Embarking on the surrogacy process for surrogates is a profound and life-changing decision. At Ivy Surrogacy, we’re here to guide, support, and empower you through every stage of this meaningful journey.
Inquire and Apply Online : Begin your journey by filling out our
online application form.
Here, you can share your initial information and express your interest in becoming a surrogate.
Interview with Our Team: After reviewing your application, we'll schedule a short personal interview to get to know you better and discuss your motivations, expectations, and any questions you may have about the surrogacy process.
Medical Records Review: We'll obtain and review your medical history to ensure that surrogacy is safe for you and the baby you'll carry.
Background Check: A background check is conducted to ensure the safety and trustworthiness of the surrogacy arrangement.
Once you've passed the pre-screening, we will carefully match you with intended parents whose needs and expectations align with yours. We will arrange a video match meeting for you and the potential parent(s) to talk and learn more about each other. Then your medical records will be sent out to the intended parent’s fertility doctor for review and approval. This careful matching process ensures a harmonious relationship throughout the surrogacy journey.
Psychological Screening: A comprehensive psychological assessment helps prepare you for the emotional aspects of surrogacy.
Medical Screening: You'll undergo a detailed medical examination at the fertility clinic to confirm your physical readiness for pregnancy. It usually includes a lab work for infectious disease screening, drug/alcohol/nicotine screening, hormone levels and immunities, an ultrasound, saline sonogram or a hysteroscopy to check uterus/fallopian tubes to identify polyps/fibroids or anything else that might interfere with pregnancy.
Your partner/spouse will also need lab work for infectious disease and drug screening.
Before proceeding, a legal contract is drafted and reviewed to protect the rights and responsibilities of all parties—ensuring that you and the intended parents feel secure and legally protected.
After legal clearance is issued, the next step is the embryo transfer preparation and procedure performed at the fertility clinic. The fertility doctor will prepare a transfer cycle calendar and put you on hormonal medications while monitoring your hormonal level and uterus endometrium lining; once ready, the doctor will transfer an embryo(s) into your uterus.
Doctors usually recommend/require 1-2 days of modified bedrest after the procedure.
You will receive ongoing support and medical care throughout the pregnancy. Regular check-ups and monitoring appointments will ensure your health and the baby's well-being.
The culmination of your journey is the delivery of the baby. Post-delivery, our support continues to ensure you have a smooth postpartum recovery. We will be there to support the baby’s transition to their intended parents, ensuring a seamless and emotionally positive experience for all involved.
Even after the journey concludes, our agency remains available to provide postpartum support and counseling. We cherish our surrogates and ensure you feel valued and appreciated beyond pregnancy.
The surrogacy journey is a beautiful and meaningful experience—but it’s natural to have questions.
Here, we break down the process into clear steps and answer the most frequently asked questions to help you feel informed, confident, and supported.
The surrogacy process typically takes 12 to 18 months. This timeline includes the initial surrogate application, medical record collection and review, matching with intended parents, medical and psychological screening, legal contract drafting and signing, embryo transfer, pregnancy, and delivery.
Key steps include:
Pre-Screening
Psychological and medical evaluations
Legal contract negotiation and signing
Embryo transfer
Pregnancy monitoring and support
Delivery and postpartum
Once we receive your completed application and full medical records, our team conducts an initial evaluation. If you’re preliminarily approved, we begin sharing your surrogate profile with intended parents. Most qualified surrogates are matched within 1–3 months after this stage begins.
The embryo transfer is a painless outpatient procedure where a fertilized embryo is gently placed into your uterus using a thin catheter. It does not require anesthesia, surgery, or fasting from food and water.
You will undergo several types of screening to ensure you’re physically ready for surrogacy:
Uterine evaluation: Saline sonogram (SIS) or hysteroscopy to examine the uterine cavity.
Lab testing: Includes infectious disease screening (HIV, hepatitis, etc.), drug screening, blood type, CBC, thyroid (TSH), and hormone levels.
Other exams: General physical exam and medical history review by a reproductive endocrinologist.
Yes. Every surrogate is provided with an independent attorney—completely free of charge—to review and negotiate the surrogacy agreement. This ensures your rights are protected and that you fully understand the terms of your journey.
Yes. We always arrange a video meeting between surrogates and intended parents before confirming a match. In most cases, this is a virtual meeting since participants are located in different areas. If both parties are in Southern California and wish to meet in person, we’re happy to arrange it.
It depends on the specific issue:
Minor issues may not disqualify you. For example, low vitamin D levels or the need for a vaccine (like MMR or Hepatitis B) can be addressed with simple interventions.
Further evaluation may be needed if results are unclear—e.g., an abnormal Pap smear may require follow-up with a gynecologist.
More serious issues (like chlamydia or uterine polyps) may require treatment before proceeding.
Certain findings, like a positive drug screening, can disqualify you and may result in loss of a match. Our team will guide you with transparency and support, no matter the result.
