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Surrogacy FAQs

Becoming a gestational surrogate is a major decision and comes with many questions. Below, we’ve answered the most common questions we hear from prospective surrogates exploring the surrogacy process, from surrogate requirements and compensation to medical, legal, and lifestyle considerations.

Intended parents can find answers on our dedicated FAQ page for intended parents.

Surrogate Requirements

To become a surrogate with Guided Surrogacy Solutions, we look for the following:

  • You enjoy being pregnant and have had uncomplicated pregnancies and deliveries.
  • You have completed your own family and aren’t planning future pregnancies.
  • You have had no more than five live births and no more than two miscarriages.
  • You are between the ages of 21 and 43. Applicants 40 and older may need additional clearances.
  • Your BMI is under 35.
  • You are nicotine and drug free.
  • You are financially stable and do not receive government assistance such as cash assistance, welfare, public housing, or Section 8.

We are unable to work with surrogates who have a history of any of the following:

  • Severe preeclampsia
  • Postpartum hemorrhage requiring a blood transfusion
  • Preterm labor before 35 weeks
  • A blood clotting disorder
  • Insulin-dependent gestational diabetes
  • Physician-ordered bed rest

IVF clinics set their own BMI guidelines, which can vary. These guidelines exist for health reasons and to ensure your body responds well to the necessary medications and to reduce the risk of pregnancy complications. A BMI below 35 is generally required to become a surrogate.

Yes. Because your eggs are not used during the IVF process to create embryos, you can still become a gestational surrogate if your tubes are tied. There is no biological relationship between you and the child you are carrying.

Divorce does not disqualify you from becoming a surrogate, however we do require a copy of your divorce decree to proceed. If you are currently going through a divorce or separation, we recommend waiting until the process is complete before applying.

It’s important to have your IUD removed before we match you with intended parents. We can help you plan for this and work with your OBGYN to schedule the removal.

We welcome breastfeeding moms to apply, and we’ll work with you to find a timeline that suits your needs.

Choosing the Right Surrogacy Agency

Look for an agency that prioritizes transparency around surrogate compensation, provides you with your own independent legal representation, holds all funds in a secure escrow account, and offers personalized support throughout the surrogacy process.

It’s also worth asking how many surrogates and intended parents the agency works with at a time, what the prescreening and matching process looks like, and whether you’ll have a dedicated point of contact and case manager from start to finish.

Our team connects you with intended parents who genuinely respect and appreciate the selflessness of surrogacy, and you’ll have access to personal support. Your professional and compassionate surrogate case manager will be there for you every step of the way, and you’ll receive ongoing psychological guidance to help you process your thoughts and emotions throughout the journey.

You’ll also have the opportunity to connect with a wonderful community of fellow surrogates, meet new friends, and bond with others who have been through the process before.

We strictly follow ethical practices, so you can have peace of mind knowing you’ll have your own independent attorney and escrow agent. In addition to transparent and competitive surrogate compensation, you’ll receive a full benefits package designed to reflect the significance of what you’re doing.

The Surrogacy Process

A gestational surrogate is a person who carries a pregnancy for another person or couple. The pregnancy is created through IVF using the intended parents’ embryo, which means there is no biological connection between the surrogate and the baby they carry.

The surrogacy process unfolds in two stages: prescreening and matching. During prescreening, you’ll complete an application, have your medical records reviewed, go through a background check, complete a psychosocial evaluation, and have your insurance reviewed.

Once cleared, you’ll move into matching, where you’ll connect with potential intended parents, complete medical screening at their fertility clinic, finalize a legal agreement, and begin the IVF medication and transfer process.

Most surrogates complete the prescreening stage within one to three months. From there, timelines vary based on matching and medical factors, but many surrogates deliver within 12 to 18 months of starting their application.

You’ll need to travel to the intended parents’ fertility clinic approximately twice, once for medical screening and once for the embryo transfer. If you live within commuting distance, you’ll also visit the clinic for lab work and ultrasounds up to 12 weeks of pregnancy. If you don’t live nearby, arrangements will be made to have your monitoring done at a fertility clinic closer to your home.

Not at all. We work with surrogates and intended parents throughout Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, and Maryland. Reach out and we can talk through whether we’re the right fit for you.

Working With Intended Parents

Intended parents are the individuals or couples who will become the legal parents of a child born through surrogacy. They may pursue surrogacy for a variety of reasons, including infertility, medical conditions, or as same-sex couples building their families.

Guided Surrogacy Solutions works with all types of couples and individuals who wish to become parents. We do not discriminate against age, ethnic background, marital status, or sexual orientation. It is required to have consent from an IVF clinic to pursue surrogacy.

Our intended parents are located throughout Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio, New York, and New Jersey.

Yes. You’ll see the intended parents’ profile first, and you get to decide whether you’d like to move forward.

If there’s mutual interest, we’ll arrange a match meeting so both sides can connect, ask questions, and make sure the relationship feels right. We have an exceptional track record: to date, every match call has moved forward.

Surrogate Compensation

Surrogates at Guided Surrogacy Solutions can expect a starting base compensation of $60,000, received in 8 installments throughout the pregnancy. Your full surrogate compensation package also includes a monthly allowance, milestone payments, maternity allowances, life insurance, and covered counseling, among other benefits.

Base compensation is paid in 8 installments throughout the pregnancy, and your monthly allowance begins at legal clearance and continues through 2 months postpartum. All funds are held in an independent escrow account managed by a neutral third party, so your payments are secure and distributed on schedule.

Base compensation refers to the minimum fee paid to the surrogate for fulfilling their surrogacy agreement, excluding any additional payments tied to milestones or contingencies. This payment begins at heartbeat confirmation and is separated into monthly payments throughout the pregnancy.

The base compensation package includes not only that amount, but also additional payments a surrogate is entitled to receive upon completing specific milestones outlined in their agreement, such as the start of medication, embryo transfer, and a non-accountable monthly allowance.

The base compensation package does not include any contingent compensation payments.

Contingent compensation describes additional payments that may or may not apply depending on certain circumstances during the journey.

Examples include:

  • Doctor-ordered bed rest
  • Pumping Breast Milk
  • Lost wages
  • Cesarean section
  • Loss of reproductive organs
  • Invasive procedures
  • Miscarriage
  • Multiple gestation

See our contingent compensation examples for a sample breakdown.

Tax treatment of surrogate compensation can vary depending on your individual situation. We recommend consulting a tax professional familiar with surrogacy income to make sure you’re prepared at tax time.

Surrogate Health & Medicine

Ensuring the safety and well-being of both the surrogate and the child is important during pregnancy planning. During medical screening, vaccine titers are assessed. Most IVF clinics require surrogates to be vaccinated for rubella, varicella, TDAP, and flu. Some intended parents may require the COVID-19 vaccine.

To be eligible for surrogacy, you must not currently be receiving state medical assistance. If you do not have health insurance, an ACA plan will be purchased to cover the cost of the surrogacy pregnancy. If you already have coverage, it may cover surrogacy depending on the terms of your policy. Our insurance specialist will review your plan to determine what’s covered and identify any gaps.

It is possible to use your current OBGYN and delivery hospital. However, to ensure that everything goes smoothly, the chosen hospital should have a NICU, and both the OBGYN and hospital must be in network for your health insurance.

Surrogate Support & Legal Considerations

Pennsylvania is considered a very legally supportive state for gestational surrogacy, though outcomes can vary depending on individual circumstances. Every surrogate in our program works with their own independent attorney who represents their interests exclusively.

All surrogate compensation is held in an independent escrow account managed by a neutral third party, so your funds are protected and distributed according to the terms of your legal agreement.

We also work with surrogates and intended parents in New York, New Jersey, Ohio, West Virginia, and Maryland and can connect you with experienced reproductive attorneys in each of those states.

Yes. Every surrogate works with their own independent attorney throughout the legal process. Legal fees are covered as part of your compensation package.

You’ll have a dedicated surrogate case manager, access to counseling from a licensed mental health professional, monthly support group calls, and a community of fellow surrogates. Our team is also available to you whenever questions or concerns come up.

Support doesn’t end at delivery. Your surrogate case manager and counseling access remain available postpartum for up to six months to help you process the experience and transition.

Sharing the gift of surrogacy with your children is a wonderful way to include them in your journey. We have many resources available on our blog that can help start that conversation.

All surrogates must have the full support of their spouse or partner, or a designated support person. If you are not currently married, we encourage you to identify someone who can be your primary support person, such as a close friend or family member.

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