Becoming a surrogate is an incredibly rewarding experience, allowing you to help intended parents build their families. However, it’s also a significant physical and emotional undertaking. A surrogate medical screening is crucial, ensuring a safe and healthy journey for both the surrogate and the baby. A medical clearance provided by a Maternal-Fetal medicine (MFM) doctor provides reassurance to all parties including the reproductive endocrinologist before moving forward with a gestational carrier in a surrogacy journey.

Building a Strong Foundation: Key Preliminary Screening Requirements

Prospective surrogates undergo a comprehensive medical screening to assess their suitability for pregnancy. These requirements vary by agency, but here’s a general overview:

• Age: Typically, surrogates fall between 21 and 42 years old. This age range reflects optimal physical health and hormonal balance for pregnancy.
• Delivery History: Ideally, candidates will have had at least one successful, uncomplicated vaginal delivery in the past. A maximum of three prior Cesarean sections (C-sections) might be considered by some agencies.
• BMI: Maintaining a healthy Body Mass Index (BMI) of less than 35 is important for a safe pregnancy for both mother and baby.
• Lifestyle Habits: Surrogates should be tobacco-free, abstain from recreational drugs, and limit alcohol consumption.
• Mental and Emotional Well-being: A stable home life with a strong support network is essential. Additionally, surrogates should not have any mental health conditions requiring medication within the past six months to ensure emotional stability during pregnancy.

A Deep Dive: The Surrogate Medical Screening Process

The medical screening process is a multi-faceted approach, ensuring a healthy pregnancy for both the surrogate and the baby. Here’s what you can expect:

• Infectious Disease Testing: This involves blood tests for the surrogate and their partner (if applicable) to screen for common infections like HIV, Hepatitis B & C, syphilis, and Cytomegalovirus (CMV).
• Urine Drug Screening: Both the surrogate and their partner (if applicable) will undergo a urine drug screen to ensure they are free of recreational drugs.
• Physical Exam: A thorough physical exam by a qualified healthcare professional assesses the surrogate’s overall health and identifies any potential concerns.
• Saline Sonogram: This painless ultrasound uses sterile saline solution to visualize the uterine cavity. It checks for abnormalities like fibroids or polyps that could impact pregnancy.
• Blood Work: This comprehensive blood test evaluates the surrogate’s overall health, including blood type, Rh factor, hormone levels, and anemia screening.
• Maternal-fetal medicine Clearance: Mitera’s Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM) doctors are specialists in risk assessment. During the medical clearance process our MFM’s review all available medical records and conduct a virtual appointment with the surrogate candidate. Our MFM’s create am evidence-based detailed customized report outlining risks and readiness for pregnancy.
• Psychological Screening: A mental health professional conducts a confidential evaluation to assess the surrogate’s emotional well-being and preparedness for the journey.

Considering Surrogacy?

Remember, being a surrogate is an act of incredible generosity. By prioritizing your own health, you’re laying the foundation for a safe and successful journey for yourself and the intended parents.