Considering becoming a gestational surrogate? Get clear, honest answers to the most frequently asked questions about surrogacy — from compensation and requirements to medical safety, legal rights, and emotional support.
At New Grace Fertility, we believe you deserve transparent, straightforward answers before making one of the most important decisions of your life. Whether you're researching how to become a surrogate for the first time or returning for another journey, these surrogate FAQs cover everything you need to know.
We've organized the most common questions into five categories so you can find the answers you need quickly. Click any question to expand the answer.
Requirements, eligibility, and how to begin your surrogacy journey
To become a surrogate at New Grace Fertility, you must meet these minimum surrogate requirements:
After meeting these basics, all surrogates undergo comprehensive medical, psychological, and background screening before being approved for matching. See full requirements →
Getting started is simple. Complete our confidential online application — it takes about 10 minutes and asks about your health history, previous pregnancies, and basic eligibility. There's no commitment at this stage. Once we receive your application, our team reaches out within 24 hours to schedule a video consultation where we answer your questions, discuss compensation, and walk you through the surrogacy process step by step.
Language support is available in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese. Start your application →
The entire surrogacy process takes approximately 12–18 months from application to delivery. Here's the typical breakdown:
Factors that affect your surrogacy timeline include match speed, medical screening results, and legal contract negotiation. Learn about the full process →
Yes! New Grace Fertility works with surrogates across the United States. We currently work with surrogates in California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Illinois, Connecticut, New York, New Hampshire, and many other surrogacy-friendly states. We coordinate with local fertility clinics and provide full travel support for all necessary appointments. Contact us to check your state →
Yes! Having your tubes tied (tubal ligation) does not disqualify you from becoming a surrogate. In gestational surrogacy, the embryo is created through IVF and transferred directly into your uterus — your fallopian tubes are not involved in the process at all. In fact, many surrogates have had tubal ligations, and it is considered completely acceptable by all major fertility clinics and surrogacy agencies.
The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) recommends a maximum of 5 surrogate pregnancies in a lifetime. Most surrogates complete 1–2 journeys. Repeat surrogates at New Grace Fertility earn higher compensation and are highly valued — 90% of our surrogates choose to return for another journey after their first.
The surrogate matching process at New Grace Fertility works by reviewing both your profile and the intended parents' profile to identify compatible matches based on preferences, values, and expectations. Both parties review each other's profiles and have the right to accept or decline a match for any reason. A match meeting is then scheduled — via video call or in person — so both parties can connect before moving forward. We never pressure you into a match you're not comfortable with.
How much you earn, when you get paid, and what expenses are covered
Surrogate mothers at New Grace Fertility earn $50,000–$85,000+ per surrogacy journey in base surrogate mother compensation. First-time surrogates typically earn $50,000–$65,000, while experienced surrogates can earn up to $85,000+. This is separate from all medical, legal, travel, and monthly living expenses, which are fully covered by the intended parents. Your total benefits package — including base pay, allowances, and covered expenses — can exceed $100,000. See the full compensation breakdown →
No. As a surrogate at New Grace Fertility, you have zero out-of-pocket costs. All medical expenses, legal fees, travel costs, maternity clothing, life insurance, and counseling services are fully covered by the intended parents and managed through a secure escrow account. These expenses are completely separate from your base compensation — meaning your base pay goes entirely to you.
Surrogate compensation is paid through a secure escrow account funded by the intended parents before the journey begins. Your base compensation is divided into equal monthly installments starting from the confirmed pregnancy date. Additional benefits — such as maternity clothing allowance, monthly allowance ($400–$500), and procedure fees — are paid as they become due. All payments are guaranteed and managed through New Grace Fertility's transparent payment system. The remaining balance is paid in full within approximately 15 days after delivery.
Surrogates begin receiving compensation before they are even pregnant. Certain benefits and allowances begin during the medical screening and legal phases. Your base compensation monthly installments begin on the 1st of the month following confirmed pregnancy (typically after the first ultrasound at 6–8 weeks). The escrow account is fully funded before any medical procedures take place, so your payments are guaranteed from day one.
Surrogate compensation tax treatment varies by state and individual circumstances. In California, surrogate compensation is generally considered taxable income. We strongly recommend consulting with a tax professional who specializes in surrogacy-related income. New Grace Fertility provides 1099 forms for all compensation received. Your independent attorney can also advise on tax planning during the contract review phase.
Physical health, medical procedures, and safety concerns
No, absolutely not. At New Grace Fertility, we only facilitate gestational surrogacy — meaning the embryo is created through IVF using the intended parents' or donors' egg and sperm. You will never use your own eggs, and you will have no genetic connection to the baby. The intended parents may use their own eggs and sperm, or in the case that they cannot, they will use donor cells — but never yours.
Gestational surrogacy is as safe as any other pregnancy. While every pregnancy carries some inherent risk, the risks of carrying a surrogate baby are equal to carrying your own baby. As a surrogate at New Grace Fertility, you receive:
We prioritize your health and safety above everything else.
No, the embryo transfer is not painful. The process is very similar to having a Pap smear. The embryo is introduced through a thin catheter that is inserted through the cervix and positioned at the correct spot in the uterus. The procedure is quick — it only takes about 10–15 minutes to complete. No anesthesia is required. After the transfer, you rest briefly at the clinic and then follow the clinic's post-transfer instructions.
Yes, but only temporarily. You will take fertility medications (estrogen and progesterone) to prepare your uterine lining for the embryo transfer and support early pregnancy. These medications are typically needed until about 8–10 weeks of pregnancy, when your body takes over naturally. The medications are similar to those used in standard IVF treatments and are cleared from your body quickly. All medication costs are fully covered by the intended parents.
No. Studies show that gestational surrogacy does not affect your future fertility or ability to carry your own pregnancies. The medications used are similar to those in standard IVF and are cleared from your body quickly. Most surrogates go on to have their own children after their surrogacy journey without any issues.
Yes, you can become a surrogate if you've had a C-section — however, the ASRM guidelines limit surrogates to no more than 3 prior C-sections. If you've had 2 or fewer C-sections with no complications, you may still qualify. A thorough medical review of your surgical records will be conducted during the screening process to ensure it's safe for you to carry another pregnancy.
If the embryo transfer does not result in a pregnancy, you still receive compensation for the transfer procedure and your time. If three embryo transfer attempts fail to achieve pregnancy, New Grace Fertility offers a rematch guarantee at no additional agency fee — giving both you and the intended parents peace of mind. Your coordinator supports you through every step, and your emotional wellbeing is our top priority regardless of the outcome.
Legal representation, contracts, and parental rights
Yes. Both the surrogate and the intended parents are required to have independent legal representation. The intended parents cover the cost of your attorney — you pay nothing. Your lawyer represents only your interests, reviews the surrogacy contract in detail, and ensures your compensation and rights are fully protected before you sign. You should never sign a surrogacy contract without having your own attorney review it first.
In gestational surrogacy, you have no genetic connection to the baby — the embryo is created using the intended parents' or donors' genetic material. In California, Pre-Birth Orders are routinely granted, establishing the intended parents as the legal parents before the baby is even born. This means there is no legal ambiguity about parentage. California's surrogacy laws provide strong protections for both surrogates and intended parents, making the legal process clear and secure for everyone involved.
California has some of the most surrogacy-friendly laws in the United States. Key legal protections include:
This legal framework is one reason California is a top choice for intended parents from around the world, and why surrogate pay California rates are among the highest in the country.
Daily life, relationships, and emotional wellbeing during your journey
This is one of the most common questions, and the answer may surprise you. Most surrogates feel overwhelming joy and pride at delivery — not a sense of loss. By the time the baby is born, you have spent nearly a year building a relationship with the intended parents, and you're overjoyed to give them the family they've dreamed of. Because you have no genetic link to the baby (gestational surrogacy), the emotional experience is very different from giving up your own child. Many surrogates are eager to start another journey soon after their first.
Only temporarily. You will need to abstain from the start of your medication cycle until the first ultrasound confirms the pregnancy — typically about 4–6 weeks. After that, you may resume normal sexual activity, but only with the partner who was screened alongside you at your medical screening. Multiple partners are a breach of contract and could potentially harm the baby if you were to contract a serious infection. This restriction exists solely to protect the health of you and the baby.
At New Grace Fertility, every surrogate receives comprehensive support throughout the entire journey:
We ensure you are never alone in this process — from your first application through postpartum recovery.
Not at all. The embryos are created in a lab through IVF and are transferred into your body via a very clinical medical procedure. In fact, even the intended parents did not have sex to create these embryos. The entire process is handled through fertility medicine — there is nothing sexual about it in any way.
Yes, most surrogates continue working throughout their pregnancy. The surrogacy process does require time for medical appointments, monitoring visits, and the delivery itself — but most appointments can be scheduled around your work schedule. If bed rest is required later in pregnancy, additional allowances are included in your compensation. Your coordinator works with you to make the journey as convenient as possible while keeping your daily life on track.
Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with our surrogacy team. We'll answer every question and help you decide if surrogacy is right for you.
Request Free Consultation →