Becoming a surrogate gives you the opportunity to help intended parents experience the joy of parenthood. Before beginning your journey, understanding the requirements to be a surrogate can help you determine whether this path is right for you.
At American Surrogacy, our requirements are designed to protect your health and well-being throughout the process. Even if you're unsure whether you meet every qualification, our specialists can help you understand your eligibility and explore your next steps.
Why Are the Requirements to Become a Surrogate So Specific?
Surrogate requirements are designed to protect your health, the baby you carry and the intended parents throughout the surrogacy process. These standards are based on guidelines established by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) to help ensure a safer experience for everyone involved.
The requirements go beyond physical health. Your pregnancy history, mental well-being and personal circumstances all play a role in determining whether you're prepared for another pregnancy and the responsibilities of surrogacy.
Our screening process helps identify potential risks, reduce avoidable complications and ensure you have the support needed throughout your journey. Having a complicated medical history doesn't necessarily mean you can't qualify, but your health and safety will always come first.
Pregnancy History and Health Requirements
Your pregnancy history plays an important role in determining your eligibility. To qualify, you must have given birth to at least one child and be raising a child in a stable home environment.
Previous healthy pregnancies and deliveries help determine whether another pregnancy is medically appropriate. Complications such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes or premature delivery may affect your eligibility, but some circumstances can be reviewed individually.
Your overall health, current medications and history of C-sections are also considered. Certain medical conditions or multiple C-sections may increase pregnancy risks, which is why we carefully review your medical history during our surrogate screening process.
Surrogate BMI Requirements
To qualify as a surrogate, you must have a Body Mass Index (BMI) between 19 and 35. This requirement helps reduce potential health risks during fertility treatments and pregnancy.
BMI is considered during medical screening because it can affect how your body responds to fertility medications and your risk of pregnancy complications, including gestational diabetes and high blood pressure.
If your BMI falls outside this range, it doesn't necessarily mean you can't become a surrogate in the future. Once you meet the BMI requirement, you can reapply and have your eligibility reviewed again.
Mental Health Requirements for Becoming a Surrogate
Carrying a child for someone else is a significant emotional commitment. Our psychological screening process helps ensure you have the emotional stability, healthy coping skills and support system needed throughout your surrogacy journey.
Having a history of anxiety, depression or another mental health condition doesn't automatically disqualify you from becoming a surrogate. Your current emotional well-being, mental health history and any medications you're taking will be considered when determining your eligibility.
Can You Be a Surrogate if You Take Antidepressants or Anxiety Medication?
Taking medication for anxiety or depression doesn't permanently disqualify you from becoming a surrogate. However, our program requires you to be off these medications before beginning the medical process.
Certain medications may pose risks during pregnancy, which is why any changes to your treatment should be made with guidance from your prescribing doctor. They can help you safely taper off medication, if appropriate, while ensuring your mental health remains stable.
Never stop taking prescribed medication solely to qualify for surrogacy. Your health and well-being should always come first.
Lifestyle Requirements
Your daily habits and living environment play an important role in maintaining a healthy pregnancy. Surrogates must meet certain lifestyle requirements to help protect their health and the baby they carry. Key lifestyle requirements include:
- No Nicotine or Tobacco Use: You and everyone in your household must be smoke-free, including cigarettes, vaping, e-cigarettes and other tobacco products.
- No Recreational Drug or Marijuana Use: You must remain drug-free throughout the surrogacy process, including avoiding marijuana use even in states where it is legal.
- No Alcohol During Medical Cycles or Pregnancy: You must avoid alcohol once fertility medications begin and throughout your pregnancy.
- Stable Living Situation and Financial Independence: You must have safe housing, reliable transportation and a stable source of income without relying on government cash assistance.
These requirements help ensure you have a safe, stable environment and can consistently attend medical appointments, follow medication schedules and manage the responsibilities of surrogacy.
Surrogate Age Requirements
To qualify as a surrogate, you must be between 21 and 40 years old. These age requirements help ensure you're physically and emotionally prepared for the responsibilities of surrogacy.
The minimum age of 21 allows time to experience a previous pregnancy and develop the maturity needed for the process. The upper age limit of 40 reflects the increased risk of pregnancy complications, such as gestational diabetes, preeclampsia and high blood pressure, as women get older.
Your age is considered alongside your pregnancy history and overall health to help determine whether carrying another pregnancy is medically appropriate.
How Long Do You Need to Wait After Having a Baby?
You must wait at least six months after giving birth before beginning medical screening for surrogacy. This gives your body time to recover from pregnancy and delivery, allowing your uterus to heal and your hormone levels to return to normal.
You must also be finished breastfeeding before starting fertility medications, as breastfeeding can affect hormone levels and your menstrual cycle. Your cycle will need to return to a regular pattern before you can begin preparing for an embryo transfer.
However, you don't have to wait until you've fully recovered or stopped breastfeeding to explore surrogacy. You can begin the application process and speak with our specialists about your eligibility while preparing for the next steps.
What Happens During American Surrogacy’s Screening Process?
Our surrogate screening process helps ensure you're physically, emotionally and practically prepared for surrogacy. Each step allows us to review your qualifications, identify potential concerns and determine whether moving forward is appropriate for you.
Medical Record Review: ~1-5 weeks Background Check: ~1 week Psychological Evaluation: Results available in ~1 week Insurance Review: ~1 week
Once you've completed the necessary screening steps, you'll have a clearer understanding of your eligibility and what comes next.
What Can Disqualify You From Being a Surrogate?
Certain medical conditions, pregnancy complications and personal circumstances may prevent you from qualifying as a surrogate. While some requirements are firm, others depend on your individual health history and may require additional review. Common factors that can affect your eligibility include:
- No Previous Successful Pregnancy: You must have carried at least one pregnancy to term and be raising a child.
- Multiple Previous Deliveries: Having more than five previous births or three C-sections exceeds our program's requirements.
- Pregnancy Complications: A history of severe preeclampsia, premature delivery or other significant complications may require further medical evaluation.
- Chronic Health Conditions: Conditions such as uncontrolled diabetes, high blood pressure or heart disease may make another pregnancy unsafe.
- Mental Health Concerns: Certain unresolved mental health conditions or medications may affect your eligibility.
- Criminal History: Felony convictions or certain offenses involving household members may prevent approval.
- BMI Outside the Required Range: You must have a BMI between 19 and 35 to qualify.
Not meeting every requirement right now doesn't necessarily mean you can't become a surrogate in the future. Some factors, such as your BMI or recent pregnancy, may change over time, allowing you to reapply once you meet the requirements.
If you're unable to qualify, you can still help intended parents grow their families by participating in our surrogate referral program.
If You Qualify, How Much Can You Make as a Surrogate?
Becoming a surrogate is a meaningful commitment, and your compensation should reflect the time, effort and dedication involved. With American Surrogacy, you can earn $70,000–$110,000+ in total compensation, depending on your experience and individual circumstances.
Our surrogate compensation ranges include:
- First-Time Surrogates: $55,000–$65,000+ in base compensation.
- Experienced Surrogates: $70,000–$90,000+ in base compensation.
Your base compensation is the amount you receive for carrying the pregnancy, paid in monthly installments after a heartbeat is confirmed. Your total compensation also includes additional payments and allowances for expenses such as maternity clothing, travel and lost wages.
Your compensation is also negotiable based on your experience, location and individual circumstances. We work with you to determine a compensation amount that reflects your commitment, including considering higher qualifying offers when applicable.
How Many Times Can You Be a Surrogate?
There is no set limit on how many times you can be a surrogate, but your previous pregnancies and deliveries play an important role in determining your eligibility.
Based on guidelines from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), we cannot work with women who have had more than five total births or three C-sections. These limits include both your own pregnancies and any previous surrogate pregnancies.
Multiple pregnancies and C-sections can increase the risk of complications during future pregnancies. As long as you meet these requirements, your overall health and pregnancy history will be evaluated to determine whether another surrogacy journey is medically appropriate.
See If You Qualify to Become a Surrogate With American Surrogacy
Understanding the requirements to become a surrogate is the first step toward finding out whether this journey is right for you. Even if you're unsure about certain aspects of your medical or pregnancy history, our specialists can help you better understand your eligibility.
Fill out our online contact form today to see if you meet the requirements to become a surrogate and take the first step toward helping intended parents experience the joy of parenthood.