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San Mateo & the Peninsula · Founded by a Former Surrogate
Surrogacy in San Mateoand the Peninsula
Third-party medical screening. 3–6 month matching. $65,000–$90,000+ surrogate compensation. What the research really looks like.
Made in the USA Surrogacy, Sacramento-based, serving San Mateo, the Peninsula, and all of California.
“The only agency that could walk us through their screening step by step.”
— Brian and Carla S., intended parents, San Mateo
San Mateo County sits between San Francisco and Silicon Valley, with some of the strongest fertility clinic infrastructure in Northern California. But finding a surrogacy agency that will explain how screening works, how long matching takes, or which clinics they coordinate with in the area takes more searching than it should.
Made in the USA Surrogacy is headquartered in Sacramento. Every surrogate in our program lives in California, including surrogates on the Peninsula and throughout the Bay Area. Our screening goes deeper than a requirements checklist. Our matching timeline is backed by data. And our founder, Samantha Giermek, built this agency from personal surrogacy experience.
Whether you're considering becoming a surrogate in San Mateo County or you're intended parents evaluating agencies, here are the specifics most surrogacy agencies leave out.
Local Resources
Surrogacy in San Mateo and San Mateo County
San Mateo County is home to established fertility clinics and respected maternity hospitals, positioned between San Francisco's medical centers and Silicon Valley's fertility infrastructure. For gestational surrogacy, your fertility clinic handles the IVF cycle, embryo transfer, monitoring, and coordination with your OB through delivery.
Fertility Clinics in San Mateo County
Reproductive Science Center (RSC, San Mateo)
1100 Park Place, San Mateo
Nearly four decades of fertility care since 1983, with comprehensive fertility treatment including egg donation and surrogacy coordination.
HRC Fertility / Zouves Fertility Center (Foster City)
1241 East Hillsdale Blvd, Foster City
Led by Dr. Christo Zouves with 35+ years of IVF experience. Part of the HRC Fertility network with third-party reproduction evaluations.
Pacific Fertility Center
One of the Bay Area's most recognized fertility centers with Peninsula locations serving San Mateo County patients.
Spring Fertility
Modern, patient-centered fertility care with Bay Area locations.
Delivery Hospitals
Mills-Peninsula Medical Center (Burlingame)
Level II NICU with private labor, delivery, recovery, and postpartum rooms. Family-centered maternity care in a state-of-the-art birth center.
Sequoia Hospital (Redwood City)
Level II NICU with Stanford Medicine Children's Hospital neonatology partnership. Voted “Best Birth Center” by Bay Area Parent for 10+ consecutive years.
California Legal Framework
California's surrogacy laws provide the strongest legal framework in the United States. 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.
Our Difference
Why Families and Surrogates on the Peninsula Choose Us
Other agencies will describe their screening as “comprehensive” and their support as “personalized.” Here's what we tell you that they don't.
Third-Party
Medical Screening
Screening That Most Agencies Won't Describe
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 do this 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 legal frameworks. When your surrogate is a California resident with proximity to Peninsula fertility clinics, the journey stays within the strongest surrogacy legal protections in the country.
For surrogates, it means local support from an agency rooted in Northern California.
100%
California-Based
3–6 Months
Avg. Match Time
Matching in 3–6 Months, Not 6–12+
The industry average for surrogate matching is 6–12 months. Some intended parents wait over a year. We typically match in 3–6 months because our surrogate compensation—$65,000+ base for first-time surrogates—attracts a deeper pool of qualified candidates.
More candidates means more potential matches and 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, and what women need to know before they commit. Read more about our story.
“We looked at agencies in San Francisco and on the Peninsula before choosing MUSA. They were the only ones who could walk us through their screening process step by step. That transparency made all the difference.”
— Brian and Carla S., intended parents, San Mateo
Since 2017
Surrogate-Founded
For Surrogates
Become a Surrogate in San Mateo
If you're a woman on the Peninsula thinking about surrogacy, you're weighing whether it's meaningful enough to give your body and your time, and whether the financial side reflects what the commitment actually requires. We don't ask you to pick one or the other. Both matter.
Surrogate compensation: $65,000–$90,000+. First-time surrogates start at $65,000+ base. Experienced surrogates start at $70,000+. Total compensation, including monthly allowances, milestone payments, and full coverage of pregnancy-related expenses, reaches $90,000 or more depending on your situation.
What the Process Looks Like
Application
Takes about 10 minutes. We review your basic qualifications and health history.
Screening
Medical records review by a third-party IVF nurse, psychological assessment, background check, and more. Our team guides you through every step.
Matching
We connect you with intended parents based on values, preferences, and compatibility.
Medical clearance
Your fertility clinic confirms readiness for embryo transfer.
Legal
Independent legal representation for you, paid for by the intended parents. Your rights and compensation are locked in before anything medical begins.
Pregnancy and delivery
Ongoing support from your case manager, from transfer through postpartum.
For full details, visit our surrogate requirements page or see the complete compensation breakdown.
For Intended Parents
Find a Surrogate in San Mateo
For intended parents, choosing a surrogacy agency is one of the most consequential decisions in the process. At Made in the USA Surrogacy, every surrogate has cleared comprehensive medical, psychological, and background screening before being presented to intended parents.
We review complete OB/GYN records for every pregnancy, not abbreviated summaries. Our gestational surrogacy success rate is 99.3%–99.5%, and that reflects the depth of our screening process.
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 with our surrogates, 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.
Matching
We identify surrogate candidates aligned 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.
Legal agreements
Both parties receive independent legal counsel. Contracts are finalized before any medical procedures.
Embryo transfer and pregnancy
Coordinated with your fertility clinic, with ongoing support.
Birth and parentage
California's pre-birth parentage order means both parents are 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
San Mateo 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+
Peninsula costs can trend higher due to the region's elevated cost of living. Higher surrogate compensation reflects the true demands of surrogacy and attracts more qualified, committed candidates.
For a full breakdown, visit our detailed cost guide.
Bay Area Coverage
Serving the Entire Bay Area
We serve families and surrogates throughout the Peninsula, San Francisco, the East Bay, and the South Bay.
Oakland
East Bay
Palo Alto
South Bay / Peninsula
San Jose
South Bay
Learn more about surrogacy in California across all the cities we serve.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I become a surrogate in San Mateo?
Start with an application that takes about 10 minutes. Requirements include being 21–40 years old, having carried at least one pregnancy to term, having a healthy pregnancy history, being a non-smoker, and having a stable living situation. See our full surrogate requirements.
How much does surrogacy cost in San Mateo?
Total surrogacy costs typically start at $160,000 and can exceed $200,000 depending on medical needs. See our full full cost breakdown.
Are there surrogacy agencies on the Peninsula?
Several surrogacy agencies serve the Peninsula, though most are headquartered elsewhere. Made in the USA Surrogacy is Sacramento-based with surrogates throughout the Bay Area, including the Peninsula and San Mateo County.
How much do surrogates earn in San Mateo County?
At Made in the USA Surrogacy, base compensation starts at $65,000+ for first-time surrogates and $70,000+ for experienced surrogates. Total compensation can reach $90,000 or more. See our full compensation details.
What fertility clinics in San Mateo work with surrogacy agencies?
San Mateo County has excellent fertility clinics including Reproductive Science Center (RSC) in San Mateo, HRC Fertility/Zouves Fertility Center in Foster City, Pacific Fertility Center, and Spring Fertility. These clinics coordinate regularly with surrogacy agencies on IVF cycles and embryo transfers.
Start a Conversation
Whether you're exploring surrogacy for the first time or comparing agencies serving the Peninsula, we'd rather answer your questions honestly than pitch you.
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 Sacramento, California. Founded by Samantha Giermek, a former surrogate. Serving families and surrogates throughout San Mateo, Burlingame, Foster City, Redwood City, San Carlos, Belmont, Daly City, and all of California.
