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Choosing a surrogacy agency is a life-changing decision. Whether it’s your first time considering becoming a surrogate or you’ve been through a surrogacy journey before, asking the right questions ensures you’ll be supported emotionally, medically, and legally from start to finish. The agency you choose will be your closest partner.
At Surro Connections, we’ve guided hundreds of surrogate mothers through this beautiful process. Here are the top 10 questions you should ask any surrogacy agency before starting your journey.
You’ll also find an extended list of frequently asked questions surrogate mothers often have before starting their journey.
Top 9 Questions to Ask a Surrogacy Agency
- What are the requirements to become a surrogate with your agency?
Each gestational surrogacy agency has slightly different standards. Ask about age, BMI, pregnancy history, and whether you need to live in a surrogacy-friendly state. We follow ASRM guidelines and accept surrogate mothers who are healthy, non-smokers, and have already experienced a successful, full-term pregnancy. We only work in surrogacy-friendly states to ensure your rights and the intended parents’ parentage orders are legally protected.
In our agency, you must:
- Be between 21 and 39 years old
- Have had at least one healthy pregnancy
- Live in a surrogacy-friendly state
- Have a BMI under 33
- Be a non-smoker with stable mental health
Do I qualify to be a surrogate? Take the quiz
- How does your matching process work?
Good surrogate matching is at the heart of a successful surrogacy journey. Ask whether you’ll have a say in who you help, how much input you’ll have in choosing your intended parents and how long the matching process typically takes. Our process is personal and respectful. You choose your intended parents. Our focus is on matching surrogates and parents who share aligned values, expectations and communication styles.
- Do you handle gestational or traditional surrogacy?
We exclusively work with gestational carriers, meaning the baby is not genetically related to the surrogate. All embryos come from the intended parents or donors. It’s important to clarify this upfront.
- How much will I be compensated, and when?
Understanding the full surrogate compensation breakdown matters. What is the base compensation? What bonuses are included? Are reimbursements for maternity clothes, travel, or childcare covered? Ask about the total amount — and when payments begin. Compensation for surrogates includes base pay, medical allowances and bonuses for specific procedures.
Compensation includes:
- Base compensation
- Bonuses for medical procedures (like C-section, twins, embryo transfer)
- Monthly payments during pregnancy
- Recovery compensation post-birth
- Will I need my own health insurance?
Ask if the intended parents will provide surrogacy insurance coverage, or if you need to rely on your own.
If you do not have one, we’ll help you enroll in a surrogacy-friendly insurance plan and ensure there are no out-of-pocket costs for prenatal care or delivery.
- What kind of emotional and medical support do you offer?
Becoming a surrogate is a meaningful journey and it can also be emotionally intense. That’s why it is important to ask whether the agency provides emotional support for surrogates such as peer support groups, safe spaces to share experiences and access to licensed counselors.
Professional agencies provide:
- A dedicated coordinator
- 24/7 text and call support
- Group chats with fellow surrogates
- Licensed counselors for emotional well-being
You’ll also join a supportive surrogacy community of women who uplift, encourage, and walk this path with you. In our experience, surrogates value being able to discuss their experiences openly, including the uncertainties they may feel around legal matters, travel or medication.
- What legal protections are in place?
Your gestational carrier agreement is a legal surrogacy contract that outlines your rights, responsibilities, and financial protections. Every gestational carrier agreement should be reviewed and negotiated by an independent surrogacy attorney. Your gestational carrier agreement is drafted by a surrogacy attorney and paid for by the intended parents. It outlines your rights, responsibilities, and guarantees your compensation. We also secure parentage orders well before delivery. Surrogacy regulations vary by state, which is why it’s essential to work with an agency that understands the legal landscape.
- What’s the medical process like?
Understand the role of the fertility clinic, including IVF protocols, hormone injections, the embryo transfer procedure and potential side effects. Ask if the agency covers travel for medical screenings or transfer appointments.
You’ll work closely with a fertility clinic and undergo:
- Medical screening
- Hormonal preparation
- IVF and embryo transfer procedure
- Pregnancy monitoring (localy)
Some journeys involve ICSI or PGT-A — you’ll be guided every step of the way. Thanks to modern reproductive technologies like IVF and ICSI, gestational surrogacy is safer and more reliable than ever before.
- How long does the full surrogacy process take?
From application to delivery, the surrogacy process typically takes 15–18 months. Ask your agency for a clear timeline, including screening, matching, embryo transfer and postpartum care
On average:
1–3 months for screening
1–4 months for matching
9 months for pregnancy
~3 months for post-birth recovery
Read also the most common fears about becoming a surrogate
More Common Questions Asked to a Surrogacy Agency
Here are other common questions surrogate mothers often ask — with answers from our expert team:
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Do you work with LGBTQ+ family building
Absolutely. We are proud to support LGBTQ+ parenthood through surrogacy. We work with many diverse and inclusive intended parents — locally and globally.
Can I help a single parent or an international couple?
Yes. We work with intended parents from all backgrounds — married or single, U.S.-based or international. You’ll always have a voice in the surrogate matching process and can share your preferences before any match is made.
What happens if the embryo transfer fails?
You are never financially penalized for a failed transfer. You’re still paid for your effort. You’ll also receive a cycle fee, even if pregnancy isn’t achieved. Your base pay is not affected and we’ll support you emotionally and logistically as we try again
Do I get a say in who I match with?
Yes. You meet your intended parents before matching. You only move forward if the connection feels right.
Will I still be paid if I don’t get pregnant?
Yes. You receive pre-pregnancy compensation for screenings, medications, and embryo transfers. These are guaranteed payments, regardless of pregnancy outcome. We honor your time and commitment.
What happens if I need a C-section or other medical procedures?
Your compensation for surrogates includes bonuses, or fees, for special procedures like C-sections, blood transfusions or twin pregnancies.
Will I need to travel?
It depends on your match. If your intended parents’ fertility clinic is located in another state, you will need to travel for screenings and transfers. All travel expenses — flights, hotels, meals, childcare — are covered by the intended parents and arranged by our team.
We serve women in all surrogacy-friendly states — including California, Oregon and beyond.
Can I choose whether to pump breastmilk after birth?
Yes, pumping breastmilk is optional — and if you choose to do so, it’s compensated. Some intended parents are deeply grateful for this added gift, while others opt for formula. You will discuss this during your legal agreement.
Will you help me build my surrogate profile?
Absolutely. We support you in creating a beautiful, authentic surrogacy profile to help intended parents get to know you. This includes guidance, writing support, and a friendly review process. We help you tell your story authentically to intended parents.
Do you offer a referral bonus if I know someone who wants to become a surrogate?
Yes! If you know someone who may be interested, you can earn a referral bonus when she joins.
Want to know if you qualify?
If you’re asking yourself, “Could I really become a surrogate?”, the best way to find out is to check our eligibility requirements and answer a few quick questions.
Still Wondering How to Choose a Surrogacy Agency?
Ask yourself:
- Am I respected and informed here?
- Are surrogacy costs, compensation and contracts transparent?
- Does this agency feel human or transactional?
Reading surrogacy agency reviews can also help you compare values, transparency, and the level of support offered by each agency. Choosing the right agency transforms your experience.
