Am I Too Old to Be a Surrogate?

You’ve had your kids, moved past midnight feedings and diaper changes, and yet you feel there’s more you want to give. Maybe you’re asking yourself: Could I be a surrogate? But then you wonder: Am I too old to be a surrogate?

At Great Beginnings Surrogacy Services in San Diego, California, Dr. Samuel Wood and our compassionate team specialize in guiding potential surrogates through this generous journey.  If you’re considering surrogacy, we’re here to answer questions and explore possibilities.  

Surrogacy requirements: More than willing

Surrogacy is a deeply meaningful act, one that gives hope to families unable to bear children of their own. But it’s also a medical journey, and your health is a top priority.  

To protect the health of the surrogate, we use a set of requirements set up by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), which include:

• A history of at least one healthy full-term pregnancy
• No more than five previous pregnancies
• A supportive family and home environment

In addition to ASRM’s guidelines, we also have our own criteria. We require our surrogates to have a body mass index (BMI) of 32 or less, follow a healthy lifestyle, and be a United States citizen not living in Louisiana or Nebraska. 

Age limits for surrogacy

Age is a big factor in a woman’s fertility and overall pregnancy health. According to ASRM, surrogates should be between 21 and 45 years old. However, at Great Beginnings Surrogacy Agency, we have a more focused range, ages 21 to 37.

Why the stricter limit? Pregnancy, even for someone with a history of healthy pregnancies, requires physical endurance and emotional resilience. Younger women are at lower risk of developing pregnancy-related complications, and setting this age range helps protect your health during and after the process.

Beyond age — other limitations

Age helps us in our screening process, but it’s only one part of the picture. We look at many factors when evaluating a person for surrogacy. 

After getting background information, we do a thorough background check and review your medical and gynecological history. We also test for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and have you undergo a psychiatric evaluation to check your emotional readiness. 

Together, these assessments help us ensure that surrogacy is the right fit for you and the intended parents.

If you’re thinking about becoming a surrogate, we’d love to talk with you. Start by completing our prescreen questionnaire; it’s a quick and easy way to find out if you qualify and can move forward with the full application. Once we get your application, our coordination team will discuss surrogacy and the next steps.

Have questions now? Call us to get more information. We’re here to help you every step of the way.