Why Surrogate Requirements Matter
Surrogate requirements are not meant to make the process feel closed off. They help answer one of the first questions most women have: “Could I actually qualify to become a surrogate?”
GSS looks at pregnancy history, overall health, lifestyle, emotional readiness, support at home, transportation, legal eligibility, and the ability to follow fertility clinic instructions. Surrogacy asks a lot from a woman’s body, schedule, family, and emotions, so the review process needs to be careful from the start.
Meeting the starting requirements does not guarantee approval. It means the next step in review may make sense.
Starting Qualifications for Gestational Surrogates
GSS reviews each application individually, but starting qualifications generally include:
- Age 21 to 38
- Prior delivery of at least one healthy child
- Currently raising at least one child
- No major pregnancy or delivery complications
- BMI generally 30 or less
- Non-smoker and drug-free
- U.S. citizenship or legal eligibility to work in the United States
- Stable lifestyle and reliable support system
- Reliable transportation for appointments
- Psychological and emotional readiness for the process
- Willingness to follow clinic instructions during screening, transfer, and pregnancy
- No major untreated medical or mental health conditions
Surrogacy also requires honesty. The application asks personal questions because medical providers, mental health professionals, attorneys, and intended parents all need a clear picture before the process continues.
Medical History That Needs Careful Review
Pregnancy history is one of the most important parts of surrogate qualification. GSS reviews prior deliveries, C-sections, pregnancy complications, medical records, and overall reproductive history before a woman moves deeper into screening.
Some health concerns may prevent an applicant from moving forward, including severe preeclampsia, preterm delivery, gestational diabetes requiring significant treatment, recurrent miscarriage, abnormal uterine evaluations, certain chronic medical conditions, or a history of multiple pregnancy complications.
That review is not a judgment. It helps determine whether surrogacy is medically appropriate and whether additional screening is needed before matching.
Lifestyle and Support Matter Too
A healthy pregnancy requires more than medical clearance. GSS also looks at whether a surrogate has stable housing, reliable transportation, a dependable support system, and the ability to attend appointments, communicate consistently, and follow clinic directions.
The review also considers smoking, vaping, drug use, untreated sexually transmitted infections, certain unsafe medications, criminal history involving violence or child endangerment, and whether the applicant is financially and emotionally stable enough for the commitment.
The right surrogate is not perfect. She is responsible, honest, medically appropriate, and supported enough to move through the process with care.
What Screening Looks Like Before Approval
Surrogate screening helps confirm whether an applicant is ready to continue. The process may include:
- Application review
- Phone or video conversation with the GSS team
- Medical records review
- Fertility clinic screening
- Psychological evaluation
- Background check
- Drug and nicotine testing
- Sexually transmitted disease testing
- Home and support system review when required
Screening takes time because everyone involved needs the right information before matching begins.
