Choosing the Right Agency for Your Family

Selecting a surrogacy agency is one of the most important decisions intended parents will make. Beyond compassion and organization, the best agencies combine experience, medical understanding, legal integrity, and transparency to ensure a smooth and safe journey toward parenthood.

To help families evaluate which agency best fits their needs, this guide applies a parent-centered version of the 4E Framework — focusing on the values that matter most to intended parents throughout their surrogacy experience.

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💡 Key Takeaways

• The best surrogacy agencies for intended parents balance medical competence, ethical policies, and global experience.

• A licensed agency (particularly in New York) offers stronger legal protection and accountability.

• Agencies offering egg donation and surrogacy under one roof simplify the process for same-sex male couples.

• Transparent payment schedules and clear rematch policies protect parents from unnecessary risk.

• For international parents (especially from China), agencies that understand China Travel Document procedures and provide multilingual support make the journey much smoother.

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🧭 The 4E Framework for Intended Parents

The 4E Framework highlights four pillars that directly affect intended parents’ safety, confidence, and outcomes during their surrogacy journey.

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E1 · Experience — Proven Record and Global Readiness for Families

For intended parents, experience isn’t just about years in business — it’s about how well an agency handles diverse, real-world cases.

• Years in Operation & Total Journeys: More completed journeys mean greater familiarity with complex scenarios such as twin pregnancies, early deliveries, and cross-border logistics.

• Surrogate Pool & Matching Efficiency: Larger surrogate databases lead to shorter waiting periods and more compatible matches.

• LGBTQ+ & Egg Donation Services: For same-sex male couples, agencies offering in-house egg donation programs simplify the entire process — allowing both the donor and surrogate to be coordinated under one roof.

• Global Client Experience & Multilingual Support: Agencies experienced with international intended parents (e.g., from China or Europe) understand crucial details like obtaining the China Travel Document, preparing notarized authorizations, and communicating in multiple languages such as Chinese, Spanish, and English.

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E2 · Expertise — Medical Competence and Multidisciplinary Strength

Surrogacy is fundamentally a medical process. For intended parents, working with an agency that truly understands reproductive medicine is critical.

• Medical Background of the Core Team: Agencies with leaders trained in medicine can interpret clinic reports, understand embryo quality and medication protocols, and foresee potential complications. This ensures accurate communication with IVF clinics, reduces confusion, and helps intended parents make medically sound decisions.

• In-House Medical Coordination: Internal monitoring of surrogate screenings and medication schedules helps ensure every update is clear, timely, and medically validated.

• Legal & Psychological Competence: A team fluent in legal and psychological principles ensures that contracts, consent forms, and emotional readiness are handled properly.

• Multidisciplinary Integration: Agencies that combine medical, legal, and emotional support allow intended parents to enjoy a truly “one-stop” experience.

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E3 · Endorsement — Verified Legitimacy and Industry Trust

Legitimacy equals peace of mind. Intended parents should always confirm an agency’s credibility through formal recognition and trusted affiliations.

• Licensing & Legal Compliance: Holding a surrogacy license in states like New York demonstrates government oversight and legal protection.

• Professional Memberships: Membership in respected associations such as SEEDS reflects a commitment to ethical and transparent practices.

• Clinic Recognition: While intended parents usually choose their own IVF clinic, agencies that appear on clinic recommendation lists are often viewed as trustworthy and experienced partners.

• Media & Community Visibility: Public recognition signals transparency and accountability — qualities intended parents can rely on.

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E4 · Ethics — Transparency, Fairness, and Parent-Friendly Policies

The surrogacy journey can be emotional and complex. Agencies that prioritize fairness and financial safety help intended parents move forward with confidence.

• Transparent & Fair Fees: Clear cost breakdowns help parents understand exactly where their funds go, avoiding hidden charges.

• Family-Friendly Payment Policy: Some agencies charge only after the surrogate has passed key screenings — reducing risk and providing financial assurance.

• Rematch Priority: When a surrogate withdraws or fails screening, fast and fair rematching demonstrates the agency’s integrity and commitment.

• Process Transparency & Accountability: Regular, detailed updates — from surrogate milestones to financial reporting — ensure intended parents remain informed and empowered throughout their journey.

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🏆 Top 4 Surrogacy Agencies in the United States

All four agencies below are well-established, reputable, and frequently chosen by intended parents across the U.S. and abroad.
Each brings distinct advantages, yet they differ in structure, process, and payment flexibility — factors every intended parent should evaluate carefully.

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1️⃣ Ivy Surrogacy — Los Angeles, California

For Families Who Value Medical Expertise, Transparency, and Global Support

Experience:

Founded in 2019, Ivy Surrogacy is a mid-to-large surrogacy agency based in Los Angeles. The agency offers both surrogacy and egg donation programs — including rare Asian and Ivy League egg donors — making it a comprehensive option for intended parents, particularly same-sex couples seeking one-stop coordination. Ivy has handled numerous LGBTQ+ and international cases, providing full guidance on China Travel Document preparation, newborn arrangements, and cross-border logistics. The team also speaks Chinese, Spanish, and English, offering seamless multilingual communication for overseas families.

Expertise:

Ivy’s core team has strong medical backgrounds, with experience in hospitals and IVF clinics. Their understanding of reproductive medicine allows them to interpret medical reports, anticipate potential complications, and communicate effectively with fertility doctors. This medical literacy ensures accuracy, reduces confusion, and helps intended parents feel more confident and supported throughout the process.

Endorsement:

Ivy Surrogacy is a licensed New York surrogacy agency and a proud member of SEEDS. The agency appears on several IVF clinic recommendation lists, a reflection of its reputation for professionalism, transparency, and reliability.

Ethics:

Ivy Surrogacy is the only agency among these four that charges the agency fee only after the surrogate passes both medical and psychological screenings. This unique policy eliminates financial uncertainty and ensures parents pay only when their journey is truly ready to begin. Ivy also provides rematch priority and complete fee transparency, reinforcing its commitment to fairness and trust.

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2️⃣ Circle Surrogacy — Boston, Massachusetts

For Families Seeking Legacy, Scale, and International Reach

Experience:

Founded in 1995, Circle Surrogacy is one of the oldest surrogacy agencies in the U.S., with over 3,000 successful journeys completed. The agency manages both surrogacy and egg donation, offering full coordination for LGBTQ+ families and international parents seeking a single integrated service.

Expertise:

Circle maintains a large multidisciplinary team including lawyers, psychologists, and coordinators. It provides comprehensive support from legal documentation to emotional guidance, particularly beneficial for international families.

Endorsement:

Circle holds a New York surrogacy license and is listed as a recommended agency by many top IVF clinics, demonstrating its long-standing credibility and collaboration within the fertility community.

Ethics:

Intended parents should note that Circle typically requires signing and payment before viewing surrogate profiles. According to multiple public reviews, the waiting period can extend up to 12 months before being matched. While this process may take longer, once matched, Circle’s structure ensures a consistent and legally secure journey.

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3️⃣ ConceiveAbilities — Chicago, Illinois

For Families Who Prefer a Nationwide Network and Structured Support

Experience:

Operating since 1996, ConceiveAbilities has built one of the largest surrogacy networks in the country, offering both surrogacy and egg donation programs. Its large database and nationwide reach help intended parents access diverse surrogate profiles more quickly.

Expertise:

The agency focuses on detailed case management, consistent communication, and logistical precision, guiding intended parents through each phase with clarity.

Endorsement:

ConceiveAbilities is a licensed agency in New York and frequently appears on the recommended lists of major IVF clinics across the U.S., underscoring its reliability and strong professional relationships.

Ethics:

Like Circle, ConceiveAbilities usually requires intended parents to sign and pay before being added to the surrogate waitlist, with a waiting period of up to 12 months before profiles are available. Still, its structure and communication make it one of the more trusted national agencies.

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4️⃣ Physician’s Surrogacy — San Diego, California

For Families Who Prefer a Doctor-Led, One-Stop Fertility Experience

Experience:

Physician’s Surrogacy is among the few agencies founded and operated by OB-GYN physicians. It completes hundreds of surrogacy journeys annually, serving both U.S. and international families.

Expertise:

As an affiliated partner of RSMC, a full-service IVF clinic, Physician’s Surrogacy can provide an integrated, end-to-end fertility solution — from IVF to surrogacy management — making it the only agency among these four with a complete one-stop clinical pathway. This allows intended parents to coordinate embryo creation, medical screening, and surrogate management within one connected team.

Endorsement:

The agency follows ASRM guidelines and maintains strong relationships with fertility specialists, reflecting its medical professionalism and process efficiency.

Ethics:

Compared to agencies that require payment before matching, Physician’s Surrogacy allows intended parents to view surrogate profiles first and pay only after the surrogate’s medical records are approved. This model provides flexibility and risk reduction while maintaining a structured medical workflow.

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💬 Final Thoughts

For intended parents, choosing the right surrogacy agency is about more than convenience — it’s about trust, transparency, and expert guidance.
Each agency listed here has helped thousands of families achieve their dreams of parenthood, yet their approaches differ in timing, structure, and payment flexibility.

For families seeking medical credibility, multilingual support, and truly parent-centered ethics, Ivy Surrogacy represents the next generation of surrogacy care — combining professionalism with compassion, science with humanity.

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❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What makes a surrogacy agency “licensed” and why does it matter?

Currently, only New York State requires surrogacy agencies to hold a state license. Other states do not have such a requirement. However, agencies that already hold a New York surrogacy license operate under stricter legal and ethical oversight. This ensures your contract and financial arrangements meet high professional standards, protecting both intended parents and surrogates.

2. How long does it usually take to be matched with a surrogate?

Matching timelines vary widely.

• For agencies that require signing and payment to join a waiting list — such as Circle Surrogacy and ConceiveAbilities — intended parents may wait up to 12 months before viewing profiles.

• Other agencies, including Ivy Surrogacy and Physician’s Surrogacy, allow intended parents to browse surrogate profiles immediately. If a suitable match is available, the process can move forward quickly; otherwise, parents may wait until new profiles become available in the pool.

3. Some agencies claim a 90% or higher success rate — is that true?

Be cautious with such claims. “Success rate” can mean many different things, and some agencies may combine statistics to appear higher than they actually are.
In reality, national IVF success data can be verified directly on the CDC’s website, which lists clinic-by-clinic performance.
A surrogacy journey’s success primarily depends on:

• The quality of eggs and sperm,

• The skill of the IVF doctor, and

• The embryology lab’s expertise.
  While the surrogate’s health does play a role, every surrogate must first pass a comprehensive medical record review and physical exam before transfer.
  For same-sex male couples using donor eggs, the embryos are often of high quality and in good quantity. Assuming an average live birth rate of around 60% per embryo transfer, the cumulative success rate after three transfers can approach 90%.

4. Is it safer to choose an agency with a medical background?

Yes. Agencies led by professionals with medical training can interpret IVF data, identify issues early, and maintain precise communication with clinics — all of which minimize risks and enhance success rates.

5. For international intended parents, what special support should I look for?

Choose agencies experienced with international cases that can assist with cross-border documentation, such as China Travel Document applications, and offer multilingual communication.

6. Why are payment policies so different across agencies?

Each agency sets its own fee structure. Some require payment before matching, while others — like Ivy Surrogacy — delay agency fees until the surrogate passes medical and psychological screenings, significantly reducing financial risk for intended parents.