Why Are There So Many Criteria for Becoming a Surrogate? [3 Reasons]

As you begin your surrogacy journey, you’ll notice there are a lot of requirements you will have to meet before you can get started.  You might be asking “Why are there so many surrogate qualifications?”

While wanting to help a person or couple make their dreams of having a child a reality shows that you have a compassionate heart, surrogacy isn’t for everyone. Carrying a child for someone else is a big commitment and is a decision that should not be made lightly. That’s why many agencies have so many surrogate qualifications in place. These requirements make sure that all the surrogates they work with are emotionally, mentally and physically prepared for the twists and turns of the surrogacy process.

Not only is meeting these rules for becoming a surrogate an indicator of a good surrogate, but they also ensure that everyone involved in the process is protected. Surrogate qualifications help everyone stay on the same page and instill a sense of security. While having so many qualifications may seem intimidating and maybe even annoying at times, they are for the benefit of everyone embarking on this journey together.

Requirements may vary from agency to agency, so it’s important that you do your own research and look into the specific qualifications of the professional you are pursuing. Don’t hesitate to ask questions. Your surrogacy professional will be happy to answer them and walk you through the various qualifications to become a surrogate and explain the reasoning behind them.

So, what are the qualifications to be a surrogate mother? To get the answers you need, contact a surrogacy professional today, or continue reading below to learn about the three important ways surrogacy qualifications protect all parties.

1. Qualifications to Become a Surrogate Protect You and the Baby

Even though choosing to be a surrogate is a choice you are making to help a grateful individual or couple have a child of their own, your health and safety is still a priority.  Carrying a child for someone else is a beautiful journey, but as with any pregnancy, there are still risks and challenges involved. Many of the requirements in place ensure that you are healthy enough to safely carry a pregnancy to term.

Certain gestational surrogate qualifications such as medical screening, age limits and having had a pregnancy with no major complications ensure that your physical wellbeing will be protected. Your surrogacy professional will always look out for your best interests. If you find yourself at odds with any of these requirements, just remember that they are not meant to keep you from being a surrogate, but to protect your physical and mental health.

Being mentally healthy during the surrogacy process is just as important as your physical health. You and any other adults living in the home will go through a psychological screening to ensure that you are in a good headspace to take on the responsibilities that come with being a surrogate and that you are prepared for the ups and downs of the surrogacy process.

So while the many requirements may seem intimidating, they are there for a reason.  When it comes to being a surrogate, your mental and physical safeties are a top priority.

2. Surrogate Qualifications Give Intended Parents Peace of Mind

Many intended parents pursuing surrogacy are doing so after months or years of trying for a child. The heartbreak that accompanies infertility can be devastating and for many, surrogacy is their last chance to have a biological child of their own.  They are ready to have the family of their dreams and don’t want to experience any more setbacks.

Having to qualify as surrogate mother guarantees that the intended parents will be working with a woman who is the most likely candidate to help them successfully have a child.. All the medical screenings are to ensure that you will have a healthy and successful pregnancy so that they can have the child they have always dreamed of having, with as little chance of failure as possible.

It’s important that you are completely honest during your application and screening process. Trying to bypass any of the requirements your agency has in place could come with devastating consequences. You are the intended parents’ key to having the child they may not have been able to have otherwise. It’s important that, if you are going to carry a child for someone else, you are 100% qualified to do so.

3. Surrogacy Criteria Protects the Surrogacy Professional

The job of surrogacy professionals like agencies, attorneys and fertility clinics is to give everyone involved a positive surrogacy experience and to protect the best interests of all parties. To do this, they must be certain that the surrogate they are working with is physically, mentally and emotionally capable of completing the surrogacy process. By asking you to meet certain requirements, there is a higher chance of you having a healthy and successful pregnancy. This allows surrogacy professionals to avoid legal complications, operate within your state’s guidelines and provide you with any additional support you need.

The best surrogacy professionals will always want the best for you. If you have any questions or concerns about the requirements in place, never hesitate to ask. A good surrogacy professional will always be happy to provide you with any information you need to give you a better understanding of the process. If you’re interested in becoming a surrogate or want to learn more about the qualifications to be a gestational surrogate reach out to a surrogacy professional today.