Surrogate Requirements

To become a surrogate with The Surrogacy Co., you need to be 21–42, healthy, a non-smoker, and have had at least one full-term pregnancy and delivery without complications. You also need a stable, supportive home and to pass medical, psychological, and background screenings. The checklist below has the full list.

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Surrogate Criteria checklist

Here is a quick-glance view of the basic requirements to qualify as a gestational carrier:

Age

21–42 (experienced surrogates may be older with physician approval)

Delivery History

At least one full-term delivery without complications

Finances

Financially stable (certain types of government assistance may make you ineligible)

Screenings

You, your spouse/partner, and any adults in your home pass a criminal background check

Medication

Comfortable giving yourself injectable medications and following a strict protocol before embryo transfer and through the first trimester

Health

Non-smoker, excellent health, BMI 19–32

Home and lifestyle

Stable, low-stress, supportive home environment

Residency

U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or legal right to work in the U.S., living in a surrogacy-friendly state

Transportation

Reliable transportation to medical appointments

What to know before you apply | Requirements in detail

Your surrogacy journey matters to us. As a two-time surrogate herself, our founder, Jenna, believes you deserve to know exactly what’s expected before you take a single step. No fine print, no surprises. Here’s what each requirement means and why it’s there.

You must be between 21 and 42, a non-smoker, and in excellent health with a BMI between 19 and 32. Your home should be smoke-free, and you need to be free of drugs and alcohol. Experienced surrogates may be older with physician approval.
We know that’s a lot of boxes to check. Being in optimal health helps everyone have a safer experience, and we take these evaluations very seriously for everyone involved: you, the baby, and the intended parents.
You must have delivered at least one child full-term without major complications and no more than five prior vaginal births or three prior c-sections.
You’ve been through pregnancy and delivery before, so you know what it asks of your body, and so do your doctors. That experience is the best predictor we have of how a surrogate pregnancy will go, and it helps you make an informed choice.
A psychological evaluation is part of every application. You must be free from mental health diagnoses and off all mental health medications for at least 12 months.
This isn’t a test to pass. Surrogacy is emotionally demanding as well as physical, and the evaluation helps make sure you feel supported and ready, and that the journey is right for you.
You need a stable, supportive home. Emotional support from a partner or family member is strongly encouraged. You must also be financially stable, and some types of government assistance may affect eligibility.
Surrogacy works best when you can focus on your pregnancy without extra stress. Having people around who understand what you’re doing makes a real difference, and we advise this from personal experience.
You, your spouse or partner, and any adults in your home must be able to pass a criminal background check. You also need to be free from infectious diseases or treatable STIs for the previous 12 months.
We screen everyone in the household because a surrogate pregnancy involves your home as much as you. These checks protect everyone.
You need reliable transportation to medical appointments, and you must be comfortable giving yourself injectable medications on a strict schedule before embryo transfer and through the first trimester.
Both are practical, and neither is a barrier we expect you to figure out alone. If either worries you, tell us. We would rather talk it through than have you wonder.

What surrogate screening involves, and why we do it

Screening is how we make sure a surrogate is physically, mentally, and emotionally ready to carry a pregnancy. The requirements above describe who is likely to have a healthy, safe journey, and screening confirms it for you, for the baby, and for the intended parents. It isn’t meant to catch you out. It’s there so you can step into this with confidence, and so can everyone counting on you.

Here’s what it involves:

Your application and medical records. We start by learning your health and pregnancy history.
Your OB/GYN’s approval. Your own doctor confirms you can safely carry a surrogacy pregnancy.
A psychological evaluation. A conversation with a professional to make sure you feel prepared and supported.
Background checks. For you and any adults in your home.

After that, your intended parents’ fertility clinic completes the final medical clearance. See how the surrogate process works, step-by-step.

About ASRM guidelines and final eligibility

Our criteria are based on guidance from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). Final eligibility is decided through our review process and by the fertility clinic and the medical, psychological, and legal professionals involved. Meeting the preliminary criteria does not guarantee acceptance or medical clearance.