Your Surrogacy Questions, Answered Honestly

Whether you're an intended parent just starting to explore surrogacy or a prospective surrogate trying to understand the process, you probably have a lot of questions. That's exactly where you should be. Surrogacy is a significant decision, and the more you understand upfront, the better the experience will be.

Here are the questions we hear most often — and the honest answers.

"Do I need to have embryos ready before finding a surrogate?"

No, and this is one of the biggest misconceptions we see. Many intended parents assume they need to complete IVF and have embryos frozen before starting the search for a surrogate. In reality, the matching process and the IVF process can happen in parallel.

Finding and screening a surrogate takes time — typically one to three months. Legal contracts add a few more weeks. If you wait until you have embryos to start that process, you're adding unnecessary months to your timeline. Starting early means your surrogate can be matched, screened, and legally cleared while your embryos are being created, so everything is ready to move forward together.

"How much does surrogacy cost?"

The total cost of a surrogacy journey through Made in the USA Surrogacy typically ranges from $140,000 to $150,000. This includes surrogate compensation, agency fees, legal fees, insurance, and pregnancy-related expenses — though IVF costs (egg retrieval, embryo creation, and transfer procedures) are separate.

We know that's a significant number. Many intended parents have already spent years and thousands of dollars on fertility treatments before turning to surrogacy. We work to strike a balance that fairly compensates surrogates for their extraordinary commitment while keeping the process as accessible as possible for families who want a child more than anything.

If cost is a concern, we're happy to walk through the breakdown with you and discuss financing options.

"Does the surrogate's health insurance cover a surrogacy pregnancy?"

This is one of the most important logistical questions in the surrogacy process, and the answer is: it depends entirely on the surrogate's existing policy. Some health insurance plans explicitly cover surrogacy pregnancies. Many exclude them. And some don't address surrogacy at all, which creates uncertainty.

As part of the surrogacy process, your agency will review the surrogate's existing insurance policy to determine whether it provides coverage. If it doesn't — which is common — a surrogacy-specific health insurance policy will be obtained. The cost of that policy is factored into the overall surrogacy budget and is typically covered by the intended parents.

The bottom line: your surrogate will have comprehensive health coverage throughout the pregnancy. The details of how that coverage is structured will be part of the planning process.

"Does the surrogate's location matter?"

It does, but maybe not in the way you'd expect. Your surrogate doesn't need to live near you — many surrogacy journeys involve intended parents and surrogates in different states or even different countries.

What matters most is that your surrogate lives in a surrogacy-friendly state with clear legal protections. California is one of the best states in the country for surrogacy law — parentage can be established before birth, and surrogacy contracts are fully enforceable. But there are many other surrogacy-friendly states as well.

The surrogate's location also affects which IVF clinic she'll need to travel to for medical screening and embryo transfer. Travel logistics and costs are factored into the surrogacy agreement, so everything is planned and budgeted upfront.

"How long does it take to find a surrogate?"

Matching typically takes one to three months, though it can be faster or slower depending on your specific preferences and the surrogates currently available. Factors like location, the number of embryos you'd like transferred, and whether you prefer a first-time or experienced surrogate all play into the matching timeline.

The most important thing is finding the right fit — not the fastest match. The relationship between intended parents and their surrogate shapes the entire experience. A strong match is worth waiting for.

"Are there enough surrogates available?"

Demand for surrogates consistently outpaces supply, which is one of the reasons matching can take time. But "available" doesn't mean scarce — it means that agencies are selective about who they accept, and the screening process is thorough by design.

At Made in the USA Surrogacy, we continuously recruit and screen surrogate candidates. We'd rather have a smaller pool of thoroughly qualified surrogates than a larger pool of candidates who haven't been properly vetted. When you're matched with one of our surrogates, you can be confident she's been through a rigorous qualification process.

"Will I have a say in who my surrogate is?"

Absolutely. The matching process is collaborative, not arbitrary. Your agency will introduce you to surrogate candidates who align with your preferences, and the match meeting is a conversation where both sides get to ask questions and evaluate the fit. If the match doesn't feel right — for either party — you move on to another candidate.

You'll have input on things like the surrogate's location, whether she's willing to carry multiples, her communication style, and her values. The goal is to create a partnership built on mutual respect and shared expectations.

"What if something goes wrong during the journey?"

Surrogacy, like any pregnancy, involves uncertainty. Embryo transfers don't always succeed on the first try. Pregnancies sometimes have complications. Relationships between surrogates and intended parents occasionally need adjustment.

A good agency plans for these scenarios in advance. Your gestational surrogacy agreement will outline what happens in a range of unexpected situations — from failed transfers to medical complications to rematching. And your agency's case management team is there to navigate challenges as they come up, so you're never figuring it out alone.

Still Have Questions?

This list barely scratches the surface — and that's okay. The surrogacy process has a lot of moving parts, and every journey is unique. If you have questions that aren't answered here, the best next step is a conversation. We'll take the time to address everything that's on your mind, with no pressure to commit.

For intended parents: Start the conversation →

For prospective surrogates: Learn more about the journey →