Intake Process

The Surrogacy Center provides screening and evaluation of potential Gestational Carriers (GCs) with the goal of providing healthy, responsible carriers who are committed to the process and adhere to ASRM (American Society for Reproductive Medicine) guidelines for surrogacy. Services include:

• A professional review of pregnancy and applicable medical records for GC candidates, including providing all of this information to your reproductive endocrinologist. They will review the GC’s records, etc. prior to matching (note that this initial review does not take the place of official medical clearance via physical examination by your reproductive endocrinologist and is only an assurance that the GC candidate’s medical history is acceptable to your doctor).
• Background check for GC candidate and partner.
• Formal interview of GC candidate and partner with TSC staff.
• Formal review of GC candidate’s insurance plan by a trusted third-party fertility insurance specialist.
• Arrangement of psychological evaluation for GC candidate and partner.

Similarly, The Surrogacy Center follows ASRM criteria and provides intake services for Intended Parents including:

• Free consultation phone call and follow-up communication with TSC staff.
• An individualized Journey Planning Meeting and Interview with TSC staff.
• Arrangement of psychosocial education session for intended parents with a licensed MHP, which will serve the purpose of providing clearance to proceed with a surrogacy journey and will be provided to your fertility clinic as proof of clearance.
• Assistance and feedback in creating an Intended Parent Profile through our online platform.

Matching Process

• Once onboarding is complete, you can expect careful consideration by TSC staff of matching you with a gestational carrier who is well-suited for your journey together based on a variety of matching criteria.
• Following matching, TSC will facilitate the Match Meeting with a gestational carrier and her partner and provide direction and agenda for a follow-up meeting to help get your journey off to a strong start.
• Following a successful match meeting, TSC will send you a detailed email containing next steps for moving forward.

Coordination of Services

TSC staff will assist you and your GC with coordination of the services associated with your journey from medical clearance through the postpartum period including:

• Working closely with your fertility clinic to attain medical clearance (note that all fertility clinics operate independently of TSC).
• Providing referral information for escrow services.
• Referral to reputable legal counsel specializing in surrogacy law for each, GC/Partner and IPs. Attorneys will work with you and collaborate with each other to complete your Parentage Agreement and Pre-birth planning documents.
• Assisting you and your GC with communication needs throughout your journey.
• Scheduling virtual planning meetings at each phase of pregnancy and 4-6 weeks before delivery
• Ensuring that necessary documents for parentage are delivered to hospital during third trimester of pregnancy.
• Follow up postpartum, as needed.

Services we refer:

For best coordination of a surrogacy journey, we will provide you with referrals to external professionals and businesses.* We will work in tandem with these professionals during your journey to make sure tasks are being completed in a timely manner and that all issues that may arise are dealt with by the most qualified professionals available. This includes referrals to:

• A Mental Health Practitioner who specializes in Surrogacy and Third-Party Reproduction.
• Experienced family law attorneys to represent both IPs and the GC and her partner.
• An insurance company who specializes in the review of surrogate benefits and can work with you on finding the most affordable insurance options available to you (includes medical billing management and payment monitoring).
• An escrow company to facilitate payments from the IPs to the GC for all surrogacy-related expenses.

TSC’s Ethics Policies

We take our responsibility to be good stewards of the surrogacy process very seriously. TSC works to uphold the highest ethical standards in every surrogacy journey that we facilitate. Our practices are grounded in integrity, transparency, and the health and well-being of all parties involved — intended parents, gestational carriers, and the children born through surrogacy.

Medical Indication Requirement

We believe that surrogacy should be pursued based on genuine medical necessity. Therefore, we require that all intended parents demonstrate a valid medical indication for use of a gestational carrier to work with our agency. This policy ensures that surrogacy is a compassionate and medically-supported family-building option.

Restriction on Concurrent Journeys

To ensure equitable practices, TSC does not support concurrent surrogacy journeys with multiple gestational carriers. We also do not support our intended parents working with multiple agencies simultaneously. Lastly, gestational carrier candidates applying with TSC must agree to work exclusively with our agency during their journey.

Evidence-based practice policy

The Surrogacy Center follows healthcare guidelines from recognized professional organizations (ACOG, ASRM, AMA). We will never provide advice not supported by licensed medical professionals or science, and it is our expectation that those who choose to work with our agency agree to follow evidence-based medical recommendations in regard to fertility, prenatal, and delivery care.

Single Embryo Transfer

The Surrogacy Center supports single embryo transfer only. This standard aligns with current best medical practices and prioritizes the health and safety of both the gestational carrier and the baby. We do not endorse or facilitate transferring multiple embryos simultaneously.

Client and Gestational Carrier Employment policy

Gestational carriers and intended parents who have worked with TSC are independent participants in the surrogacy process and will not be employed by our agency.

*Disclaimer

The Surrogacy Center may refer clients to independent third-party professionals or service providers (such as insurance brokers, attorneys, or other such specialists) who are specialists in the field. These individuals and entities are not employees, agents, or representatives of The Surrogacy Center, and we do not control, supervise, or assume responsibility for the services they provide.

The Surrogacy Center has no financial interest or incentive in the use of any referred third-party services. Accordingly, we cannot be held liable for any advice, actions, omissions, or outcomes resulting from the services rendered by these independent providers. Clients are encouraged to perform their own due diligence before engaging any third party.