Not everyone can be a surrogate. It’s a hard journey full of rewards and challenges — which means you must be 100 percent prepared before you even start.
How can you ensure you are? By meeting important Florida surrogacy requirements.
Every surrogacy professional across the country sets requirements for gestational carriers, and American Surrogacy is no different. Your safety and well-being is of the utmost concern, and we want to make sure you’re ready before you commit to this journey. That’s why we require all women to meet certain surrogate qualifications in Florida (and elsewhere throughout the U.S.).
Below, you’ll find a brief description of three major surrogate requirements you’ll need to meet before getting started. However, we do allow exceptions to these requirements on a case-by-case basis. Call us today at 1-800-875-BABY(2229) to speak with a specialist and determine your eligibility.
1. Meet Basic Surrogacy Qualifications in Florida
Before even applying to our surrogacy program, you need to understand what our basic requirements for surrogacy in Florida are. These requirements have been developed by professionals with years of experience, who have seen exactly which characteristics indicate the best chance of success.
American Surrogacy sets our standard surrogate qualifications in Florida based on those of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. If you wish to be a surrogate with us (or any other agency), you must:
- Be between the ages of 21 and 38
- Have a healthy BMI, between 19 and 32
- Do not smoke (or be exposed to secondhand smoke) or use illicit drugs
- Have had at least one successful pregnancy with no major complications
- Be currently raising a child in your home
- Not be receiving state assistance
- Have had no tattoos or piercings within the last six months
- Not be on antidepressants or anti-anxiety medication for at least 12 months
- And more
We encourage you to read our full list of surrogate requirements if you are interested in this journey. Each of these qualifications play an important role in your health as a surrogate — ensuring that you can safely carry a pregnancy to term, that you are emotionally prepared for the ups and downs, and more.
Our specialists are happy to talk with you about our Florida surrogacy requirements. Give us a call or contact us online to learn more about these requirements and any exceptions that we may consider.
2. Work with Your Surrogacy Specialist
If you meet the basic surrogate requirements in Florida, we encourage you to fill out our preliminary application. This will get the ball rolling on your surrogacy journey!
Once we’ve reviewed your initial application, we will ask you to fill out a social and medical history form. This helps us get to know you better and will further confirm that you are eligible for surrogacy. We will also request additional documentation, including your insurance card and manual and a copy of your driver’s license.
Next, we will complete an in-home assessment. This can seem scary, but it’s really nothing to worry about. A social worker will visit your home to confirm it’s a safe environment for a healthy pregnancy. She will also sit down with you and your family members to talk about your preparedness for and emotions regarding surrogacy. It’s just one more way we make sure you meet our Florida surrogacy requirements and can safely move forward with surrogacy.
Finally, you will need to complete a mental health evaluation. Surrogacy can be an emotionally complicated journey, and this screening will help you prepare for it. You and your spouse (if applicable) will sit down with a mental health professional to talk about the emotions of surrogacy, the “what-ifs” that might occur, and the lifestyle changes you can expect.
Don’t worry — the cost of all of these screenings will be covered by our agency. And, when you pass them, you’ll be ready to finally match with intended parents!
3. Undergo Final Screening
After you find intended parents, there’s one more thing you have to do: complete final medical screening at their fertility clinic.
As we mentioned, every surrogacy professional has its own set of surrogacy requirements. While our surrogate mother requirements in Florida match up with most national agencies, some fertility clinics have different requirements. You’ll need to meet these to continue working with your chosen intended parents.
Typically, these screenings are no big deal. You’ll usually undergo:
- A physical exam (which may include a saline infusion sonohysterography)
- Blood testing
- A review of your personal and sexual history
You’ll talk with the intended parents’ reproductive endocrinologist ahead of time to know what to expect. And, once you receive a passing note from their doctor and finalize your partnership with a legal contract, you will start preparing for fertility medication and the eventual embryo transfer procedure. You’ll be closer than ever to achieving your surrogacy dreams!
---
While the surrogate mother requirements in Florida can seem like a lot, remember that they exist to protect you. Without proper preparation, gestational surrogacy can be dangerous. American Surrogacy wants to ensure all of our clients are safe before moving forward with this journey.
We are always happy to explain our agency’s surrogate qualifications in Florida to prospective gestational carriers like yourself. Learn more by calling us anytime at 1-800-875-BABY(2229) or contacting us online.