If you are looking at surrogacy agencies in order to choose a team that will help you start a family, there are certain things you want to make sure the agency offers and certain question you should ask.
First of all, having a child through surrogacy, while feasible and legal, is complex. Every state in the U.S. has different laws, and some states are more favorable than others. There are legal issues with contracts, terms for contracts, and interactions between lawyers. Try to settle on an agency that has legal counsel on board. This way, you have legal advice available to you on an as-needed basis.
Next, your agency should have experienced and qualified people on board. There should be a manager or controller handling money on a computerized system such as Quickbooks. There should also be support staff including a social worker or other qualified case management personnel, and staff devoted to finding and recruiting surrogates.
Recruiting surrogates is a central function of the agency. Therefore, the agency should have a system of recruiting including placing ads, responding to candidates, obtaining medical records, and attending to surrogates. These women are going to do an amazing thing by carrying your baby so they should have a dedicated member of the agency staff who is there for them to to answer questions, to support them at times of travel and embryo transfer, and to check in with them regularly during the pregnancy.
The surrogacy agency should have a screening protocol for their surrogates and this should be explained to you. Ideally, they will do a psychological evaluation, background investigation, and a medical record review by a physician. At times, they may coordinate a home visit if this is something the intended parents want. But what is important is that the surrogate is demonstrating her commitment and dedication to becoming a surrogate by way of her compliance with the agency’s screening protocol.
There may also be the need for an egg donor. This is also an aspect of the surrogacy journey that your agency can assist with another good reason to have an agency with a lawyer since you will need to know the law about egg donation, ie, your rights and obligations. In addition to this, you will need an egg donation contract. The surrogacy agency will help you with the coordination of your egg donation needs and the legal work involved.
Essentially your agency should be there for you and your surrogate. You may need additional emotional support from family, friends, or even a therapist as you go through the journey and manage your hopes and anxiety and at times, frustration. The agency team cannot be your counselor as that is not their role. However, they should be managing the details and coordinating the different practical aspects of your journey so as to minimize your anxiety and frustration.
This is your team. Surrogacy happens by way of teamwork. The surrogacy agency and your medical clinic become your one team, with you and your surrogate at the center, working together to bring your child into the world.