What Are The Two Screening Procedures For Surrogate Qualifications?

Becoming a surrogate is a wonderful journey for women who partake in it. Women who walk this path can build and foster a meaningful relationship with the intended parents. Surrogates provide hope to people that they can still build their families despite some medical impossibility. It is an emotional process filled with complexities. It is undeniable that surrogacy has a good compensation package to the surrogates. However, the compensation can be seen as a reward. Many women are interested in the process which is why it is important to know about the details of the procedure. Any woman who considers becoming a gestational carrier must meet the surrogate qualifications.

Not to bash anyone’s hopes but not all women can become a surrogate. Surrogacy is a procedure that needs a great deal of commitment, energy, and time. Surrogates must be fully prepared before she proceeds with the procedure. This is why certain requirements for surrogate mothers exist. The qualification is mandated to ensure that every candidate is physically, emotionally, and medically prepared for the journey that lasts up to a year.

Traditional surrogacy involves the surrogate becoming the biological mother of the child since the sperm was inseminated to her egg. This procedure is not too prevalent compared to gestational surrogacy where the surrogate only lends her womb and has no biological relations to the child. Surrogate qualifications may vary from each agency. Anyone interested in becoming a surrogate must contact a surrogate professional to guide them in the process.

Every agency has their right to list their gestational carrier requirements. Still, many surrogacy agencies follow the set guidelines made by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Professionals in the assisted reproduction field came together to set the guidelines that needed to be met by gestational carriers. Their standards help predict a woman’s successful pregnancy and delivery.

There is a list of surrogate qualifications that can be broken down into two categories namely, physical or medical and psychological or emotional tests.

Physical or Medical Requirements

Becoming a surrogate is a noble act but it also comes with risks. Having a pregnancy of one’s own child Is already difficult on its own, let alone carrying a stranger’s child. The medical qualifications are set to ensure that a candidate can go through the gestational pregnancy while having minimal risks to the child and the surrogate.

The physical qualifications include:

– At least 21 years old and not older than 40. Different agencies have their variations of the age but they never go lower or higher than the aforementioned age limit.

– Have a previous successful pregnancy in full-term and delivery.

– Have a healthy body mass index which is determined by the doctor.

– Raising a child in her own home.

– No major problems and complications in past pregnancies.

– Not taking anti-anxiety or anti-depressant medications in the last 12 months.

– Do not have any new piercings or tattoos within the 12 months of going into the process.

 Meeting these qualifications is a good step towards becoming a potential candidate for surrogacy. An interested candidate must contact a surrogacy specialist to see if she fits the qualifications. Nonetheless, if the woman has no previous pregnancy experience, it will be almost impossible to look for a surrogacy clinic that will approve the candidate.

Psychological Qualifications: Mental and Emotional

Even if the candidate was able to meet the medical requirements, she needs to pass the psychological qualifications of a surrogate mother. This test is made due to the psychological and emotional challenges that may occur during the gestational pregnancy. Becoming a surrogate would need a commitment from the woman and her family to a partnership with the intended parents. It will consume the surrogate’s time. Hormonal changes can affect a woman’s emotional levels. It is rare for surrogates to become attached to the child she is carrying but there are some instances that she might have conflicting emotions about the pregnancy. This is why being in a healthy emotional state is important for a candidate.

Screening Process

At this stage, the candidate will fill out some paperwork confirming their eligibility. At this point, a surrogacy specialist will discuss the process and answer any questions that the candidate might have. The process would usually start from a mental health evaluation, probably with the surrogate’s husband. Once a match is made, a medical screening will be made to ensure that the qualifications are met. After the screening process has been met, the medical procedures will be started and a surrogacy contract will be signed by the surrogate.

The best way to learn about the process and the surrogate qualifications is by contacting a dependable surrogacy agency. They will have a specialist that will guide the interested applicant through the process.