Building your family through surrogacy in New York requires a partner who meets the state’s highest standards. The screening process is the most critical step, ensuring your surrogate is medically, emotionally, and legally prepared.
At American Surrogacy, we’re among the few national agencies licensed by the NYS Department of Health. Our rigorous screening process is designed for New York intended parents who value efficiency, transparency, and clinical excellence. We minimize failed matches so you can move forward with confidence.
Your path to parenthood should feel clear, supported, and secure. We are here to help you find a surrogate who is fully prepared for the journey ahead.
The Surrogate Screening Process in New York
The surrogate screening process in New York is a comprehensive, evaluation designed to verify a candidate's medical health, psychological stability, and legal eligibility under the Child-Parent Security Act (CPSA). This evaluation occurs in distinct stages to ensure that only the most qualified gestational carriers proceed to the matching phase.
In New York, surrogacy is highly regulated to protect all parties involved. Surrogates must meet specific health and history requirements before she can even be considered a candidate to ensure a stable pregnancy for your child.
Step 1: Pre-Screening With American Surrogacy
American Surrogacy conducts an exhaustive preliminary review of every surrogate to ensure they meet basic requirements before they are ever presented to intended parents. This initial surrogate screening process includes a review of their pregnancy history, lifestyle, and a professional surrogate psych screening.
By handling this surrogate preliminary screening upfront, we ensure that you are only viewing profiles of women who are truly ready for this commitment.
Step 2: Medical Records Review at Your Fertility Clinic
Once you identify a potential match, your fertility clinic conducts a deep-dive review of the surrogate’s obstetric and medical records to determine if she is a viable candidate for your specific journey. This step is a critical component of the surrogate medical screening that occurs before any travel or invasive testing takes place.
This review typically involves:
- Obstetric Records: Your reproductive endocrinologist (REI) examines records from every previous birth to look for signs of complications like preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, or preterm labor.
- Physician Clearance: The candidate provides a letter of clearance from her OBGYN stating that she is healthy and capable of carrying another pregnancy to term.
- Clinic Alignment: Every fertility clinic has slightly different standards. We facilitate the transfer of these records to your chosen clinic to ensure the surrogate meets their specific medical threshold.
Step 3: Surrogate Medical Clearance Appointment at Your Fertility Clinic
This is the definitive green light required before a surrogacy agreement can be signed or any embryo transfer can occur. During this appointment, the clinic typically performs:
- Infectious Disease Testing: Both the surrogate and her primary partner are tested for various infectious diseases.
- Uterine Evaluation: This may include a saline sonogram or hysteroscopy to ensure the uterine environment is optimal for embryo implantation.
- Drug and Nicotine Screening: Clinics perform rigorous screenings to ensure a healthy, substance-free environment for the pregnancy.
- Lab Work: Comprehensive blood panels are conducted to check hormone levels and general health markers.
Why Surrogate Screening Matters
Thorough pre-screening creates a safer, more efficient surrogacy journey by reducing uncertainty and preventing avoidable setbacks. It allows intended parents to move forward with greater confidence, knowing key risks have already been addressed.
Early screening identifies medical, psychological, and legal concerns before they cause delays. Reduce the risk of starting over due to late-stage disqualifications. Pre-qualified surrogates are more likely to receive final medical clearance. Fewer surprises means a smoother, more stable journey to parenthood.
Thorough screening also protects the surrogate. By ensuring she is physically and mentally prepared, we uphold the standards of the Gestational Surrogates' Bill of Rights, a cornerstone of New York surrogacy law.
How We Help Protect Your Journey Even Further
Thorough screening is one of the most important ways to reduce risk in surrogacy. But even with the right preparation, unexpected challenges can still arise. That’s why the structure of your program matters just as much as the screening itself.
At American Surrogacy, we offer two program options designed to support different needs while helping you move forward faster. Both programs are built around efficient matching timelines and a carefully managed process that avoids unnecessary delays.
Foundation Program
A flexible, lower upfront cost option with a traditional structure. This approach can keep overall costs lower if everything progresses smoothly, but may require additional investment if rematching or multiple transfers are needed.
Limited Risk Program
A premium option designed to protect your investment. This program includes financial safeguards related to screening, matching, and certain case management services, helping you stay on track even if your journey takes an unexpected turn.
By combining thorough screening with the right program structure, you gain both a strong start and added protection throughout your journey.
Do All Agencies in New York Pre-Screen Surrogates?
While New York law requires certain protections, not all agencies complete the full surrogate screening process before introducing a surrogate to intended parents. Many agencies wait until after a match is made to begin psychological or medical reviews, which often leads to restarts and heartbreak if the candidate fails to meet clinic standards.
At American Surrogacy, we believe that presenting a fully vetted candidate is essential for the protection of intended parents. As a licensed surrogacy agency in New York, we adhere to strict oversight and choose to complete a significant portion of the surrogate medical screening and psychological evaluations in advance.
When you see a surrogate profile through our program, you can trust that:
- She has already passed a professional psychological evaluation.
- Her background checks are clear.
- Her health and pregnancy history have been vetted against industry standards.
How Long Does the Screening Process Take in New York?
The surrogate screening process generally takes between two to four months from the initial application to final medical clearance, though this timeline can vary based on medical record retrieval and clinic availability.
While this upfront investment of time may seem lengthy, it prevents much longer delays and restarts that occur when screening is skipped or delayed. The timeline is typically broken down as follows:
- Weeks 1-6: Application, preliminary interview, and collection of initial medical and social history.
- Weeks 6-10: Psychological evaluation, background checks, and the formal retrieval and review of obstetric records.
- Weeks 10-16: Coordination with the intended parents' fertility clinic for the final in-person medical clearance appointment.
By the time you are ready to sign a contract, the surrogate is already fully vetted. This thorough vetting ensures that New York families begin their legal and medical process with a qualified partner.
Find a Fully Screened Surrogate in New York
Building your family through surrogacy is a meaningful and life-changing experience. It is a journey shaped by trust, intention, and the people you choose to be part of it. Having the right support in place from the beginning can make that path feel more certain and steady.
At American Surrogacy, we combine New York expertise with a rigorous screening process designed to protect your journey. Every surrogate is carefully evaluated for medical, emotional, and legal readiness. This allows you to move forward with greater clarity and focus on preparing for your growing family.
Fill out our online contact form to connect with a specialist and learn how we help protect your path to parenthood while finding the right match in New York.