Choosing to become a surrogate is a life-altering decision for everyone involved.

Not only are you helping expand a family for intended parents, but you are also embarking on a selfless journey that requires commitment and dedication. Surrogacy is genuinely one of the greatest gifts you can give to a hopeful parent or couple. But before you dive in, it’s critical to ensure you are ready to begin the surrogacy process and eventually become a surrogate.

While surrogate requirements vary from agency to agency, the American Society of Reproductive Medicine has general standards for anyone interested in becoming a surrogate. These qualifications may include:

• • • Be between the ages of 21 and 45
    • Have a healthy BMI of 30 or less
    • Does not smoke or use illicit drugs
    • Does not use government assistance
    • Has at least one successful pregnancy
    • No more than five vaginal births or three cesarean deliveries
    • Currently raising your child/children in your home
    • Has no felony convictions
    • Has no significant complications from previous pregnancies
    • Free of treatable STDs for at least one year
    • Has no history of postpartum depression
    • At least 12 months since the last use of anti-anxiety or antidepressant medications
    • At least 12 months since the last piercing or tattoo
    • Able to travel as needed for appointments
    • Has a stable support system and lifestyle

After meeting a surrogacy agency’s general standards, the screening process begins. The process also varies depending on the surrogacy agency, but it usually includes the following:

• • • Initial application and medical history information
      This application asks general questions about you and why you want to be a surrogate. A surrogacy professional will contact you to ask for more details, such as medical and social history.
    • Interview
      You will have the opportunity to meet with the agency, ask any questions you may have, and learn about the process from experts.
    • In-home assessment
      A surrogacy professional or a social worker may visit your home to speak with you about your motivations and end goals for pursuing surrogacy. This meeting also provides you with an opportunity to learn more about the surrogacy process and ask questions of the professional.
    • Background checks
      Your surrogacy agency will require your consent to undergo standard background and criminal record checks.
    • Mental health evaluation
      You will speak to a mental health professional to make sure that you understand surrogacy’s emotional and psychological effects and ensure that you are mentally ready for the surrogacy journey.

This screening process seems like it requires a lot of effort, but this is a crucial step in the surrogacy process. Hopeful parents are also screened to make sure they are ready for the surrogacy journey as well.

Portland Surrogate Legal Requirements

Every surrogacy arrangement requires a legal contract. It differs depending on your agreement with the hopeful parents and your circumstances. Your legal obligations and rights will be detailed in the surrogacy contract.

Before beginning the medical process, all parties should agree to the contract, which outlines all of the legal points of the surrogacy, including:

• • • Your risks, roles, and responsibilities
    • Compensation
    • Expenses to be paid (travel, lost wages, etc.)
    • Medical procedures that you may or may not agree to
    • And more
      

The intended parents’ attorney will usually draft the contract. You and your attorney will then review the paperwork to check if revisions are needed. Once all parties agree to the terms, everyone will sign the contract, and it becomes legally binding. You usually start receiving compensation at this stage as you get ready for the medical processes.

While surrogacy laws differ by state, it is completely legal to become a surrogate in Portland, Oregon. It is still essential to work with a surrogacy attorney to make sure someone represents your interests throughout the surrogate process.

Portland Surrogate Medical Requirements

Your health is vital to a successful surrogacy, and it will be monitored closely from the start of your surrogacy journey until the time you deliver the baby. Once you are fully committed to becoming a surrogate, you will have to undergo multiple medical examinations and procedures throughout the process and take fertility medications. Here are some of the medical requirements for Portland surrogates:

• • • Medical screening
      Once matched, a medical exam is necessary. It involves a physical examination and several standard lab tests. Aside from being screened for STDs and other communicable diseases, you may be checked for conditions that may affect your fertility. To determine how healthy your uterus is, you may have to undergo an ultrasound. Your current partner will most likely also have to be screened for STDs. 
    • Fertility treatments
      Preparing for a surrogate pregnancy involves multiple fertility treatments, ultrasounds, injections, and blood tests throughout the embryo transfer process. You will have to take several medications, including hormones and birth control pills, to help regulate your menstrual cycle and prepare you for IVF.
    • Embryo transfer
      Using the intended father’s or donor’s sperm, the lab will fertilize the intended mother or donor’s egg. After an incubation period, the fertilized embryo will be transferred into your uterus. This step usually doesn’t require any anesthesia and is quick and pain-free. Once the implantation is done, you may be asked to stay at the clinic for a few hours or refrain from strenuous activity for a few days.
    • Prenatal care
      You should expect regular visits to the clinic to undergo routine blood tests and ultrasounds. Once a healthy pregnancy is confirmed, you can usually transfer to your own OB-GYN. Prenatal care is the same as regular pregnancies though there may be more checkups to ensure the baby is healthy.
      

Depending on your agreement with the intended parents, you will have to consistently communicate with them throughout the pregnancy. They may ask you for your consent to be present during doctor’s appointments and other medical processes so they can experience the different stages of your pregnancy as well.

Are you ready to become a surrogate and change a family’s life? If you want to learn more about Portland’s surrogacy process, contact the team of professionals at All Families Surrogacy for a free consultation.

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