QUESTIONS FREQUENTLY ASKED BY INTENDED
PARENTS
Q - How do I choose an agency?
A - Selecting the agency that will help
you find the woman who will carry your child
is an important decision. Throughout your
surrogacy journey, you will rely on your
agency to keep track of every single aspect
of the process. Be sure to find out who
exactly will be responsible for your case.
Will it be the director, an office
assistant, or a combination of employees?
It’s important to know that the person
managing your case will be easy to reach,
and available to you whenever you have a
question. You should choose an agency that
listens to you and makes you feel
comfortable. You also shouldn’t be expected
to pay for a consultation. Any agency that
has your best interests in mind should be
willing to give you a consultation for free
(I do.) Also, most agents should expect you
to ask for references and will be happy to
supply them. When getting references, I
would recommend that you get phone numbers,
so that you can actually can verify them and
speak to them in person.
Q - Why do I pay an agency fee?
A - Your agency fees help to cover my operating costs and pay me for my time and service. A large part of your fee is spent on advertising. I am constantly searching for qualified surrogates for my program. I believe strongly in reaching out into the community by way of both print ads and internet ads
Q - How soon will we be matched with a
surrogate?
A - It varies. You may match right away with the first profile you receive, but some intended parents have searched for a year or more for the perfect match because of their particular preferences. Not only should your surrogate match your requirements on paper, you should also feel some level of "connection" with her once you start getting to know each other. That said, you could be matched within a couple of weeks or it could take several months. Since the process is so personal, you should be prepared to take the extra time to make sure you get it started right.
Q - Will we be placed on a waiting list?
A - No, your profile will be shown to
every available surrogate who is a potential
match for you.
Q - What happens if our surrogate gets
disqualified by our doctor?
A - If your surrogate is disqualified during the screening process, you have the option of consulting another fertility doctor, or matching with a new surrogate. Because each individual doctor has their specific requirements and preferences, one of the first things I do when I take your case is contact your fertility clinic to get their most recent requirement list, and open a line of communication with them. I’ll ensure that your doctor’s requirements are met before any surrogate’s profile is presented to you.
Q - Why don’t you have online profiles
for viewing?
A - There are several reasons. First, the
privacy and safety of my clients are
paramount to me, surrogates and intended
parents included. Additionally, many
surrogates are "registered" with more than
one agency, and are searching independently
as well. I wouldn’t want you to join my
program because of a profile that you view,
just to find out that she’s no longer
available, or that she doesn’t fit your
specific needs.