Now accepting new surrogate applications in California—See if you qualify →
El Cajon & East San Diego County · Founded by a Former Surrogate
Surrogacy in El Cajonand East County
Sacramento-based. Third-party medical screening. 3–6 month matching. $65,000–$90,000+ surrogate compensation.
Made in the USA Surrogacy – Serving El Cajon, East County, and all of California since 2017.
“The screening gave us confidence we hadn't felt before.”
— Rebecca T., intended parent
El Cajon is the largest city in East San Diego County, home to more than 106,000 people, and not a single surrogacy agency has built a page for it. No local fertility clinic information. No hospital details. No specifics about what the process looks like for someone living here. This page changes that.
Made in the USA Surrogacy is headquartered in Sacramento and serves surrogates and intended parents throughout California. Our founder, Samantha Giermek, is a former surrogate who built this agency from personal experience. Our surrogates are California residents. Our screening goes deeper than most agencies are willing to publish. And our typical match happens in 3–6 months, not the 6–12+ that's become the industry standard.
Whether you're a woman in El Cajon exploring surrogacy or intended parents searching for an agency that can name the actual medical infrastructure near you, everything below is built on real research, real facilities, and real numbers. Learn more about surrogacy in California.
Local Resources
Surrogacy in El Cajon, California
El Cajon sits 17 miles east of downtown San Diego in the heart of East County, a suburban, inland community with direct access to some of the strongest fertility and maternity care in Southern California. California's surrogacy laws provide the strongest legal framework in the United States.
Fertility Clinics Serving El Cajon
Fertility Institute of San Diego
Has a dedicated El Cajon page and explicitly serves this community. Founded by Dr. Minoos Hosseinzadeh, consistently named “Top Doctor” from 2012 through 2024. Boutique model that assigns a dedicated IVF doctor to every case. Specializes in IVF, egg donation, and gestational surrogacy.
RMA San Diego
Lists El Cajon, La Mesa, and East County among the communities it serves. Full range of advanced fertility treatments including IVF, egg donation, and gestational surrogacy.
San Diego Fertility Center (SDFC)
Has facilitated more than 20,000 births since 1989 and handles 500+ surrogacy cases per year across multiple San Diego County locations.
Delivery Hospitals Near El Cajon
Sharp Grossmont Hospital for Women & Newborns
La Mesa · Minutes from El Cajon
East County's primary maternity hospital. Level III NICU with 24 neonatal intensive care beds. Nearly 3,000 births per year. Named a Newsweek Best Maternity Hospital and U.S. News Best Maternity Hospital Care. Top 10% nationally for patient satisfaction.
Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women & Newborns
San Diego · ~20 minutes from El Cajon
The busiest maternity hospital in California with 9,000+ births annually. Largest Level III NICU in Southern California and the region's premier facility for high-risk referrals.
California Legal Framework
Pre-birth parentage orders mean both parents are on the birth certificate before the baby is born, regardless of marital status or genetic connection. No post-birth adoption. No waiting period. No uncertainty.
El Cajon gives you all of that, plus access to East County's established fertility and delivery network. Learn more about California surrogacy laws.
Our Difference
Why Families and Surrogates in El Cajon Choose Us
Every agency page you visit will tell you they offer “comprehensive screening” and “great compensation.” Here's what we tell you that they won't.
Third-Party
Medical Screening
Screening That Goes Beyond the Basics
Every surrogate in our program completes comprehensive medical evaluation including third-party IVF nurse review of complete OB/GYN records for all pregnancies—not just the most recent. Every candidate also undergoes psychological assessment, financial stability verification, background screening, and unannounced nicotine testing.
We invest this deeply because the quality of the match matters to everyone involved: surrogates, intended parents, and the baby. A thorough process protects all three.
Every Surrogate Lives in California
No cross-state coordination. No conflicting laws. No ambiguity about which legal framework applies. When your surrogate is a California resident, the entire journey stays within the strongest legal protections in the country.
For surrogates near El Cajon, that means proximity to East County fertility clinics and Sharp Grossmont Hospital.
100%
California-Based
3–6 Months
Avg. Match Time
Matching in 3–6 Months, Not 6–12+
The industry average is 6–12 months or longer. We typically match families in 3–6 months because our surrogate compensation attracts a deeper pool of qualified candidates.
More candidates means more potential matches. More matches means faster, better outcomes for everyone.
Founded by a Former Surrogate
Samantha Giermek became a surrogate before she built this agency. She knows what the process feels like from the inside, what support actually looks like versus what agencies claim it looks like. That experience shapes everything from how we screen to how we communicate. Read more about our story.
“We spent over a year with another agency and never got a match. Samantha's team matched us in four months. The screening gave us confidence we hadn't felt before, and the communication was completely different from what we'd experienced.”
— Rebecca T., intended parent
Since 2017
Surrogate-Founded
For Surrogates
Become a Surrogate in El Cajon
If you're considering surrogacy, you're weighing two things at once: whether it's meaningful enough to commit your body and time to, and whether it's financially worth it. At Made in the USA Surrogacy, we don't ask you to choose. Both matter.
Surrogate compensation: $65,000–$90,000+. That reflects what surrogacy actually requires of you—physically, emotionally, and in the day-to-day logistics of carrying for another family while raising your own.
Benefits of Becoming a Surrogate
Full health insurance coverage
All pregnancy-related medical care, paid by the intended parents.
Monthly allowances
Maternity clothing, housekeeping, and childcare during appointments.
Independent legal representation
Paid for by intended parents, to protect your rights throughout the process.
Dedicated case manager support
From application through postpartum, including a direct line to someone who understands what you're going through.
The experience itself
Surrogacy is one of the most meaningful things you can do for another family, and the relationships built during the journey often last well beyond delivery.
What the Process Looks Like
Application
Takes about 10 minutes. We review your basic qualifications and health history.
Screening
Medical records review, psychological assessment, background check. Our team walks you through every step.
Matching
We connect you with intended parents based on values, preferences, and compatibility, not just availability.
Medical clearance
Your fertility clinic confirms you're ready for the transfer process. El Cajon-area surrogates often work with Fertility Institute of San Diego or RMA San Diego.
Legal
Independent legal representation for you, paid for by the intended parents. Your rights and compensation are formalized before anything medical begins.
Pregnancy and delivery
Ongoing support from your case manager throughout. Sharp Grossmont Hospital for Women & Newborns in La Mesa is minutes from El Cajon and equipped with a Level III NICU.
Surrogacy is physically demanding, emotionally complex, and not for everyone. We're honest about that. But for the right person, it's one of the most significant things you can do—and it can provide real financial stability for your family while you do it.
For full details, visit our surrogate requirements page or see the complete compensation breakdown.
For Intended Parents
Find a Surrogate in El Cajon
For intended parents, choosing a surrogacy agency is one of the most consequential decisions in the process. You're trusting an organization to screen the person who will carry your child, manage the logistics of a journey that spans more than a year, and be available when things don't go as planned.
At Made in the USA Surrogacy, every surrogate in our program is a California resident who has passed comprehensive, third-party medical screening. Our gestational surrogacy success rates range from 99.3% to 99.5%, reflecting the depth of our screening and the quality of the fertility clinics we coordinate with across the state.
Our surrogates complete one of the most comprehensive screening processes in the industry. Combined with a 99.3%–99.5% success rate on embryo transfers, that screening translates to outcomes you can feel confident about.
How the Process Works for Intended Parents
Free consultation
A conversation about your goals, timeline, and questions. No pressure, no commitment.
Matching
We identify surrogate candidates who align with your preferences, values, and medical needs. Typical timeline: 3–6 months.
Medical clearance
Your fertility clinic evaluates the surrogate's readiness for embryo transfer. San Diego Fertility Center, Fertility Institute of San Diego, and RMA San Diego all serve the El Cajon area.
Legal agreements
Both parties get independent legal counsel. Contracts are finalized before any medical procedures.
Embryo transfer and pregnancy
Coordinated with your fertility clinic, with ongoing support from our team.
Birth and parentage
California's pre-birth parentage order means you're on the birth certificate before delivery.
The full journey from consultation to birth is typically 18–24 months. Our step-by-step surrogacy process page has the complete breakdown.
Investment
El Cajon Surrogacy Costs
Total surrogacy investment typically starts at $160,000+, covering surrogate compensation, agency fees, IVF and medical expenses, legal fees, and insurance.
Total Estimated Investment
$160,000+
California's clear legal framework can simplify, and in some cases reduce, legal costs compared to states where surrogacy law is less established. And higher surrogate compensation isn't just a line item—it attracts more qualified candidates, which can mean fewer complications and a smoother journey.
For a full breakdown, visit our detailed cost guide.
East County Coverage
Serving East San Diego County and Beyond
We serve families and surrogates throughout El Cajon, La Mesa, Santee, Lakeside, Alpine, and all of California.
Escondido
North County Inland
Learn more about surrogacy in California across all the cities we serve.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I become a surrogate in El Cajon?
Start with a 10-minute application through Made in the USA Surrogacy. From there, our team guides you through medical records review, psychological assessment, and background screening. You’ll need to be 21–40 years old, have carried at least one pregnancy to term, have a healthy pregnancy history, and be a non-smoker. See our full surrogate requirements.
How much does surrogacy cost in El Cajon?
Total surrogacy costs typically start at $160,000 and can exceed $200,000 depending on medical needs and the number of transfer cycles. This includes surrogate compensation, agency fees, IVF, legal fees, and insurance. See our full cost breakdown.
Are there surrogacy agencies in East San Diego County?
Made in the USA Surrogacy serves El Cajon and all of East San Diego County, including La Mesa, Santee, Lakeside, Alpine, Ramona, Spring Valley, Lemon Grove, and Rancho San Diego. We’re headquartered in Sacramento and work with surrogates and intended parents throughout California.
How much do surrogates earn in El Cajon, California?
At Made in the USA Surrogacy, surrogate compensation ranges from $65,000 to $90,000+, depending on experience and individual circumstances. This includes base compensation plus additional allowances throughout the journey. See our full compensation details.
What hospitals near El Cajon handle surrogacy deliveries?
Sharp Grossmont Hospital for Women & Newborns in La Mesa is East County’s primary maternity hospital, located minutes from El Cajon. It has a Level III NICU with 24 beds, handles nearly 3,000 births per year, and has been recognized by both Newsweek and U.S. News & World Report. For high-risk cases, Sharp Mary Birch Hospital in San Diego is approximately 20 minutes away and is the busiest maternity hospital in California.
Start a Conversation
“Whether you're exploring surrogacy for the first time or comparing agencies that serve El Cajon and East San Diego County, we'd rather answer your questions honestly than pitch you on a decision you're not ready to make.”
The next step is a conversation. No pressure, no pitch, just honest information about what this process really looks like.
For Surrogates
The application takes about 10 minutes. No commitment. It's the first step in finding out if surrogacy is right for you.
See If You QualifyFor Intended Parents
A free consultation is a conversation, not a sales call. We'll walk through your situation and answer your questions, even if next steps aren't with us.
Free ConsultationMade in the USA Surrogacy is headquartered in Roseville, California. Founded by Samantha Giermek, a former surrogate. Serving families and surrogates throughout El Cajon, La Mesa, Santee, Lakeside, Alpine, Ramona, Spring Valley, Lemon Grove, Rancho San Diego, and all of California.
