Part of the process of becoming a surrogate mother is the medical screening. Below you will find an outline of the procedures involved in the process, including all tests required.
Before being accepted into a surrogacy program, you will need to go through a specific set of medical procedures. The aim here is to make sure that you are physically and mentally ready to carry someone else’s child. Surrogacy is a delicate process and there’s a lot at stake. Therefore, all the tests and screenings are required to make sure that the journey goes as smooth as possible.
Here’s a list of procedures that you could expect to go through:
- Psychological Evaluation
- Pap smear — During a pap smear, a physician will use a small brush to swab the cervix for abnormal cells.
- Physical exam — A physician will perform a thorough pelvic exam, as well as a breast, skin and neck exam.
- Bloodwork — Aimed to check whether you or your partner have infectious diseases, like HIV or hepatitis
- Hysteroscopy — A procedure that consists of a thin scope being inserted through your cervix with the aim of determining the shape and the size of your uterus. The main idea here is to make sure that your fallopian tubes are unobstructed.
- Saline sonogram — A procedure that has the purpose of evaluating the uterine cavity and checking for abnormalities.
- Hepatitis — B surface antibody, B surface antigen, B core antibody, and C antibody
- HIV1 and HIV2
- HTLV-1
- VDRL (Syphilis)
- Herpes 21g
- Blood Type and RH
- Urine Drug Screen: Alcohol, Cocaine, Marijuana, Opiates
- Cytomegalovirus 1gG
- Toxoplasma 1gG
- Rubella Virus Antibody
- Cervical Culture done for the following tests: DNA Probe for gonorrhea, chlamydia culture, mycoplasma culture, and ureaplasma culture
Essentially, depending on the fertility clinic being used each may have different requirements and protocols for screening. However, all of them have the same goal and that’s to determine whether you would be a good candidate for surrogacy. Nevertheless, there are some tests that everyone will have to complete; vaginal ultrasounds, frequent blood work, gynecological exam, and HSG.
So, in addition to the regular paperwork, you will have to submit self-disclosed social, medical, and drug history to your agency. And, you might have to submit official medical records from your physician, as well.
Your fertility clinic might ask for additional screenings that aren’t on our list. We’ve provided a general overview of the medical screening process for surrogacy. However, please keep in mind that every pregnancy is different and might require different strategies and tests.
Even though the screening process might seem overwhelming, at the very end of this journey, it will be worth it. So, if you’re considering becoming a surrogate, you now know what to expect from the medical process and you can now complete a surrogate application. Keep in mind that the goal of every individual included in this process is to ensure the success of the surrogacy journey.
