What is Surrogacy ?

Has had uncomplicated pregnancies and deliveries, as documented by medical records.

Is between 21-41 years of age.

Then, the intended parents will need to find a surrogacy agency that fits their needs. Getting referrals from their fertility doctor or clinic, their local RESOLVE chapter, or the psychologist who counseled them are possibilities to consider.

Typically have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of no higher than 33. Calculate My BMI.

Before choosing an agency, the intended parents should get references, speak with former clients of the agency (both surrogates and parents), research the agency, and have a meeting with an agency representative.

Is a citizen, legal resident or legal immigrant of the United States. If a surrogate is a legal resident or legal immigrant of the United States, the surrogate must be able to provide documentation that is valid for at least 2 years.

Once an agency is chosen, and a fee schedule for the agency is discussed and agreed upon, the intended parents will be shown surrogacy profiles that they agency feels may fit them best. When a surrogate is found that feels right for the parents, the surrogate may "meet" the parents via phone conference. If that goes well, an in-person meeting may take place next. (This is not always required, but highly suggested, even if travel is necessary.)

Does not participate in the following government aid programs: cash assistance, welfare, public housing and section 8. All other forms of government assistance will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Most important, it's not a good idea for you and the surrogate to share one lawyer. It may seem to save money, but it's not worth the risk that your (or your surrogate's) best interests are not fully represented.

Live in a surrogate-friendly state in the United States (we are very sorry but we cannot accept gestational carriers who reside in Nebraska, Louisiana, Michigan, or New York).

Once contracts are signed, fees are negotiated (part of the contract process), and all surrogacy payments have been put in an escrow account, you'll give all this information and paper work to your fertility clinic. Now, the surrogacy procedure itself can begin.

Has a valid driver’s license.

The gestational surrogate and the intended mother will have their cycles put in sync with birth control pills and then hormonal injections. Once the treatment cycle begins, the intended mother will go through the beginnings of IVF treatment, which involves injections to stimulate the ovaries and monitoring through ultrasound and blood work.

Has the support of her family. If married or partnered, the surrogate must have her partner’s support. Also, the surrogate and her partner/primary support person must agree to participate in a social work screening.

In the meantime, the surrogate will take hormones to help prepare her uterus for embryo transfer.

Is willing to travel for IVF process. Please note, often these trips include overnight stays.

On the day of the egg retrieval, the intended father will provide a semen sample to the clinic. The retrieved eggs will be combined with the sperm of the intended father. Any resulting embryos will be watched for a few days, to determine their viability.

Does not use illegal drugs, smoke cigarettes, or abuse alcohol.

Then, three to five days after the retrieval, a carefully chosen number of embryos will be transferred to the surrogate's uterus. She may need to take hormonal supplements in the form of injections or suppositories to help support the pregnancy.

If the cycle is successful, once a heartbeat has been detected, the surrogate will be cared for by her regular OB/GYN. There may be communication between the intended parents and surrogate, either directly or through a mediator, throughout the pregnancy. The level and kind of communication should have been agreed to before the surrogacy arrangement, so the parents do not feel left out and the surrogate does not feel micro-managed or overwhelmed.

As the time of birth arrives, the surrogate may need to relocate temporarily to another state or country, where surrogacy arrangements are legally recognized. This may not be needed if the surrogate already lives in a surrogacy friendly state or country, and ideally, it's best to choose a surrogate in a surrogacy friendly place.

Surrogate mothers are special, selfless women who have a passion for helping others and bringing joy to intended parents

All this should have been arranged and agreed upon during the contract process, with the help of the lawyers.

At Circle Surrogacy, we implement a thorough surrogate screening process to ensure that surrogates are physically healthy and mentally prepared to carry the intended parents’ child.

Surrogates help intended parents from a wide variety of backgrounds:

• Heterosexual couples who have struggled with infertility
• Intended mothers who are unable to carry a child