Gestational Carrier Health Requirements: Why They Matter
Surrogacy is a precious gift that comes with significant responsibilities and health requirements for gestational carriers. These requirements help protect the health and well-being of the gestational carrier and the baby throughout the journey. For anyone interested in becoming a gestational carrier, understanding the common health requirements and screening process can help you know what to expect before getting started.
Prioritizing Safety From Start to Finish
Health requirements are important safeguards designed to identify medical factors that could increase the risk of complications during pregnancy. Before a prospective gestational carrier is medically cleared, her health history and previous pregnancies are carefully reviewed, and she undergoes testing and evaluation through the fertility clinic.
This screening serves several purposes. It helps the medical team determine whether pregnancy is considered safe for the prospective carrier, identify conditions that may require additional evaluation, and confirm that she is medically prepared for fertility treatment and embryo transfer. A history of healthy pregnancies is particularly important because it provides valuable information about how her body has responded to pregnancy and delivery in the past.
Medical care continues after embryo transfer. If pregnancy is established, the gestational carrier will initially be monitored according to the fertility clinic's protocol before transitioning to routine prenatal care with an obstetric provider. Like any pregnancy, a gestational carrier pregnancy requires ongoing prenatal care to monitor the health of both the carrier and the developing baby.
Common Surrogate Requirements
Although specific requirements can vary by surrogacy agency and fertility clinic, prospective gestational carriers typically undergo a comprehensive screening process before being medically cleared for embryo transfer. Common health qualifications and screening considerations include:
Age: Age requirements vary by program. West Coast Surrogacy currently accepts gestational surrogate candidates between the ages of 21 and 40.
Medical and reproductive history: A fertility specialist will review the prospective carrier’s medical records, overall health, previous pregnancies, deliveries, and any history of pregnancy complications or health conditions that could increase the risks associated with pregnancy.
Previous pregnancies: Gestational carriers should have previously experienced at least one healthy pregnancy and delivery. West Coast Surrogacy requires candidates to have given birth to at least one child they are currently raising.
Weight and overall health: Fertility clinics consider weight, BMI, and other aspects of overall health when determining whether a prospective gestational carrier is medically eligible. Specific BMI requirements may vary by clinic.
Lifestyle factors: Gestational carriers must meet health and lifestyle requirements intended to support a healthy pregnancy. West Coast Surrogacy requires candidates to be nonsmokers and in excellent health, while screening may also consider alcohol or substance use and other lifestyle factors.
Infectious disease screening: Prospective gestational carriers undergo testing for HIV, hepatitis B and C, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and other infections as appropriate before embryo transfer.
Reproductive evaluation: The fertility clinic may perform additional testing to evaluate reproductive health and confirm that the uterus is appropriate for embryo transfer and pregnancy.
Learn More About Surrogate Requirements and Schedule a Consultation
If you're considering becoming a gestational surrogate, West Coast Surrogacy can help you understand the requirements and what to expect from the screening process. Contact our experienced team to schedule a consultation or complete our online surrogate application to get started.
