If you are thinking about becoming a surrogate, the first question is usually a simple one: do I qualify? This page lays out the surrogate requirements at the Surrogacy Center of Philadelphia in plain terms, so you can see where you stand before you fill out a single form.
These requirements exist to protect three people: you, the baby, and the family you are helping build. They follow the guidelines set by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), the group whose evidence-based standards fertility clinics across the country follow.
Here is exactly what it takes to qualify as a surrogate with our program.
Surrogates must be between 21 and 42 years old, in line with updated ASRM guidelines. The lower limit reflects the maturity and informed decision-making that surrogacy asks of you. The upper limit reflects what research shows about pregnancy risk as age rises.
You must have carried and delivered at least one healthy child of your own, with no major complications. This confirms your body can sustain a pregnancy and that you know firsthand what you are agreeing to.
A history of significant complications, such as severe preeclampsia, insulin-dependent gestational diabetes, or repeated miscarriage, calls for medical review. A prior complication does not automatically disqualify you, but it is looked at carefully.
This is a clinical threshold set by reproductive medicine guidelines. Carrying outside this range raises the risk of complications and affects how your body responds to the medications an embryo transfer requires. Free health coaching is available if you are working toward this range.
You must be a non-smoker for at least 12 months before applying, and live in a non-smoking household. Smoking combined with fertility medications raises the risk of blood clots during the transfer cycle.
Surrogates must not currently receive government assistance. This protects you from entering the process under financial pressure. Compensation should be a benefit of surrogacy, not the reason for it.
You need a stable living situation and people around you who understand and support your decision. Partners and other adults in the home are part of the screening.
You must reside in the U.S. so that legal protections apply to everyone involved. Our program focuses on surrogates in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. We consider candidates in other surrogacy-friendly states case by case, because of the level of personal support we provide and want every surrogate to feel.
Meeting the requirements above is the start, not the finish. Here is how the process works from your first application to being ready to match with intended parents.
1. Apply. Start with our short application. It takes a few minutes and tells us the basics.
2. Talk with Kaci. Our Recruitment and Intake Manager, a four-time surrogate herself, walks you through what to expect and answers your questions.
3. Medical records review. We gather your OB and delivery records directly from your providers, not through self-reporting, and an independent nurse practitioner reviews them.
4. Medical clearances. You receive written approval from your OB/GYN, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist, and the fertility clinic. All three must clear you before matching.
5. Psychological evaluation. A licensed psychologist who specializes in reproductive medicine conducts a full evaluation, including standardized testing and clinical sessions. Your partner takes part as well.
6. Background check. A comprehensive check is done for you and the adult members of your household.
From application to match-ready status usually takes about three months.
These are the questions we hear most often from women in the Philadelphia area.
I have had C-sections. Can I still be a surrogate? Up to two prior C-sections is generally fine with medical review. More than two calls for additional evaluation.
I had postpartum depression. Does that disqualify me? Not automatically. The psychological evaluation looks at your current health, how a prior episode was treated, and the support you have today.
My BMI is outside the range right now. We offer free health and nutrition coaching for women working toward the BMI requirement. Where you are today is not necessarily where you have to stay.
Something else in my history worries me. The most direct path is a conversation. Many women who assume something in their background is disqualifying find out otherwise once their full history is reviewed. If something does need to be addressed first, we will tell you plainly what that looks like.
Base pregnancy compensation at the Surrogacy Center of Philadelphia starts at $50,000, with experienced surrogates receiving $60,000+. Total packages, including all allowances and benefits, reach $65,000 or more.
The package includes a monthly incidental allowance, medication start fee, embryo transfer fee, wellness allowance, maternity clothing allowance, full medical insurance coverage, travel coverage for medical appointments, bedrest protection, pumping compensation, C-section compensation if applicable, and a $500,000 life insurance policy.
All compensation is held and paid through Seed Trust, an independent escrow account, on the schedule set in your contract before any medical treatment begins.
Take our short quiz to find out if surrogacy might be the right fit for where you are right now.
If you’re ready to take the next step, start your application below — or reach out to Kaci Moore, our Recruitment and Intake Manager, with any questions.
