Is there a list somewhere that says everything you need to be a gestational carrier? I am looking to carry for friends and want to know if I meet the criteria before giving them false hope.
The #1 requirement to be a surrogate is that you must have given birth before. You can have no more then 3 live births and no more than 2 C-sections.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
Here are some criteria:
* Age between 21-39 years old
* BMI between 18-34
* Not currently on government financial support
* Must have given birth
* Have a healthy uterus
* Must provide OB/GYN records and a clearance letter
* Uncomplicated pregnancies and deliveries as documented by prenatal and delivery records
* Non-smoker living in a non-smoking home
* No history of criminal activity
* No history of clinical mental illness
* Gestational carrier and partner must agree to psychological testing
* Stable, responsible lifestyle
* Financially sound
* Legal contract between bio-mom and gestational carrier must be created
Published on Jul 11, 2012
Each fertility center and/or agency will have their own criteria for candidates to meet in order to be considered as a surrogate. These are generally screening criterion for medical conditions, as well as previous pregnancy medical history. I would recommend you speak with an agency specializing in surrogacy to get the answers you need.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
You will need to contact an agency. We use gestational carriers, but the agency has the specific criteria.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
What a wonderful gift you are thinking of giving to your friends! In general, a gestational carrier (GC) should be between 21-45 years old and had at least one full-term delivery, but no more than 5 vaginal deliveries or 2 cesarean deliveries. In addition to an exam and bloodwork to ensure that she is healthy, GCs will need to pass a psychological evaluation before they can proceed. There is a comprehensive list of requirements for gestational carriers available on the American Society for Reproductive Medicine website. The direct link is: http://www.reproductivefacts.org/FACTSHEET_Gestational_Carrier_Surrogate.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
In order to determine if you would be a good gestational carrier, it would be best to be fully evaluated by a fertility doctor. However, most clinics only require you to be healthy, have no uterine problems, and have carried and delivered a pregnancy before. Your uterus would be evaluated (likely by a saline ultrasound called a sonohysterogram) to be sure there are no fibroids or polyps in your uterus that would need to be removed. You also would get some lab tests done, but that can vary depending on your doctor. I would call whatever fertility clinic you plan on going to and ask them what their specific criteria are. Good luck!
Published on Jul 11, 2012