Finding the right surrogacy agency as an intended parent or surrogate can seem like a daunting task when you first start out. We’re here to provide guidance on how you can find the best surrogacy agencies, then narrow your choices down to the single best option for YOUR surrogacy journey.
Surrogacy is a complex process, so when you’re first starting out—and as you use the tips below—doing a lot of research is the best first step. Google is your friend! Start by looking at:
- The different types of agencies (big, small, in between!)
- What do they offer (their types of programs)
- What is their philosophy about surrogacy (Does it match what you think for your own journey?)
If you are ready to find an agency, that means you have decided to use a surrogacy agency for your journey. You understand what a done by the surrogacy agency and the importance of using a surrogacy agency to manage your parenting journey.
We’ve put together this list of 10 tips to help you as you navigate your research.
1. Write down what you are thinking about for your surrogacy journey.
As you do your research, you can read a lot about what surrogacy is, what surrogacy agencies offer, and what an agency’s general philosophy on surrogacy might be. The more you read, the more you can imagine what your surrogacy journey—and your surrogate’s—might look like. You can start to get an idea of how much interaction you want with her, and you can start to prioritize what is most important to you in a surrogacy agency: their experience, match times, screening criteria for alternate, etc. Making a list of what you are thinking about during your trip and your agency will help you focus.
2. Join groups with others researching or doing surrogacy to ask questions and get advice.
The good news is, you’re not the first person to explore surrogacy to grow your family! Hearing from those who have experienced the process from various agencies (such as consultants at Gays With Children) can help you narrow your search. Joining social groups will allow you to ask questions and get an idea of how an agency “really” is versus what they say it is. There are no better people to talk to than those with personal experience.
3. Read surrogacy agency websites.
You can learn a lot about a surrogacy agency from its website. From the language they use to their ease of use, you can feel the essence of an agency. Is the site warm and welcoming? Does it provide information that will help you understand surrogacy, or does it leave you with questions? Reading an agency’s website can help you establish a list of questions, as well as eliminate any agencies that don’t “feel” right. Do you envision yourself working at the agency based on how they present themselves online? Remember: Their website is your first impression of who they are as an organization. It should be positive! Trust your gut!
4. Make a list of surrogacy agencies that meet your criteria.
You’ve already made a list of what you expect on your surrogacy journey, now it’s time to match your list with what you’ve learned about agencies in your research. Which agencies meet your criteria and have similar surrogacy strategies that you are considering for your own journey? You may list agencies that are very different from each other—some may be large and some may be small—or of varying cost. Start with a list that you will eventually narrow down.
5. Contact surrogacy agencies and ask questions.
This is an important tip! You can learn a lot about an agency when you interact with them. Most agencies have a clear way to reach them by email or phone on their websites. Talking to an agency directly will give you a better sense of whether they are a good fit for you. Plus, you can ask all your questions! Things to keep in mind: Once you reach out, how long does it take to hear from them? This can be an indication of how responsive they will be to your trip. Is the person reaching out to you open and honest and friendly? Are they able to answer questions or direct you to someone who can? Do you “vibe” with them? (It sounds silly, but it’s important!)
6. Talk to parents who used a surrogacy agency.
Any agency you talk to should be able to provide you with referrals from experienced parents (or even surrogates!) through their program. Other parents who have used an agency should be able to answer questions about responsiveness, how their trip was managed, any challenges they faced, etc. In other words, all agency questions not allowed answer.
7. Ask 3 important questions about surrogacy.
You probably have a million questions to ask a surrogacy agency, but there are 3 main questions you should be sure to ask:
- What is the agency’s experience and success rates?
- How does the agency evaluate its alternatives?
- What are the actual cost (not an estimate!) Do I have to pay for surrogacy?
The agency should be able to answer all these 3 questions with full transparency. How many years has the agency been in business? Can the agency share the success rates for their intended parents bringing a baby home? Can they tell you how much surrogacy will be in their program? For some agencies, costs may vary; however, Circle Surrogacy provides a fixed-cost program so that intended parents know exactly how much their surrogacy journey will cost from day one, with no surprise costs along the way.
8. Make a list of pros and cons.
Now that you’ve researched and talked to agencies (and potentially experienced parents through their programs), it’s time to make a good old-fashioned Pros/Cons list for each agency. You can choose to make the list based on a range of criteria, such as: costs, match time, agency feel, responsiveness, experience, or success. Be honest with yourself, and if you feel you lack information from an agency to make an accurate listing, reach out and ask more questions!
9. Narrow your list.
With so many agencies out there, you can’t possibly know them all. Take this time to review your notes and your Pros/Cons list and narrow down your agency choices to your top choices. Your preferences for your top agencies are unique to you and what you expect from your trip. Which agencies would you like to hear more about? What agencies feel like the best fit based on your research? You can have as many on your “short list” as you like, but we advise starting with 3 to 4 to keep it manageable.
10. Meet with your top choices in surrogacy agencies.
Many surrogacy agencies offer complimentary consultations and team meetings. They may not call them consultations, but this is your first, in-depth meeting with the surrogacy agency. While this may feel like a huge time commitment, spending time with each agency will help you better make an informed decision. Ask as many questions as you have, and no stupid questions. Surrogacy is complicated and involves a lot of moving parts and professionals, and if you don’t work in surrogacy every day, you probably have a million questions! The agency should be informative and patient and give you all the answers you need.
I have met with several agencies … now what?
Once you’ve gone through the process of researching and finding a surrogacy agency, what do you do after you talk to them? Hopefully, after a consultation, you’ll be able to identify one agency that stands out from the rest. This may be because their philosophy on surrogacy and the relationship between parent and surrogate matches yours; maybe their costs are in line with your budget; or maybe they have a program that best suits your needs. Whatever the reason, it should be the agency that makes you feel right, not the other person. A surrogacy journey can take 18 months to 2 years (or more), so you want to make sure the people you work with are people you respect and, well, like. The people on a surrogacy journey can have a huge impact on your overall experience.
Circle Surrogacy has been helping intended parents since 1995. Circle has the highest success rate of 99.3%, an all-inclusive fixed-cost programand much more program options to help you achieve your parenting dreams.
Our experienced team is happy to answer any questions—get in touch today! You can do it fill out a parent form or email us directly at: [email protected]. You can also find us on social media @circlesurrogacy.
