I had my tubes tied. can I still be a surrogate?

Yes, you can still apply to be a surrogate if you had a tubal ligation. This procedure will not affect your ability to be a surrogate.

What if I do not have health insurance?

If you do not have health insurance, we will work with your intended parents to provide you with one.

I receive government assistance, can I still apply?

Yes! You can still apply so long as you agree to terminate your benefits prior to the start of your contracts.

How long from the time my profile becomes active will I get matched to an intended parent?

Once your application and medical records have been approved, your surrogate profile will be made active on the database. At that time, you will be presented with an intended parent profile to review for matching. This process can take up to three weeks.

Will there be travel involved?

Yes, travel may be involved depending on the location of your Intended Parent’s IVF clinic, but monitoring appointments can be arranged through a local IVF clinic if permitted by the physician.

How long after my last delivery do I have to wait to apply for surrogacy?

You may begin the screening process 2 to 3 months after your delivery. Your profile would not become active on our database until you have stopped breastfeeding and the appropriate amount of time has passed to allow your body to heal after your delivery.

In the past I have taken antidepressant or anti-anxiety medication will this disqualify me for surrogacy?

To qualify for surrogacy, you must have stopped using antidepressants or anti-anxiety medication, with the approval of a physician, six months prior to applying.

Who reviews the legal contracts with me?

We will provide you with a lawyer to assist you through our legal process. These expenses will be covered for you by your IP(intended parent).

Can I select my own OBGYN? where will I give birth?

Yes, you will have the ability to select an OBGYN for your surrogacy journey that is in-network with your health insurance. Your IP will also have input on your decision, but often rely on your recommended doctor that you are comfortable with. Almost all our surrogates deliver at a local in-network hospital.

Are surrogates genetically related to the baby?

In gestational surrogacy, the intended mother’s egg or a donor’s egg is used, fertilized and transferred to the surrogate. In this scenario, the surrogate has no genetic relation to the baby.

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Joyful Family currently only completes gestational surrogacies.

How much contact does a surrogate and the intended parents share with one another?

A surrogate and intended parents can have as much or as little contact with each other as they feel comfortable with. Before they are officially matched, the two parties will always connect either over the phone or in person to make sure it’s a good fit. They will also usually interact at the hospital. Any other contact in between is up to the surrogate and intended parents, and may include phone calls, email and visits.