There are several requirements you need to meet in order to be a surrogate in our program. The list below details all factors we take into consideration when reviewing your application. Upon qualification you will be asked to complete a full surrogate application in order to match you with intended parents.
Dakota Surrogacy’s Gestational Surrogate Requirements
Dakota Surrogacy follows the screening and counseling recommendations of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), along with applicable fertility-clinic policies and the individualized recommendations of qualified medical and mental health professionals. Meeting the following preliminary requirements does not guarantee acceptance into our program or medical approval by a fertility clinic. Each candidate is evaluated individually, and additional records, testing, consultations, or specialist clearances may be required.
You are a United States citizen or lawful resident.
To participate in the Dakota Surrogacy program, you must be legally authorized to reside in the United States and remain in the country throughout the screening, treatment, pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum periods. You must also live in a state where the proposed surrogacy arrangement can be completed safely and legally based on the circumstances of the match.
You are between 21 and 45 years of age.
Consistent with ASRM recommendations, gestational surrogate candidates must be of legal age and are preferably between 21 and 45 years old. Pregnancy-related risks may increase with age, and the intended parents’ fertility clinic will make the final medical determination. Candidates approaching or exceeding a clinic’s age limit may be required to obtain additional medical or maternal-fetal medicine clearance.
You have experienced at least one healthy, full-term pregnancy and delivery.
ASRM recommends that a gestational surrogate have previously completed at least one uncomplicated term pregnancy. This experience helps ensure that you understand the physical and emotional demands of pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum recovery. Your pregnancy and delivery records will be reviewed to determine whether another pregnancy may be medically appropriate.
You should also be actively parenting your children and have no unresolved concerns related to relinquishing care of a child after delivery.
You have had no more than five total deliveries and no more than three cesarean deliveries.
Consistent with ASRM recommendations, a gestational surrogate should ideally have had no more than five previous deliveries or three cesarean deliveries. Multiple pregnancies and cesarean deliveries can increase the risk of complications, including placental abnormalities, uterine rupture, surgical complications, and postpartum hemorrhage.
Some fertility clinics establish stricter limits based on their medical policies. Your complete obstetric history—including prior vaginal deliveries, cesarean deliveries, pregnancy complications, and postpartum recovery—will be reviewed before approval.
You have a body mass index below 35.
Dakota Surrogacy generally requires candidates to have a body mass index (BMI) below 35. BMI is only one component of a candidate’s overall health, but a higher BMI may be associated with an increased risk of complications such as gestational diabetes, hypertension, cesarean delivery, anesthesia complications, and blood clots.
Fertility clinics establish their own BMI requirements, and many require a BMI below 30 or 32. Meeting Dakota Surrogacy’s preliminary requirement does not guarantee that a fertility clinic will grant medical approval.
You do not use tobacco, nicotine, marijuana, illegal drugs, or other prohibited substances.
Gestational surrogate candidates must live in a smoke-free and drug-free environment. This requirement applies to cigarettes, vaping products, nicotine products, marijuana, and illegal or non-prescribed controlled substances. Candidates must agree to drug and nicotine testing when requested and must disclose all prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and supplements.
Alcohol use must be discontinued as directed before medical screening, cycle preparation, embryo transfer, and pregnancy. Household members should not smoke or vape inside the home or in vehicles used by the surrogate.
You are in good physical health and medically able to carry another pregnancy.
Candidates must be healthy enough to safely undergo fertility treatment, pregnancy, and delivery. We will review your pregnancy, delivery, surgical, and general medical records. You may also be asked to obtain clearance from your obstetric provider or another treating physician.
The intended parents’ fertility clinic will conduct the final medical evaluation, which may include a physical examination, laboratory testing, infectious-disease screening, drug and nicotine testing, and an evaluation of the uterine cavity. Additional testing or specialist consultation may be required based on your medical history.
You are emotionally prepared for the surrogacy journey.
Surrogacy requires emotional stability, thoughtful decision-making, healthy boundaries, reliable communication, and a clear understanding of the relationship between the gestational surrogate and intended parents. Candidates should not have an untreated or unstable mental health condition or any current circumstances that could make participation unsafe or emotionally inappropriate.
Medication use or a history of counseling or mental health treatment does not automatically disqualify a candidate. Each situation is reviewed individually by the appropriate professionals, and medical records or clearance from a treating provider may be required.
You agree to psychological evaluation and counseling.
In accordance with ASRM recommendations, all potential gestational surrogates must complete a psychological evaluation and implications counseling with a qualified mental health professional experienced in third-party reproduction. A spouse, partner, or primary support person may also be required to participate.
The evaluation may include a clinical interview, standardized psychological testing, a review of relevant treatment history, and discussion of topics such as motivation, support, boundaries, communication, pregnancy-related decisions, attachment, termination and reduction, delivery, postpartum recovery, and the anticipated relationship with the intended parents.
You and the adults in your household agree to the required background screening.
Gestational surrogate candidates and their spouses or partners must complete criminal background checks. Background screening may also be required for other adults living in the household. All candidates must provide complete and truthful information about criminal, legal, child-protection, and substance-use history. A prior issue will be evaluated according to its nature, severity, timing, and relevance to the safety and stability of the journey.
You have a stable home environment and reliable support system.
ASRM recommends that gestational surrogates have a stable family environment and adequate support to help them manage the additional responsibilities and stress of pregnancy. You must identify at least one dependable adult who can provide practical and emotional support throughout screening, treatment, pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum recovery.
Your support plan should address transportation, childcare, appointments, medication assistance when needed, recovery after the embryo transfer or delivery, and the possibility of activity restrictions, bed rest, or pregnancy complications. Dakota Surrogacy also provides ongoing case-management support, but agency support does not replace the need for dependable assistance at home.
You are financially stable and do not rely on needs-based government assistance.
Gestational surrogate candidates must be able to meet their household’s basic financial needs without relying on surrogate compensation or needs-based government assistance, such as SNAP, TANF, cash assistance, or subsidized housing. Compensation is an appropriate part of a surrogacy arrangement, but it should not be the primary reason someone chooses to become a surrogate or be necessary to support her family’s essential living expenses.
You are willing to follow medical instructions and participate fully in the process.
Gestational surrogates must be willing and able to attend appointments, take medications as prescribed, complete required testing, communicate promptly, comply with reasonable medical recommendations, and follow the terms of the gestational carrier agreement. Reliable transportation, consistent availability, and the ability to travel when required are essential.
You must also be willing to work collaboratively with Dakota Surrogacy, the intended parents, fertility clinic, obstetric provider, mental health professional, attorneys, insurance professionals, and other members of the surrogacy team.
Final approval is individualized.
Dakota Surrogacy’s preliminary requirements are informed by ASRM recommendations and our responsibility to protect the health, dignity, and well-being of everyone involved. Our faith-based approach calls us to conduct each evaluation with honesty, compassion, wisdom, and respect. We carefully consider the entire person rather than relying on any single qualification.
Final acceptance is subject to completion of agency screening, psychological approval, medical-record review, fertility-clinic approval, insurance review, independent legal representation, and any additional requirements applicable to the individual journey. A fertility clinic or medical provider may establish standards that are more restrictive than those listed here.