What is a Surrogate?
A surrogate – also called a gestational carrier or gestational surrogate – is a woman who carries a baby for people (the Intended Parents) who are unable to have a baby on their own. Most surrogates are gestational surrogates, meaning the surrogate does not use her own eggs and doesn’t share any genetics with the baby.
Circle Surrogacy only works with gestational carriers – women who do not share biology with the baby they are carrying.
Surrogates get paid for carrying someone’s baby, and they are protected by a legal contract signed by both the surrogate and the Intended Parents.
But most importantly, a surrogate is a giver of hope and happiness to those looking to be parents!
Surrogates are women who have children of their own, have had relatively easy pregnancies and births (they like being pregnant!), and many have completed their own families. Surrogates want to help others have their own families.
What is surrogacy? It’s an amazing way to help make intended parents’ dreams come true and give others the ultimate gift: a baby!
1
Gestational surrogates have no biological connection to the baby they carry. Their DNA (eggs) is NOT used to create the embryos.
2
Surrogates are paid throughout the entirety of their journey (not at the end), and compensation starts even before they become pregnant.
3
Surrogates have a choice who they match with. All matches are mutual.
4
Surrogates DO need to give themselves injections as part of the IVF process. Most surrogates say these needles are no big deal!
5
Surrogates do not feel "attached" to the babies they carry and look forward to the moment when the intended parents get to hold their baby for the first time.
5 Things to Know About Being A Surrogate
There is so much information out there about becoming a surrogate, but our highly-specialized, collaborative team is the most qualified to offer authentic, accurate information for a successful and rewarding surrogacy journey.
There’s no better place to embark on this journey than at Circle where we have successfully guided and helped surrogates expand families for almost 30 years. If you think being a surrogate is the right fit for you, fill out our surrogacy application to get started.
Why Do Women Become Surrogates?
Throughout our years of experience helping families grow and providing comprehensive support to surrogates, we have seen one common thread among all women who become surrogates: the desire to help others.
Women become surrogates for a variety of reasons, including:
Surrogates have big hearts and giving spirits. Fully supported and backed by our team of experienced professionals who have been in your shoes, our surrogates help grow families every day.
Surrogates – also called gestational carriers – are women who have had easy pregnancies and who have completed their own families.
Some women come to surrogacy because they personally know someone who has struggled with infertility.
Others want to give the gift of parenthood to families who can’t do it on their own.
Who Do Surrogates Help?
Surrogates help intended parents (IPs) who are unable to grow their families on their own. At Circle, we specialize in gestational surrogacy, which means the surrogate has no genetic relationship to the baby she carries.
Circle’s surrogates help intended parents from all ethnicities, locations and sexual orientations. Some intended parents are single, others are coupled or married. Surrogates may be matched with intended parents who live in the United States or internationally. As a surrogate, you have the opportunity to share with us your preferences for the types of intended parents you imagine helping.
The types of intended parents that surrogates help are:
Heterosexual couples who have struggled with infertility
Intended mothers who are unable to carry a child
Intended parents who have a genetic defect or health condition they don't want to pass onto the child
LGBTQIA+ intended parents who want to have a genetic link to the baby
Regardless of the parents’ situation, your willingness to help them bring a child into this world means everything to them.
Surrogate Requirements
Women who wish to become surrogates must meet a set of requirements to ensure they are a good fit physically, mentally and emotionally. These requirements are in place to minimize the risk of being a surrogate and to help provide as successful as a journey as possible for the gestational carrier as well as the intended parents. Everyone’s goal is a healthy baby, happy intended parents, and a proud surrogate!
1. Health Requirements
2. Lifestyle Requirements
3 Legal Requirements
Circle Surrogacy’s surrogate requirements take into consideration the guidelines put forth by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and clinic guidelines. Surrogate applicants will also participate in a screening with a social worker and complete psychological testing.
Becoming a surrogate requires applicants to be emotionally and mentally ready to enter into a surrogacy journey to help ensure the most successful outcome for intended parents.
2
Lifestyle Requirements
Has the support of her family. If married or partnered, the surrogate must have her partner’s support.
Has delivered a child of her own and is currently parenting at least one child.
Is willing to travel for IVF process. Please note, often these trips include overnight stays.
Does not use illegal drugs, smoke cigarettes, or abuse alcohol.
1
Health Requirements
Has had uncomplicated pregnancies and deliveries.
Is between 21-42 years of age.
Typically have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of no higher than 33. Calculate My BMI.
3
Legal Requirements
Does not participate in the following government aid programs: cash assistance, welfare, public housing and section 8. All other forms of government assistance will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Lives in a surrogate-friendly state in the United States (we are very sorry but we cannot accept gestational carriers who reside in Nebraska or Louisiana.
Has a valid driver’s license.
How Much Does a Surrogate Make?
“How much do surrogates make?” This is a popular question among women who are considering being a surrogate. And rightly so! Gestational surrogacy is an emotional and physical journey, and they should be compensated.
Surrogate pay can vary, but in general, average surrogate pay can be between $55,000-$65,000. This estimated surrogacy pay includes a surrogate’s base fee – which can be between $35,000-$50,000 – as well as the additional compensation and benefits she receives throughout the journey.
A surrogate's base fee is determined by a few factors:
The state she lives in
Whether or not she has health insurance
If she’s an experienced gestational carrier
Once a base fee is established, a surrogate will then receive compensation and payments both before she’s pregnant, as well as throughout the pregnancy.
At Circle Surrogacy, we offer generous surrogacy pay and benefits. Learn more and see how much you could make as a surrogate on our dedicated page.
Being a Surrogate With Circle Means:
Forming a special bond with the families you help
Gaining a sense of pride and accomplishment
Helping create families with all different backgrounds
Demonstrating an incredible act of kindness to your child(ren)
Being part of a special community of women who are equally as awesome as you are
Why Circle?
Circle is a full-service surrogacy agency with the highest success rates in the industry led by a team passionate about helping people build families.
Our Surrogate Advisors know the surrogacy process can feel overwhelming at first. Our team is comprised of many people who have been through this process themselves, so they know exactly how you're feeling and what questions you may have.
Enjoy the personalized feel of a small agency with the resources of a large agency. Once we support you through application and matching, your dedicated mental health professional on the surrogate support team and journey support team keep track of all your details. With our expansive team, we are able to offer support groups, virtual events, one-on-one surrogate mentorship and more.
We financially back our intended parents to make sure surrogates are always paid in full and on time. We will compensate you up to $5,000 even if, after being medically cleared and matched, you don’t achieve a pregnancy. Circle will also take on the liability of medical bills.
Not every surrogate has the same desires when it comes to the birth. At Circle, our surrogates have choices for preferred birth options, such as doula care, a hospital birth, or using a birth center with a midwife.
We help surrogates build relationships with intended parents who truly feel like family by the end of the process, giving you the opportunity to get to know the wonderful people whose lives are being positively changed because of you. We genuinely believe fostering this relationship is the best way to bring a baby into the world.
Your journey as a surrogate is greatly shaped by the agency you choose. With a 99.4% success rate and a team of passionate experts — many of whom have been in your position — Circle offers a program created with surrogates in mind: competitive pay, guaranteed security, and unbeatable support.
Why Surrogates Choose Circle
The number of times a woman can be a surrogate depends on the total number of pregnancies and deliveries she's had (including her own). We can work with women that have had 6 or fewer previous deliveries (her surrogate journey would be her 7th pregnancy), and if she's had 3 or fewer c-sections.
Women who are between the ages of 21-42 can qualify to be surrogates. If you are an experienced surrogate, you may be eligible up to age 44.