How to Become a Surrogate

Empowering women, empowering families.

Fairfax Surrogacy surrogates have completed their own families and are committed to transforming lives by helping to grow families for others. By becoming a surrogate, women give other families the hope and joy of a pregnancy that they otherwise would not have. In the process, they change the families’ lives as well as their own.

Be a part of something amazing.

Surrogate Requirements

While we hold all of our Fairfax Surrogacy clients in high regard, we also hold them to high standards. And that includes the women we choose to for our surrogacy program. Our experience has provided us with a set of requirements for surrogates that produce the best results for all involved, with a priority of protecting the surrogate’s health and safety.

To qualify as a surrogate, you must:

Be between the ages of 21 and 41 years old.

Have family support. 

Live in a surrogacy-friendly state. 

Have a body mass index (BMI) less than or equal to 32

Be a legal resident of the United States

Have had at least one full-term, uncomplicated pregnancy and birth

Have had 5 or fewer previous deliveries

Have had 2 or fewer Caesarean sections

Be willing to travel for screening and embryo transfer procedures

Provide documentation of medical history and past pregnancies

We have a host of incentives and goodies for our surrogates who qualify, and we can’t wait to tell you about them. You will be in the driver’s seat for choosing intended parents and your support team.

Surrogacy Process & Timeline

Join a community of empowering women that believe in giving the gift of parenthood.

At Fairfax Surrogacy, we will guide you through each step of the surrogacy process with clarity, support, and a personalized approach. Understanding the timeline and what to expect at each phase not only prepares you for the journey ahead but also helps to ensure a seamless and rewarding surrogacy experience. With our expert team by your side, every milestone is navigated with care, ensuring a fulfilling journey as a gestational surrogate.

Here are the six major steps of the surrogacy process for gestational surrogates.

We will spend some time getting to know you and making sure we have answered all your questions. Then, we will have a few questions of our own.

We will gather information through questionnaires, an interview, and your medical history, including your pregnancy and delivery records. At this time, we will also want to know what your preferences are for matching with intended parents.

You will undergo some basic laboratory testing and a psychological assessment. We also will review your medical insurance to determine which, if any, aspects of the surrogacy are covered. To prevent unforeseen expenses for you, we may need to change or expand your health insurance coverage.


Surrogate Application Process Details

After completing the application and screening process, you will have the opportunity to select potential intended parents. We will provide you with profiles of intended parents that align with your preferences. You can let us know which parents you are interested in, and we will then share your profile with those selected intended parents. If they also show interest in your profile, we will arrange a match meeting.

During the match meeting, you will have the chance to start forming a bond with the intended parents. We will be there to help with your introduction, so you can start to develop a relationship with them.

Following the match meeting, the fertility clinic will conduct a thorough review of your medical records and the lab results that we obtained in the screening process to confirm that you are medically fit for surrogacy. This process involves a visit to the fertility clinic for a comprehensive medical evaluation. The duration of this trip can range from one to two days, depending on the distance to the clinic.

To make sure you know and understand all of your rights as a surrogate, we will refer you to a surrogacy attorney familiar with the laws in your state. You will meet with the attorney to draft a Gestational Carrier Agreement, which will cover the legal aspects of your journey as a surrogate. The attorney will solely represent your interests as you complete the contract.

You’re now entering the phase where you’ll get your body ready for the embryo transfer. You’ll follow a medication schedule prescribed by the fertility clinic to help prepare your body for the embryo transfer and the pregnancy. At the same time, you’ll start undergoing lab tests and ultrasound scans as part of this preparation.

Next, you’ll need to travel to the fertility clinic chosen by the intended parents for the actual embryo transfer. This visit will typically last between two to three days.

After the embryo transfer, there will be follow-up appointments to confirm the pregnancy and monitor its progress. Whether these check-ups take place at a clinic near you or back at the intended parents’ clinic will depend on the agreement reached by everyone involved.

Your prenatal checkups will take place with your provider. Your case manager will work with you closely to support you and provide any resources you need. If you haven’t been already, this is the time to lean on family for support and potentially join our surrogacy support group. It’s our goal to ensure that you’re healthy, happy, and calm as we all anticipate the new arrival.

All the hopes and dreams of the past several months have pointed toward this special moment. Finally, the baby arrives, and you will be witness to the magic of your intended parents holding their baby for the first time. While this will be the end of the surrogacy journey, it is only the beginning in so many more ways.

You will see lives transform – including your own – in front of your very eyes.

How Much Does a Surrogate Get Paid?

We want our surrogates to know and understand the compensation from the beginning. Therefore, transparency is our priority, with no hidden loopholes or additional requirements thrown in along the way.

We offer a generous Benefits Package starting at $60,250, plus additional contingent compensation and bonuses.

To download a copy of our Surrogate Benefits Package, complete the form below.

To request more information and speak with one of our Surrogate Intake Coordinators, take the first step and find out if you qualify!

The Fairfax Difference

Surrogacy

The Experience

Fairfax is proud to have been founded by those who established the Genetics & IVF Institute. GIVF has been helping families grow since 1984 through innovative technology and compassionate, comprehensive infertility treatment.

Because the warmth and closeness of family are more important now than ever, we bring our integrity and family-building experience to surrogates and intended parents. Fairfax Surrogacy is led by women who themselves have been surrogates or gestational carriers. Who better to understand your journey as a surrogate than someone who has been on the journey herself?

Friendly Support

At Fairfax Surrogacy, we specialize in happy surprises. Connecting surrogates with intended parents is just the beginning.

Of course, there will be many milestones and checklists along the way. Lucky for you as the surrogate, we are as good at guiding and supporting you as we are with juggling all the details. Remember that our staff has been surrogates too, and you will also have a case manager who will be with you at each step of your path to parenthood. We are available by phone, text, email, and Zoom from the first discussions of whom to match with, booking medical appointments and travel, to delivery and beyond. A virtual support group offers another avenue for exchanging tips and sharing the love of surrogacy.

Friendly
Become a Surrogate- Financial Transparency

Financial Transparency

Fertility is a joyful yet serious undertaking. Surrogates will know all of the requirements and compensation details upfront.

We mean it when we say that the only kinds of surprises we want to deliver are happy ones, so rest assured that there would not be hidden obligations or expenses along the way. Fairfax Surrogacy will purchase life insurance and medical insurance (if needed) and ensure that all payments will be made to surrogates and their providers in a timely fashion. In addition, our surrogates will have no financial obligation for pregnancy-related expenses.

Fairfax Surrogate FAQs

Whether you’re just starting to explore the idea of becoming a surrogate or you’re already on your path, this section is tailored to offer you the information and guidance you need. We understand the significance of your decision and are here to ensure that you are fully informed and supported throughout every step of your journey.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the difference between traditional and gestational surrogacy?
    Fairfax Surrogacy specializes in Gestational Surrogacy. Gestational carriers, also known as gestational surrogates, are by far the most popular option for those who choose surrogacy to build their family. Gestational surrogates are not genetically related to the child that they carry. Instead, modern technology allows the gestational surrogate to carry a genetically unrelated fetus through the use of the intended mother’s eggs or eggs from a donor. Traditional surrogacy is when the surrogate not only carries the child but also uses her eggs to create the embryo. This means she is the biological mother who carries the child with the intention of all parentage rights being given to the intended parent(s) upon birth. Because of the traditional surrogate’s biological connection to the baby, traditional surrogacy raises many legal and medical concerns. If you are interested in this route, please proceed with tremendous caution.
  • How much will it cost me to be a surrogate?
    Nothing! Financial transparency for surrogates is one of our priorities. All pregnancy related expenses are covered, and there will be no hidden costs or exceptions along the way. In addition, you will receive compensation for your time. Any pregnancy-related expenses that you pay out of pocket will be fully reimbursed according to the terms of your surrogacy agreement.
  • Can I choose who I match with?
    Yes. From the beginning, we will be talking to you about your matching preferences. We will provide profiles of intended parents who meet your criteria. If your preferred intended parents agree to the match, then we will connect everyone virtually so you can begin to get acquainted. From there, the relationship can take shape however the surrogate and intended parents see fit.
  • Can I be a surrogate if I have had a c-section?
    Yes, you can. We will accept surrogates who have had up to 2 c-sections.
  • What makes Fairfax Surrogacy a trusted choice for surrogacy?
    Fairfax Surrogacy stands out as a trusted choice for surrogacy due to our unwavering commitment to education, support, credibility, transparency, diversity, and compassion. We cater to all aspiring parents and surrogates, ensuring a high standard of integrity throughout the surrogacy journey. Our extensive screening process before matching, combined with safeguards to protect and honor all parties involved, demonstrates our dedication to creating successful and ethical surrogacy experiences. Whether you're an intended parent dreaming of growing your family or someone interested in the rewarding journey of becoming a surrogate, Fairfax Surrogacy is here to guide and support you every step of the way.
    • Education and Support: We provide comprehensive education and support to both aspiring parents and surrogates, ensuring everyone involved is well-informed and prepared for the journey ahead.
    • Credibility and Transparency: Our agency is built on a foundation of credibility and transparency, offering clear and honest communication throughout the surrogacy process.
    • Diversity and Compassion: We embrace diversity and approach every surrogacy journey with compassion, understanding the unique needs and wishes of each individual and couple.
    • Integrity and Safeguards: Our rigorous screening process and commitment to ethical practices ensure the highest level of integrity, safeguarding the well-being of surrogates, intended parents, and the children brought into the world.
    At Fairfax Surrogacy, we believe in building dreams, creating lasting relationships, and making the dream of parenthood a reality. Our experienced team is dedicated to providing the support and resources needed to navigate the surrogacy process successfully, making us a trusted partner in your family-building journey.

Ready to begin your journey?

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Live Surrogacy Q&A

— February 22 at 2:00pm EST —

Get answers to all the questions you have about the surrogacy process!