How Are Surrogates Screened

surrogate Screening

If you’re considering using a surrogacy agency to start your family, you no doubt have many questions about how to find a surrogate, the cost of surrogacy, who can become a surrogate, and how are surrogates screened. Most importantly, you want to be sure your chosen surrogate will provide a healthy environment for your developing baby while being fully aware of her responsibilities to you. These requirements make it important for your surrogate to undergo a thorough and detailed surrogate screening process.

The Surrogate Medical and Environmental Screening Process

Pinnacle Surrogacy’s multi-step screening process for surrogates helps make your journey to parenthood a more secure and enjoyable one. Our screening process breaks down into three major steps. Every surrogate at Pinnacle Surrogacy undergoes an extensive surrogate medical, psychological, and socio-economic screening process to ensure they are in the best possible physical and mental health and living in a stable, safe, and nurturing environment. In most cases, all this happens before we share surrogate profiles with our intended parents.

We are strict in our selection process: we accept less than 5% of surrogate applicants. We communicate with potential surrogates regularly throughout the screening and matching process to ensure they meet our standards of care.

Pre-screening, Background Check, and Review of Medical Records

As part of the initial application process, a potential surrogate, along with her partner or spouse, must consent to a full background check. She also consents to a review of her medical records by a Pinnacle Surrogacy physician. If we decide to move forward with her application, we schedule a phone meeting between our staff and the candidate so all parties can ask questions and begin to build a working relationship.

Medical, Perinatal, and Psychological Screening

At this stage we begin a more in-depth evaluation of the candidate. She undergoes a complete medical evaluation by our physicians to determine her overall health and ability to carry a healthy pregnancy to term. A high-risk obstetrician carries out a final medical assessment. A psychologist evaluates the potential surrogate to determine if she is emotionally and mentally prepared for a surrogacy journey.

Home Assessment

One of the last steps in the surrogate screening process is a home review by a licensed social worker. During the home assessment, we talk with the candidate and her family. We make sure her home and neighbourhood will be a safe, healthy, and happy place for her during the pregnancy.

Should a surrogacy applicant make it through our screening process, she signs a six-month contract with Pinnacle Surrogacy. During this time, she can only act as a surrogate through our service. The contract provides us with enough time to match intended parents with the surrogate.

Surrogate Screening FAQ

Begin Your Surrogacy Journey or Learn More

Surrogacy can seem overwhelming. We make the process easier by ensuring all parties involved are carefully prepared. This includes screening our surrogate candidates. When you work with Pinnacle Surrogacy, you’ll know your surrogate has passed one of the most thorough screening processes in the industry. If you are ready to begin your surrogacy process or have questions and would like to speak to someone, contact us online or call us at 877 261 0392. Visit our website to learn more about the cost of surrogacy, surrogacy contracts, and what the process entails. Please review our Surrogacy FAQ page for a list of answers to the most frequently asked questions by intended parents. Our blog ‘Does A Surrogate Share DNA With The Baby?’ provides useful information around surrogacy epigenetic.