Our Thorough Screening Process: Part 1

When intended parents decide to pursue surrogacy, they are placing a lot of trust in their surrogate.  After all, the surrogate who will be carrying their baby was a perfect stranger before they matched!  Similarly, the surrogate must trust that the intended parents will act respectfully, honor their commitments, and be supportive throughout their journey.  Our screening services ensure that a surrogate (1) is healthy enough for the journey, (2) understands what the journey entails, (3) is emotionally prepared for surrogacy, and (4) has the support they need.

At Brownstone, we take pride in our thorough screening process.  We do not cut corners.  We have a physician review all medical records, hire a licensed mental health professional to conduct psychological screenings, and take time to educate all parties, including spouses or partners. 

Here’s what to expect:

Social Screening

The screening process begins with questionnaires and conversations designed to make sure a potential surrogate knows what a surrogacy journey looks like and is truly ready to take it on:

1. 1. 1. 1. Initial Contact:  When a surrogate reaches out, our team follows up with a short phone call or email to the surrogate candidate to introduce ourselves, discuss the whole process, and answer any questions the surrogate might have at the outset.  
         2. First Questionnaire:  After that conversation and assuming there are no obvious disqualifications, we send an in-depth questionnaire that covers information about her home life, family, hobbies, criminal and financial history, medical and mental health history, pregnancy and birth history, and personal views and preferences related to surrogacy.  Our team closely reviews the answers.  
         3. Video Call:  If everything checks out, we follow up with a second, longer video call with the surrogate and any spouse, partner, or support person.  On that call, we discuss the rest of the screening process, the risks and hardships of surrogacy, why the candidate wants to be a surrogate and what types of parents they’d like to help.  We also answer any and all questions the candidate may have.

If everyone still wants to move forward, the candidate then submits copies of their driver’s license, social security card, insurance booklet (if any), and signs releases to allow us to obtain their medical records (prenatal and labor/delivery) and run background checks.

Medical Screening

Brownstone works with a consulting physician to review the prenatal and labor/delivery records of each surrogate candidate.  The purpose of this review is to identify potential risks by identifying any past pregnancy complications, pre-term birth, or anything else that might negatively impact a surrogacy pregnancy.  Each surrogate candidate will also need to show a normal pap smear result from the past year and to obtain a clearance form from their OB/GYN approving the candidate for a surrogate pregnancy.  Brownstone will not proceed with a candidate whose surrogacy pregnancy would impose undue risk to the surrogate or to the baby.

Ultimately, it is the intended parents’ doctor that does or does not medically approve any particular surrogate candidate.  After match, the surrogate undergoes in-person medical screening with a reproductive endocrinologist, including ultrasounds, blood tests, and a consultation.  However, our thorough medical records review helps intended parents save money by reducing the risk that a surrogate may be medically disqualified by their clinic after match.

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This post covers only part of our thorough screening process.  Each application is given personalized attention and considered on a case-by-case basis.  Check out Part 2!