Becoming a parent is an incomparable joy. However, for many families, conceiving naturally is not an option. Gestational surrogacy is a solution that allows you and your partner the opportunity to begin building your family with a child of your own. If you and your spouse’s egg and sperm are viable, an embryo can be implanted into the uterus of a third party — the surrogate mother.
However, many couples encounter some difficulties when it comes to choosing the right surrogate mother. After all, this person will be a crucial individual in your life for at least nine months. At Western Fertility Institute, we strive to make this process as easy — and even enjoyable — as possible. If you’re ready to find the perfect surrogate mother, here are some things to keep in mind ahead of time.
The Screening Process for Potential Surrogates
All potential surrogates undergo a strict screening to make sure they meet our stringent qualifications. This step is to ensure they’re both physically and emotionally viable candidates. You can be sure that all surrogate options available through Western Fertility Institute meet certain criteria. They will:
- Be between the ages of 21 and 44
- Have had at least one successful pregnancy and delivery
- Live a healthy lifestyle
- Have a BMI below 33
- Have home and financial stability
- Have access to a personal support network
We also go beyond these initial qualifications by interviewing our candidates. This process includes a series of questionnaires and medical evaluations where we discover their family medical history, screen them for substance abuse and find out if there’s a history of mental health conditions. All this ensures that any candidate we present to you is willing and able to carry out the responsibilities of surrogacy and that they’re doing it for the right reasons.
The Surrogacy Plan
Very early in the surrogacy process, you and your spouse will create a surrogacy plan. This plan is a resource we use to find your perfect surrogate match. In it, you’ll be asked to outline your goals and preferences. How involved would you like to be with the surrogate mother during the process? Are there traits you would like her to possess? As we prepare potential candidates, we’ll keep these preferences in mind.
Let’s Make a Match
At this point in the process, it’s time for you to get to know some potential surrogate mothers. We understand that it’s a hard decision, so we want you to have ample information about the matches we feel best meet the criteria you laid out in your surrogacy plan. Not only will you get to view video interviews with the prospective candidates, but you may also have the opportunity to meet them in person.
Moving Forward With a Western Fertility Institute Surrogacy
Once you and your surrogate mother are paired, it’s time to take care of some business. Thankfully, when you choose Western Fertility Institute, we assist you with all the legal and medical arrangements. We also handle any payments that need to be passed from you, the intended parents, to your surrogate mother.
If you feel that surrogacy is the right choice for you and your family, why wait? Get the ball rolling today by contacting us. We’re committed to making the surrogacy experience an enjoyable process and a memory you treasure forever.