If you’re considering surrogacy, you’ve come to the right place. Surrogacy is a medically, legally, and emotionally complex process that you should not face alone. By partnering with a well-established agency, you’ll have a compassionate, helpful team available to guide you through every step of the surrogacy process. They’ll make sure the surrogate mother receives the highest quality medical care, the rights of everyone involved are protected, and you have the support you need to get through the challenges. Here is how to find the best surrogacy agencies to help guide you through this process.
Understand Your Surrogacy Options
Before you choose a surrogacy agency, it’s good to do a little research on the process. There are two types of medical surrogacy, including:
- Traditional Surrogacy: When the surrogate mother uses her own eggs, it is known as traditional surrogacy. Then, doctors use either the intended father or a donor’s sperm to impregnate the surrogate mother through artificial insemination.
- Gestational Surrogacy: With gestational surrogacy, doctors create an embryo using in vitro fertilization (IVF). The ovum and sperm used to create the embryo may be from the intended parents or donors.
The type of medical surrogacy you choose depends entirely on your family’s needs. Your surrogacy agency can help you determine which is best.
There are also primary types of surrogacy agreements between the intended parents and the surrogate mother. Surrogacy agreements are managed and negotiated by the surrogacy agency based on relevant laws:
- Altruistic Surrogacy: In altruistic surrogacy, a woman volunteers to become a surrogate for the intended parents. Most surrogacy agreements are altruistic, but the intended parent still pays for the care of the mother and the birth of the child.
- Commercial Surrogacy: Commercial surrogacy is when intended parents pay a surrogate mother to carry their child to term.
Many governments heavily regulate surrogacy agreements. As a result, there are two types of surrogacy:
- Domestic Surrogacy: Domestic surrogacy occurs in the home country of both the intended parents and the surrogate mother.
- International Surrogacy: International surrogacy occurs in the home country of the surrogate mother.
When families are in places that don’t provide a legal framework for surrogacy or in cases like same-sex couples who face discriminatory laws, international surrogacy is ideal. Some countries have a robust body of laws, modern medical facilities, and a culture that believes in the value of surrogacy. So often, people struggling to find a good surrogacy solution domestically will turn to an international surrogacy agency.
2.Research The Best Surrogacy Agencies
Once you understand the surrogacy process, you can begin to assess the best surrogacy agencies. Start by making a list of surrogacy agencies to work with. You can find them online through search engines and recommendations on surrogacy boards. Once you have a list, start researching their credentials. Look for facilities with highly specialized staff and a successful history of surrogacy. Next, check their credentials and reviews online. Look for testimonials and family success stories across social media that speak to the quality of care the surrogacy agency provides their clients. Once you have built your list, you can start scheduling consultations.
3.Ask The Right Questions At Your Surrogacy Consultation
During the consultation, the surrogacy agency will explain their process and services. You want to make sure that you choose a surrogacy agency that offers comprehensive services. The best surrogacy agencies handle everything from surrogacy matching to overseeing the medical process to managing all the legal paperwork to protect your parental rights. Before you attend your constellations, make sure to put together a list of questions. Here are some questions commonly asked by intending parents to inspire your list of questions:
- What is your surrogacy process?
- How do you find and screen surrogate mothers?
- What is your success rate?
- What are the costs involved, and how much should I budget?
- What support do you provide the surrogate mother?
- How do you protect my parental rights when the child is born?
- What contingencies will exist if something goes wrong with the surrogacy?
- Do you have references I can speak to about their experience?
Make sure to have a notebook ready. There is a lot of information you will cover.
4.Compare The Agencies
Once you finish the consultation, you can begin to compare the best surrogacy agencies. First, check their references and see what past families say about their experience. Then, compare the services, prices, and support offered by each surrogacy agency. Finally, trust your gut. Surrogacy is an emotionally complex process, and you need to work with a team you really trust.
For over a decade, Stork Surrogacy has been rated as one of the best surrogacy agencies. We’ve worked with parents all over the globe to help them achieve their dream family. We’re always available to answer any questions you have about our services and processes. Schedule your free consultation with our professional surrogacy here to get started.