Embarking on a surrogacy journey is one of the most meaningful decisions for both intended parents and surrogates. Whether you’re growing your family or helping someone else achieve theirs, the process is filled with emotions, planning, and collaboration. A crucial part of this journey is the surrogate matching process. This step not only sets the tone for the experience but also plays a pivotal role in ensuring mutual satisfaction and success.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through each phase of the matching process, the estimated timeline, and key considerations to help you make informed decisions. By understanding the journey step by step, you’ll feel more prepared and confident as you take the next steps in surrogacy.
Why Is Matching So Important in Surrogacy?
The surrogate-intended parent relationship is unlike any other, as it involves trust, mutual respect, and shared values. For intended parents, this match ensures that the person carrying their child understands their vision and priorities. For surrogates, a good match provides reassurance that the intended parents respect their role and contributions to the journey.
A strong match builds the foundation for smooth communication, aligned expectations, and emotional support. Misalignment at this stage can lead to unnecessary stress and challenges down the line, so it’s essential to invest time and care into finding the right match.
How Long Does It Take to Get Matched with a Surrogate?
In gestational surrogacy, the timeline for matching with a surrogate depends on several factors, but the process often requires patience and diligence. On average, it takes between 1-6 months to find a match, though some factors may extend or shorten this timeframe.
Factors That Influence Matching Timelines
- Location: Proximity matters when it comes to logistics. Matching locally may reduce delays associated with travel and differing legal requirements.
- Legal Requirements: Surrogacy-friendly states and countries tend to have more straightforward legal processes, which can accelerate the timeline. In contrast, areas with restrictive surrogacy laws may take longer to navigate. Note that surrogacy laws differ state by state.
- Surrogate Availability: The demand for surrogates often exceeds supply, leading to wait times in areas with fewer qualified candidates.
- Specific Preferences: The more specific your requirements (shared religious beliefs, communication style), the longer the process might take.
Tips to Streamline the Process
How long does the surrogate process take? While matching can take time, there are steps you can take to make it more efficient:
- Be Flexible: Adjusting your criteria or expanding your search area can open up more opportunities.
- Work with an Established Agency: Experienced agencies often have access to larger pools of surrogates and more streamlined matching protocols.
- Stay Organized: Have your documents and preferences ready to avoid delays when the right surrogate is identified.
Pre-Matching Process
A look at what takes place before the perfect match is made:
How Surrogacy Agencies Choose Surrogates
Before matching begins, surrogacy agencies play a critical role in screening and selecting candidates. This step ensures that only individuals who meet stringent criteria are presented as potential matches. Agencies assess a surrogate’s:
- Health History: Candidates must have a history of uncomplicated pregnancies and meet health benchmarks to ensure their readiness.
- Emotional Stability: Psychological evaluations determine whether candidates are emotionally prepared for the journey.
- Lifestyle: Surrogates must demonstrate a stable and supportive home environment, with no history of substance abuse or significant legal issues.
- Motivation: Agencies seek surrogates who are genuinely motivated to help others grow their families, not those driven solely by financial incentives.
By thoroughly vetting surrogates in advance, agencies help ensure that the intended parents have access to reliable and committed candidates, laying a strong foundation for the matching process. At Surrogacy by Faith, once surrogates apply through the online form, they then meet and talk with Surrogacy by Faith team to get a better understanding of the process — and one another!
What Is the Surrogacy Process Step by Step?
Breaking down the surrogacy journey into manageable steps helps intended parents and surrogates stay informed and feel more confident about the process. Below is an in-depth look at each stage:
Step 1: Research
Begin by deciding whether to work with an agency or pursue independent surrogacy. Agencies provide comprehensive support, from legal guidance to emotional counseling, while independent arrangements may offer more control and potentially lower costs. Spend time evaluating your options to choose the best path for your needs.
Step 2: Screening
Screening is essential for ensuring that both parties are prepared for the journey ahead. For intended parents, this may include background checks, financial readiness evaluations, and interviews. Surrogates undergo medical tests, psychological assessments, and home visits to confirm their suitability.
Step 3: Matching
In the matching phase, agencies or independent facilitators arrange interviews between intended parents and surrogates. During these meetings, both parties discuss their expectations, communication preferences, and views on critical issues like medical decisions and selective reduction.
Step 4: Agreement
Once a match is made, both parties work with experienced legal professionals to draft a surrogacy contract. This document outlines roles, responsibilities, and financial arrangements, protecting everyone’s interests and ensuring clarity throughout the process.
Step 5: Medical Procedures
After legalities are finalized, medical preparations for the IVF begin. The surrogate undergoes hormonal treatments to synchronize her cycle with the embryo transfer process. Fertility clinics oversee the transfer and IVF process, ensuring optimal conditions for implantation and pregnancy.
Step 6: Pregnancy
During the pregnancy phase, regular medical appointments monitor the surrogate’s health and the baby’s development. Open communication between the surrogate and intended parents fosters trust and emotional connection during this critical stage.
Step 7: Delivery
The journey culminates in the baby’s birth. Intended parents are typically present for the delivery, and legal professionals finalize parentage documents to ensure the intended parents are recognized as the baby’s legal guardians.
Surrogacy Process Timeline
Understanding the timeline helps set realistic expectations for the journey:
Matching phase (1-6 months)
The matching phase begins with the surrogate or intended parents finding a compatible partner for the journey. This involves detailed profiles, interviews, and often consultations with an agency or fertility clinic. The timeline can vary widely depending on preferences, availability, and location. For surrogates, it’s crucial to align with intended parents who share similar values and expectations about the surrogacy journey. Factors like communication style, approach to medical decisions, and expectations for contact during and after the process are heavily considered. Agencies work to ensure this compatibility, but independent surrogates may invest more time in self-matching.
Legal and medical clearance (2-3 months)
Once a match is confirmed, the legal and medical clearance phase begins. This involves creating a comprehensive surrogacy agreement through attorneys representing both the surrogate and intended parents. This agreement outlines financial arrangements, responsibilities, and contingencies for various scenarios, ensuring all parties are protected. Concurrently, the surrogate undergoes medical evaluations to confirm they meet all health requirements. If any additional screenings or preparations are needed, this phase may extend. Timely cooperation between legal teams and clinics can streamline this stage, but scheduling and negotiations often require patience.
Pregnancy phase (9 months)
The pregnancy phase officially begins once the surrogate achieves a confirmed pregnancy through IVF. The early weeks involve close monitoring at the fertility clinic, including ultrasounds and blood tests. Once released to an obstetrician, the journey continues much like a traditional pregnancy, with regular check-ups and prenatal care. Throughout the pregnancy, open communication between the surrogate and intended parents is essential, whether it’s through shared updates, visits, or milestone celebrations like baby showers. Surrogates often prioritize a healthy lifestyle and adherence to medical guidelines to support the baby’s growth and development.
Post-delivery legal finalization (1-2 months)
After the baby is delivered, legal steps ensure the intended parents’ rights are fully established. In most cases, this involves filing for a parentage order or completing adoption paperwork, depending on the laws of the state or country where the surrogacy takes place. This period can also include addressing birth certificates and other documentation to reflect the intended parents’ legal status. While shorter than the other phases, this stage is critical to finalizing the surrogacy process and granting intended parents peace of mind.
In total, the surrogacy journey typically spans 12-20 months, depending on factors such as legal processes, medical complexities, and individual circumstances.
Choose Surrogacy By Faith
The matching process is one of the most critical elements of a successful surrogacy journey. Working with experienced professionals ensures that the process is handled with care and precision. A structured, well-supported approach reduces stress and allows you to focus on building relationships and preparing for the baby.
Surrogacy By Faith is dedicated to guiding intended parents and surrogates through every step of the journey. With experienced staff, robust screening processes, and personalized support, we make sure your surrogacy experience is as seamless as possible. If you’re interested in becoming a surrogate or a parent through surrogacy, fill out the surrogate form or intended parent form today!