How to Become a Surrogate

How does a woman actually begin the process of becoming a surrogate?

The first step is to do your homework.

Women who are seriously considering surrogacy should read as much as they can, look at real surrogate experiences, talk to women who have done it, and pay attention to what they say about their agency, the process, their family life, and whether they were happy that they did it. It is also smart to look at agency websites, reviews, social media, support groups, and the professional organizations that agencies are part of before deciding where to apply.

Once a woman finds agencies that interest her, the process usually begins with an initial qualification step. That first application is meant to identify whether she meets the basic criteria to move forward. If that step is cleared, she moves into a fuller application that covers more of her medical history, family history, pregnancy history, social history, and what she is looking for in the surrogacy experience.

If that fuller application is approved, the next step at Choice is the interview and Education and Information Session with Trish Taylor.

What happens during the Education and Information Session at Choice?

The Education and Information Session is one of the most important early steps in becoming a surrogate with Choice.

This is where a woman meets with Trish Taylor, owner of the agency, who has been involved in surrogacy for more than 30 years and was a surrogate herself. In this session, she is not only allowed to ask questions. She is fully educated on what surrogacy really involves, including the steps of the process, the responsibilities, the risks, and what it is actually like to move through the journey.

That conversation covers:

• what becoming a surrogate involves from start to finish
• what the IVF process is really like
• what communication and follow-through are required
• what the experience may mean for her family and daily life
• what intended parents are relying on her to carry sucessfully
• what to expect emotionally, medically, and logistically

At Choice, this session is not treated like a formality. It is part of determining whether a woman is truly prepared to move forward.

What does Choice want women to understand about becoming a surrogate that most agencies explain poorly?

One of the biggest problems in surrogacy is that many agencies do not explain the process honestly enough at the beginning.

Some agencies advertise a high compensation number and make the process look bigger, easier, or more inflated than it really is. A woman may be shown a large package of line items that looks exciting at first, only to later learn that the true experience is very different from what was implied in the ad. Choice believes women deserve to understand the financial structure clearly from the start, not be brought in by unrealistic impressions.

Other agencies also gloss over the real medical and daily-life demands of surrogacy. Women need to understand what IVF injections are like, what early morning blood draws and ultrasounds require, how pregnancy for another family affects work and childcare, and how much communication, responsiveness, and follow-through are expected.

At Choice, women are told early that this is not a quick-money scheme. It is a real process, with real steps, real preparation, and real responsibility.

What happens before a woman is ever considered ready to be presented to intended parents?

At Choice, a woman is not considered ready to be presented to intended parents just because she filled out an application.

A number of things can rule her out early. Basic application criteria matter, including prior pregnancy and delivery history, C-section history, nicotine use, medications, and whether her general health and background fit the surrogacy requirements. But beyond that, Choice is also looking for honesty, full disclosure, readiness, and follow-through.

To move forward toward presentation, several things have to be true:

• the information given on the application must match the medical records, mental health review, and background review
• the woman must show real commitment and initiative
• she must follow through on appointments and next steps
• she must understand how the financial process actually unfolds
• she must show that she has support at home and has truly set aside this period of her life for surrogacy

At Choice, the goal is not to rush women into profile presentation. The goal is to move them through real preparation so that by the time they are presented, they are ready.

What kind of woman becomes a strong Choice surrogate?

A strong Choice surrogate is not only someone who can carry a pregnancy again. She is someone who can carry the responsibility of surrogacy.

Choice looks for a woman who is:

• responsible
• reliable
• willing
• able to be guided
• good at following instructions
• responsive in communication
• supported at home
• stable in work and childcare planning
• motivated by both meaning and responsibility

A strong surrogate is someone who understands that what she is doing is life-changing for another family. She sees the financial benefit, but she also understands that the emotional and human side of the experience matters. She is willing to take that responsibility seriously, communicate well, and move through the journey in a way that helps intended parents feel secure and supported too.

Why support at home matters before a woman becomes a surrogate

Support at home is one of the most important parts of becoming a surrogate.

A woman may seem medically qualified and still not be in the right position to move through the process. That is why Choice pays close attention to how her family, work, and home life will support the journey. If she is traveling, if she is on bedrest, if appointments interrupt normal life, or if recovery after delivery is harder than expected, she needs real support around her.

At Choice, after the Education and Information Session and before a woman moves into full prescreening, she and her husband or partner meet with Trish together. That conversation covers the compensation package, communication expectations, the realities of IVF, and what support will look like at home. That is an important part of confirming readiness before the screening process goes deeper.

What support and guidance does a surrogate actually receive from Choice from the beginning?

Choice guides surrogates from day one, starting with the first intake and inquiry and continuing all the way through delivery.

A surrogate works closely with the Choice team throughout the process, but her main and predominant contact is Trish Taylor as the owner of the company, along with Chloe Clontz as program manager, who helps manage the process from start to finish.

That means surrogates are not left trying to figure everything out on their own. Choice supports them through:

• the intake and inquiry process
• the Education and Information Session
• partner meeting and deeper screening
• preparation for matching
• medical and legal preparation
• IVF cycle coordination
• travel needs during the fertility phase
• communication with intended parents
• ongoing guidance through pregnancy and delivery

This is one of the reasons Choice feels different. The support is high-touch, personal, and led by people deeply involved in both the surrogate side and the intended parent side of the process.