Surrogacy Clinic

Becoming a surrogate is one of the most generous things a person can do. Carrying a child for someone who cannot do so on their own is a deeply meaningful act, and the women who choose this path often describe it as life-changing in the best possible way. That said, surrogacy is not something anyone enters into lightly. There are clear guidelines in place to make sure the experience is safe, healthy, and positive for everyone involved.

Health and Lifestyle Requirements

Agencies and fertility clinics look for surrogates who are in strong physical and emotional health. Most programs require that you are between the ages of 21 and 40, have already given birth to at least one child of your own, and are currently raising that child in a stable home environment. This prior experience matters because it shows you understand the physical demands of pregnancy and have a realistic picture of what the journey involves.

You will also need to be a non-smoker, free from recreational drug use, and at a healthy body mass index. A thorough medical evaluation will review your reproductive history, overall health, and any past pregnancy complications. Psychological screenings are equally important, as agencies want to confirm you are emotionally prepared for the unique experience of carrying a child you will lovingly place with another family.

Starting the Process

Once you feel confident you meet the core requirements, the next step is reaching out to a reputable surrogacy agency. You will be asked to complete an application for surrogates, which covers your personal background, health history, and motivations for wanting to become a surrogate. This is your opportunity to share your story honestly and openly.

After reviewing your application for surrogates, the agency will guide you through the remaining screening steps, including medical appointments, legal consultations, and the matching process. From that point forward, you will have a dedicated support team walking alongside you every step of the way.

Surrogacy is a journey rooted in compassion, and meeting these guidelines is simply the first step toward doing something truly extraordinary.

One of the first things people discover when they begin exploring surrogacy is the price. For many intended parents, the number is startling. In the United States, a surrogacy journey can run anywhere from $100,000 to $200,000 or more depending on the circumstances. That figure stops a lot of people in their tracks, and understandably so. But when you break down where the money actually goes, the picture becomes a lot clearer, and in many ways, a lot more reasonable.

What Drives Surrogacy Costs Up

Surrogacy costs reflect the complexity of the process itself. This is not a single transaction. It is a multi-year journey involving medical care, legal protections, agency coordination, and compensation for the person taking on an enormous physical and emotional role.

Surrogate compensation alone typically makes up the largest portion of the total. A surrogate is carrying a pregnancy for someone else, attending medical appointments, adjusting her lifestyle, and accepting real physical risk. Fair compensation for that commitment is not just reasonable, it is necessary. Base pay for surrogates in the US commonly falls between $30,000 and $60,000, with additional allowances for maternity clothing, travel, and other pregnancy-related expenses.

Legal fees are another significant line item. Every surrogacy arrangement requires contracts that protect both the surrogate and the intended parents, and those agreements need to be drafted and reviewed by attorneys who specialize in reproductive law. Depending on the state and the complexity of the situation, legal costs can reach $15,000 or more.

The Other Pieces That Add Up

Medical expenses cover IVF procedures, embryo transfers, prenatal care, and delivery costs, all of which carry their own price tags. If the intended parents need egg or sperm donors, those fees add another layer. Agency fees, which cover matching, screening, case management, and support throughout the process, typically range from $20,000 to $40,000.

Understanding the full breakdown of surrogacy costs helps intended parents approach the process with realistic expectations rather than sticker shock. It is an expensive journey, without question, but every dollar reflects something real, whether that is medical expertise, legal protection, or the compensation of a person doing something genuinely extraordinary.