Many women choose to become surrogates for friends or family members in order to help them realize their dream of a child. Other women pursue surrogacy in order to help strangers. No matter what your motivations, there are a few qualities that are necessary in order to become a good surrogate mother. If you are considering become a surrogate, these are some of the criteria for which you will be screened.
In general, surrogate mothers are young women in their twenties or early thirties. While some are outside this age range, this is considered to be the optimal window in terms of fertility and minimizing complications during pregnancy. For women who are over 35 but still in good health, surrogacy can still be an option, but may require more in vitro fertilization procedures before successfully conceiving.
It is incredibly important that you be in good health. This generally means that smokers are not considered, nor are those women who have sexually transmitted diseases or other chronic conditions. Most agencies require that women submit to a complete health screening, including a blood panel and physical. If you are applying to an agency, be prepared to go through this process.
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In addition to screening for physical health, most experts recommend that surrogate mothers undergo mental and psychological evaluations as well. Much of this is do to the fact that carrying a child for someone else can be a mentally taxing experience, and it is important that you understand this and prepare yourself before conception.
Many agencies and parents prefer to work with women who have already had children of their own. This way, they will know what to expect when pregnant, and are also less likely to change their minds about adoption.
If you feel like you fit these criteria, you should contact an agency in your area to talk about their screening process.