What are the Medical Requirements for a Surrogate?
The Colorado surrogacy process is a special way for couples who are unable to have children to start a family. Surrogate mothers carry the baby for the intended parents and safely deliver the child into the world. Since pregnancy can be a very complicated process, it is important for a surrogate mother to be healthy physically to ensure a smooth pregnancy. Passing the medical screening can be somewhat difficult for women who have a history of medical conditions, but surrogacy agencies must maintain strict regulations to protect both the surrogate mothers and intended parents from physical and emotional distress. Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado follows the medical requirements put in place by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) to ensure that all potential surrogate mothers are in peak physical condition before continuing with the surrogacy process.
If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a surrogate, please call or text us at 303-670-4673 (HOPE) or visit us at Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado.
What are the Initial Medical Requirements for a Surrogate?
Before you decide to apply to be a surrogate mother, there are some medical requirements that you will have to fulfill upfront to even be considered for the process. The process may seem strict and selective, but it is essential that Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado upholds standards to provide quality service for each set of intended parents. While you consider pursuing surrogacy, you can ask yourself these questions:
- Have I had at least one healthy, uncomplicated pregnancy? If so, you can continue applying to be a surrogate mother.
- Have I ever suffered from postpartum depression? If so, you will not be able to be a surrogate mother.
- Am I free from any mental health issues? If so, you can continue applying to be a surrogate mother.
- Have I ever been on medication for mental health issues? If so, you will not be able to be a surrogate mother.
- Am I healthy and free of sexually transmitted diseases? If you are, you can continue applying to be a surrogate mother.
- Do I smoke or take illicit drugs? If so, you will not be able to be a surrogate mother.
- Am I alcohol dependent? If so, you will not be able to be a surrogate mother.
Be sure to talk to your medical practitioner or surrogacy specialist for more information about the medical requirements in the surrogacy process.
Why are there So Many Surrogacy Regulations?
Many of the intended parents that approach Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado to carry out the gestational surrogacy process have had fertility difficulties of their own, which means that as an agency, we need to make sure that their experience with pregnancy and birth through a surrogate mother should be as free from complications as possible. The surrogacy process should be a way for couples to avoid the pain and frustration they have experienced through past pregnancy attempts. Although not every complication can be avoided, Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado do their best to make sure all surrogacy mothers are in great shape to hold a child.
What is a Medical Screening for a Surrogate?
If your application is accepted and you move forward with the surrogacy process, you will have to undergo medical screening before you are matched with a set of intended parents. During this medical screening, you will be examined to make sure you are physically able to hold a child. You will meet with a fertility specialist who will assess your physical health and complete some lab work to let the agency know if you are healthy enough to continue. If you pass this screening, you will continue with the process, get set up with a set of intended parents, and continue with the surrogacy process.
How Do I Get Started With Surrogacy in Colorado?
Suppose you want to begin your surrogacy journey in Colorado. In that case, you can contact Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado to learn more about the surrogacy requirements and how to submit an application. Contact us, and we will do our best to answer any questions you may have and help you in any way possible.
If you are interested in learning more about your gestational surrogacy options, contact Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado by email, phone, or text: Email Us, Text us: 720-371-1099, Call us: 303-670-4673 (HOPE). If you are hoping to adopt, please contact us here.
Meet the author: Kyla’s life has been filled with adventure and transition – both good and difficult. She loves to take on challenges head-on and lead an organized and balanced life. She’s passionate about many different areas and loves how writing gives her the flexibility to engage in research of almost every field of study imaginable. She grew up very involved in theater and music and continues to use her free time to play the piano and sing. However, she is also very interested in how the natural world works and takes any chance she has to spend the day away from crowds, enveloped in the seclusion of nature. Growing up in the Philippines, she’s had some unique experiences that have shaped her worldview and given her a deeper understanding and appreciation for different cultures. She gets excited about research papers, completed to-do lists, and her morning coffee.
Stephanie joined the Adoption Choices family in 2014 as the Child Placement Supervisor. Her love for adoption began in first grade when she made friends with twins adopted from Vietnam. Her heart grew strong over the years for adopted children and ultimately led her to graduate school where she continued her focus to her dream of working in the adoption field. Stephanie earned a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Denver in 2001. Over the past 15 years, Stephanie has worked as a pregnancy counselor and as an adoptive parent counselor for foster care, international adoption and domestic adoption, writing hundreds of home studies for families, and helping build their forever families. Stephanie is married and has three boys ages 12, 9, and 5. Together with her family she enjoys riding bike, playing games, watching her three sons compete in their various sporting and musical activities and go on vacations.
Christy Ikeler, is our Executive Director and Birth Parent Director. Christy has been with Adoption Choices Team for 18 years, since opening the doors in 2002! Christy has a true passion for what she does and her true love is working with and helping each birth parent. Whether she is up all night on the phone talking with them, taking them to doctors appointments, out for their favorite treat, providing counseling or at the hospital during labor and delivery, Christy is very involved every step of the way. She has a contagious laugh and a spunky personality that our birth moms all can bond with and relate to. As an adoptive parent herself, adoption holds a very special place in her heart and she can relate on every level with both birth parents and adoptive parents. In her free time Christy loves spending time with her daughter, gardening, baking and taking vacations with her family. Christy is an excellent leader for our team at Adoption Choices and is truly one of a kind!! As Executive Director, Christy spends time with the staff, birth parents and adoptive families in order to ensure that the agency is running smoothly. She has placed a huge emphasis on community outreach and programs for birth parents. Christy loves the opportunity to lead the agency into a brighter future.
Ms. Mackenzie has built a successful counseling career over the past 20 years, supporting mothers and families, people of all ages and genders, students, community professionals and fellow clinicians. Liv values a diverse professional focus, including the entrepreneurial life of a sole proprietor, the evaluative process of certifying foster/adoptive homes, the insightful and mindful one-on-one one work with enthusiastic clients, and serving as an advocate for underserved populations. Liv is a Licensed Professional Counselor and holds a BA in Pre-Law and Economics from American University, an MA in Counseling from Adams University and a certificate in Human Resource Management from Villanova University. Away from work you will find Liv spending time in nature, biking to the farmer’s market and adventuring with her family.
Catherine A. Madsen, joined the Adoption Choices family as legal counsel in 2013. Catherine is responsible for providing legal guidance to the Agency, training and updating staff on developments in adoption law and legislation, and program development. Catherine
Virginia Frank is an adoption attorney accredited since 1991 with the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys. Ms. Frank is a leader in the field of private adoption and has completed over 4,000 adoptions in her career. Ms. Frank has a law degree from Oklahoma City University and a BA in both Political Science and Communications from the University of Oklahoma.
Cassidie has been with Adoption Choices since 2015, she has her bachelors in Interdisciplinary Affairs with concentrations in both Sociology and Business Management. Cassidie has additional training in Victim Advocacy, foster care and has been working in women’s services for over 10 years. Cassidie has always had a heart for adoption and it was her career dream to work in adoption. She started off doing volunteer work for advocacy programs, adoption organizations and worked in High Risk Maternal Fetal Medicine through the University of Colorado Hospital and Children’s Hospital of Colorado. Cassidie is also blessed to have personally experienced an adoption of her own in 2012, completing her family of five! Cassidie loves what she does as a case worker from initial phone calls, meetings, doctor appointments, interaction with the adoptive families to delivery and counseling. Cassidie has a passion for those in need and strives to help make a difference in the lives of the people she meets. She is a firm believer in being kind, compassionate and open minded in all situations. “Unless you’ve walked in their shoes, there’s no place for judgment. A kind word or compliment can go a long way!” The bittersweet moments in adoption reminds Cassidie each and every time, why she loves what she does!