Only about 2% of those reading this will meet the qualifications to become a Surrogate with Golden. As the director of a surrogacy agency, it may seem like my responsibility to address the question of who qualifies. Yet, the reality that we can only accept such a small fraction of applicants is incredibly challenging. Disqualifying someone is a decision we don’t take lightly at Golden. Our stringent criteria mean we often find ourselves navigating these tough conversations. It’s crucial to understand why agencies like ours aren’t just accepting applicants in large numbers. While some argue that with Surrogates in high demand, agencies should be more lenient, the truth is quite different: We turn away candidates not for our own gain, but for the benefit of the women who apply. Disqualifying candidates ultimately serves the best interests of potential Surrogates. Let’s take a closer look at who can’t be a Surrogate and why.

Our Commitment to Safety

Understanding that surrogacy is all about helping deserving individuals and couples achieve their dream of starting a family is key. Our approach focuses on mitigating risks and ensuring the journey is as healthy and safe as possible. While many women may aspire to be a Surrogate, it’s crucial for us to ensure that embarking on this journey is done in the healthiest and safest manner possible. Sometimes, that means we might not accept an application at all. In this Surrogacy Talk, we’ll break down the top reasons why agencies don’t accept certain applicants and why these disqualifications are actually for the benefit of the candidates.

Reason #1: Haven’t Given Birth

Number one, we see a lot of applicants who haven’t given birth before. To stay true to our promise of ensuring the healthiest and safest surrogacy journey possible, we need to review a healthy pregnancy history to predict future outcomes. If you haven’t given birth before, there’s no way to know what that might be. You could have a smooth pregnancy and delivery, or there could be unexplained complications. We don’t want you to embark on your surrogacy journey without a pregnancy history to rely on. This is very important.

At Golden, we have specific criteria for selecting candidates: Applicants must have given birth between one and three times. If a candidate has given birth more than three times or has had more than one previous c-section, they will unfortunately be disqualified. The detailed reason for disqualifying candidates with more than one c-section will be explained in a future Surrogacy Talk.

Reason #2: Pregnancy Complications

The second reason we often disqualify candidates is due to pregnancy complications or health history. For women who have given birth, you might have a history of complications in your medical records from previous pregnancies and deliveries. Or you might be thinking everything was fine and not remember any complications. However, upon further inspection, there might be something minor that you weren’t considering, like high blood pressure, which could potentially lead to preeclampsia—a serious pregnancy-related condition that can pose significant risk to both you the Surrogate and the baby. This could disqualify you, even if it wasn’t on your radar initially. If we find something minor during our review of your records, we will have a conversation with you and fully explain the details.

Reason #3: Lack of Support

Number three, you may lack the support of your spouse or partner, and this could stem from a few different reasons. Perhaps they don’t understand what surrogacy is and how it will impact your family. Or, they might understand the health risks and complications and want to have more children with you.

If you are not finished having your own children, that would also disqualify you from beginning a surrogacy journey. During initial conversations, we confirm that all of our Surrogates are completely happy with their own family structure and have no future plans to have more children. This is to avoid complications that could compromise your reproductive capabilities.

Navigating Disqualification

Let me conclude with this: regardless of the reason you may not qualify—whether it’s a short-term issue such as lack of support from your spouse or partner, plans to have more children, or a disqualification that prevents you from continuing in the process—there are always ways you can contribute to the surrogacy industry as a whole. In the short term, surrogacy remains a viable option. If your disqualification stems from lack of support or other temporary circumstances, don’t panic; surrogacy is here to stay. Golden will be here when you’re ready, ensuring you can go through the process safely and with support.

However, if your disqualification is long-term and prevents you from ever becoming a Surrogate, that’s okay too. While you may not be able to participate directly, you could consider becoming an advocate. You can explore opportunities at fertility centers or surrogacy agencies, supporting couples and Surrogates throughout their journey.

Thank you for considering becoming a Surrogate. Your kindness and generosity, shared by others like you, were instrumental in my own surrogacy journey, realizing not only my family-building dreams but also those of future Intended Parents.