Become a Surrogate
Give the Ultimate Gift, with Support, Protection, and Advocacy
Become a surrogate with The Surrogacy Co., a boutique agency founded by a two-time surrogate. We work with surrogates (also called gestational carriers) in surrogacy-friendly states nationwide. First-time surrogates start at $50,000+ in base compensation, experienced surrogates set their own rate, and surrogacy never costs you money.
Surrogacy is a life-changing way to help another family grow. We specialize exclusively in gestational surrogacy: the embryo is created through IVF using the intended parents’ (or a donor’s) egg and sperm, then transferred to your uterus, so you have no genetic connection to the baby.
Our founder, Jenna Clarke, MPH, is a two-time surrogate. She has been exactly where you are, and she is here to advocate for you, protect you, and make sure you’re treated with respect and care. We keep our surrogate list small, so you’re treated like family, not a number.
“As a first-time surrogate, I can't imagine going through this with a larger agency. The support I've had from Jenna is next level. I always had my questions answered, and knew she was just a call or text away. I was always checked in on and never felt alone!”
— Laura, surrogate in Ohio
What Does a Surrogate Do?
A surrogate carries a pregnancy for intended parents who can't carry one themselves. After the embryo transfer, you receive prenatal care, attend medical appointments, follow your care team's guidance, and deliver the baby, who goes home with the intended parents. It asks a lot of your time, body, and heart, which is why we support you every step of the way.
Why Become a Surrogate with The Surrogacy Co.?
You set your compensation.
Experienced surrogates set their own rate and base compensation starts at $50,000+ for first-time surrogates.
Never pressured, never rushed.
We are methodical and considerate in matching, and you choose the intended parents you feel comfortable with.
A founder who’s walked your path.
Our founder is a two-time surrogate, a birth and postpartum doula, and a Master of Public Health.
Safe, ethical care.
We follow American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) guidelines for your health and safety, and we are members of SEEDS, the Society for Ethics in Egg Donation and Surrogacy.
Wherever you live.
We are based in Lexington, Kentucky, and work with surrogates in surrogacy-friendly states nationwide. If you are in Central Kentucky, we are right down the road!
Personal, one-to-one support
We support a small number of journeys each year, so you build a real relationship with our team, from your first phone call through your fourth-trimester recovery.
Surrogacy should never cost you money.
The intended parents cover the medical, insurance, and legal costs of your journey.
How to Become a Surrogate
Thinking about becoming a surrogate (you may have heard the older term "surrogate mother"; today the role is called a surrogate or gestational carrier) means carrying some big decisions, for yourself and your family. Our founder, Jenna, has been exactly where you are. We have put the answers in one place so you can decide what is right for you.
Becoming a surrogate starts with checking the requirements, then applying. From there your path runs through screening, matching with intended parents you choose, medical and legal clearance, embryo transfer, pregnancy, birth, and recovery.
If you’re ready to explore more of the details, explore our surrogate resource hub. We are here for you. If you have more questions, don’t be shy to contact us. We are here to talk through every question and concern.
Compensation & Benefits
Looking for the Best Surrogacy Agency?
Find the best fit for you.
There isn't one best surrogacy agency, because every agency operates a little differently. What matters is finding the agency that is best for you: your values, your family, and how you want to be treated. A few things to think about:
Pay you can read. Is the base pay clear up front, with every allowance spelled out, or do you have to negotiate and guess?
Who holds your money. How are payments managed and protected?
Who protects you legally. Will you have your own attorney who knows your state's surrogacy laws?
How matching feels. Does the agency respect your voice, your preferences, and how you like to communicate?
The support you want. Counseling, advocacy, and care after birth, or just a phone number?
How they treat you now. Are they warm, responsive, and unhurried, or pushy and hard to reach?
Questions to ask any agency, including us:
-
Good sign: a specific number or range, plus a written breakdown of what’s base pay and what’s separate (allowances, reimbursements, add-ons). They tell you plainly what, if anything, comes out of your base pay.
Worth a follow-up: a total that blends in insurance or costs paid on your behalf, “it depends” with no figure, or an answer that only comes after you apply.
-
Good sign: they name who holds the funds and how and when you’re paid, and they can explain what happens if the intended parents miss a payment. They also tell you whether the escrow company is independent of the agency.
Worth a follow-up: vague answers like “we take care of it,” or the agency holding funds itself without saying how they’re safeguarded.
-
Good sign: you get your own attorney, separate from the intended parents’ attorney, who works in reproductive law and knows your state’s rules on parentage. They tell you who pays for it and when you meet the attorney.
Worth a follow-up: one attorney “for everyone,” or no clear answer about which state’s laws apply to you.
-
Good sign: they walk you through each step (records, OB/GYN review, psychological evaluation, background checks) and explain what each is for. They’re also honest about what can disqualify someone.
Worth a follow-up: a single vague “we screen everyone,” or screening they can’t explain beyond “it’s required.”
-
Good sign: they have a clear, written answer for both: what happens to your compensation and support if a match ends, and what extra coverage applies if something goes wrong in the pregnancy. They don’t rush past the hard scenarios.
Worth a follow-up: “that rarely happens” with no specifics, or answers that change from one call to the next.
-
Good sign: a quick yes, and the chance to speak with someone whose experience was similar to yours. They don’t screen who you talk to or script the conversation.
Worth a follow-up: hesitation, only hand-picked testimonials, or “we can’t share that” with no explanation.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Our founder, Jenna Clarke, MPH, has been exactly where you are. Start your application, or start a conversation first. There is no pressure either way.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Yes. In gestational surrogacy, “surrogate” and “gestational carrier” describe the same role: a woman who carries a pregnancy without a genetic connection to the baby. Gestational carrier is the term most agencies use today.
-
Generally, surrogates are women who have had at least one full-term pregnancy without complications and are raising their own child(ren). You must also pass medical, psychological, and background screenings. See the full surrogate requirements.
-
Many women carry for a friend or family member. Every situation is different, though, and the right answer depends on your health, your relationship, and your state’s laws, so it’s worth talking it through with an expert before you decide. If you want an agency that supports the whole journey and helps you know what to expect, The Surrogacy Co. can help.
-
Yes. First-time surrogates start at $50,000+ in base compensation, and experienced surrogates set their own rate. Your full benefits package is confirmed in writing before you are matched. See compensation & benefits.
-
Yes. You have your own independent reproductive attorney, paid for by the intended parents, who reviews your contract and protects your interests before any medical procedures begin.
-
As a surrogate you have our team from your first call through your fourth-trimester recovery, plus a counselor for you and your spouse or partner. After the birth you receive postpartum resources and guidance from our doula team.
-
No. We are based in Lexington, Kentucky, and work with surrogates in surrogacy-friendly states nationwide. If you live in Central Kentucky, we are right down the road.