The Surrogacy Screening Process: What’s It Really Like?
If you’re considering surrogacy, you want to feel confident in the agency and the surrogate you choose. You want to know there is a strong screening process in place.
Most important to you is knowing that your chosen surrogate is emotionally and physically healthy to handle not only being a surrogate but the surrogacy screening process. You want to ensure she is committed and ready.
In this article, we look at the surrogacy screening process and answer the question, “What’s it really like?”
The Process Involves Medical Testing
Every surrogate must undergo some medical testing and a drug test. This also includes additional testing at a fertility clinic.
These surrogacy screening exams ensure the surrogate is physically healthy and able to carry a baby to term. At Joy of Life, we are looking for surrogates who have a body mass index under 30, a successful pregnancy history, a healthy lifestyle, are between the ages of 21-38, no history of drug abuse or smoking, and have had no more than two c-sections or five deliveries.
The Process Involves Mental Health Evaluation
Being a surrogate is rewarding, but it can also be challenging. In addition to thorough medical testing, surrogates at Joy of Life are screened to ensure they are mentally able to hand over a baby once it’s born.
While this type of surrogacy screening may make some people nervous, it’s in place to help the surrogate and the intended parents. It’s important to understand whether the surrogate is up to the emotional challenge. Counseling is also available throughout the pregnancy to help the surrogate.
The Process Involves Background Checks and Birth Records
It is ideal for a surrogate to have had previous successful pregnancies without complications. This is an important part of the process as it shows the likelihood of future successful pregnancies.
In addition, the background check provides a look at past negative behavior. A surrogate must have a stable home life without any prior record of child abuse or criminal activity.
Final Thoughts
Surrogate agencies have their own screening process. At Joy of Life, our screening process is thorough, so we can ensure surrogates are mentally and physically healthy and committed to the surrogacy process.
The surrogacy screening process involves medical, psychological, drug, and criminal screening. At Joy of Life, our extensive process provides both peace of mind for the surrogate and the intended parents.
As surrogates ourselves, we are intimately acquainted with the importance of the surrogacy screening process, and we provide a nurturing team to help both the surrogate and the intended parents.
If you would like to learn more about surrogacy in California, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our consultants here at Joy of Life Surrogacy.
