2025-10-07

One of the most important stages in a surrogacy program is selecting the surrogate mother. The baby’s well-being and health during the first months of life largely depend on how responsibly the surrogate approaches her role. 

Intended parents who require surrogacy services often face a serious dilemma when deciding to have a child through a surrogate. The first step is to determine whether they will go through the surrogacy journey independently or with the assistance of an agency. 

If the intended parents choose to manage the surrogacy program independently, they typically turn to their reproductive gynecologist for help in selecting a surrogate mother. In most cases, the doctor refers them to a partner agency with which they collaborate. 

As a rule, surrogacy agencies first clarify with the intended parents how much they are willing to pay the surrogate mother and for the agency’s services. After that, they begin searching for potential surrogates through social media platforms. The cost of all necessary medical examinations for the surrogate is covered by the intended parents. 

Independent agents bear no responsibility or financial obligation for organizing these medical examinations - all risks are borne solely by the intended parents. The drawback of this approach is that none of the examined surrogate candidates may ultimately meet the required criteria, which can result in the intended parents losing the money they have already spent. 

Unlike independent agents, agencies assume all the risks instead of the intended parents. Services provided through an agency are usually more affordable, and the time required to find a surrogate mother is much shorter. Therefore, it is generally more advantageous to work with a specialized agency. However, this raises an important question - how can one choose the right specialized agency? 

 

First, intended parents should find out what criteria the agency uses when selecting surrogate mothers. 

• Legal requirements: the surrogate’s minimum and maximum age, minimum height and weight, acceptable body mass index range, and nationality. 

• Health requirements: the scope of medical examinations the surrogate must undergo, whether the test results are shared with the intended parents, and who is responsible for conducting the initial medical screening. 

• Psychological requirements: whether the agency evaluates the surrogate candidate’s psychological health. 

• Financial background: whether the agency checks the surrogate’s financial situation, including any history of bankruptcy or criminal record - both for the surrogate and her spouse or partner. 

 

Next, intended parents should clarify how well they are protected against potential misconduct by the surrogate mother. 

• How does the surrogacy agency safeguard against hidden intentions of the surrogate? This includes attempts to demand higher compensation, additional bonuses or privileges after pregnancy, or any other forms of unjust enrichment through participation in the program. 

• Are there penalties in place if the surrogate violates the terms of the contract? 

• How are disputes between the surrogate and the intended parents resolved? Agencies typically collaborate with specialized mediators or arbitration services, and disputes can be handled in the intended parents’ preferred language while fully respecting their legal rights. 

 

When choosing an agency, it is equally important to consider how well the intended parents are protected against potential arbitrary actions by the agency itself. 

• How transparent are the agency’s charges, and to what extent is the agency accountable to the intended parents? 

• Does the agency work with fixed fees, or do intended parents pay for actual expenses incurred? 

• Does the agency provide a full range of services, or are there hidden fees?