate Application. Once it's complete, someone on our team will begin their review of your application and set up a time to speak with you to get answers to any initial questions and get a better sense of your interest in surrogacy. You can get a full step by step breakdown of our surrogacy process here.

Yes! Many of the surrogate mothers we've supported, who are U.S. residents from states like Georgia, Ohio, Wisconsin, Texas, and Pennsylvania, come back for another surrogate journey, either with new intended parents or, sometimes, for what we call an “Encore Journey” with the intended parents you worked with previously. Some even have the opportunity for additional journeys when they have safe and healthy deliveries.

Your wait time to match depends on your preference for intended parents and your physical and medical preparedness to proceed. You will have a shorter wait time if you have no restrictions for the parents and a healthy physical and medical background. We estimate that a match can be made within a couple of weeks from the time your profile has been completed.

Yes! A common misconception is that if your tubes are tied, that you are not able to get pregnant. While that may be true when trying to conceive naturally, it IS still possible to carry a pregnancy if your tubes are tied. Whether your tubes are tied, cauterized, or cut – you can STILL be a gestational surrogate!

There is no difference between these types of surrogate! They are actually just different terms used to describe a woman who carries a child conceived through the process of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) where the child is not biologically related to the carrier.

Becoming a parent through surrogacy can be a scary process for Intended Parents. Typically, they’ve been on this journey to parenthood for some time and have experienced losses and/or heartbreaks along the way. Reproductive Possibilities, like most agencies and clinics, want to provide these parents with the best possible option that will allow for a healthy and successful pregnancy and delivery. Having a BMI that is considered too high or too low can present an increased risk of complications for both you and baby.

Women who apply to become surrogates can choose between working with an agency or working independently. Many women choose to work with an agency, who not only coordinates their entire journey, but who also helps match them with intended parents and provide support throughout their journeys.