Making a Great First Impression: A Guide for Potential Surrogates Meeting with a Surrogacy Agency

Last reviewed: August 2026. An introductory call with a surrogacy agency is not a job interview you need to “win.” It is a two-way conversation about eligibility, expectations, support and whether the program is a good fit for you. Be accurate and open about your pregnancy and medical history; withholding information can create medical and legal problems later.

Before the meeting

Review the agency's website, eligibility criteria and basic process. Write down your questions about compensation, screening, medical care, insurance, legal representation, travel, lost wages, childcare, matching and support. You should be evaluating the agency just as carefully as it evaluates you.

Information you may be asked to provide

An agency may ask about your age, location, pregnancy and delivery history, current medications, health conditions, household support and previous surrogacy experience. Medical records are usually obtained through an authorization process; use the agency's secure method rather than casually emailing sensitive records or identity documents.

Be accurate about your pregnancy history

Do not minimize prior complications, cesarean deliveries, preterm births, pregnancy-related hypertension, gestational diabetes or other medical history because you are worried it could affect eligibility. The treating fertility clinic needs complete records to make an individualized medical-clearance decision.

Questions worth asking the agency

• Who makes the final medical eligibility decision?
• Will I have independent legal counsel, and who pays that lawyer?
• How is my health insurance reviewed for a surrogate pregnancy?
• What happens if my policy excludes surrogacy?
• How are compensation and reimbursements funded and administered?
• Who pays for travel, childcare and lost wages?
• What psychological screening and ongoing support are provided?
• How are intended parents screened?
• Can I decline a match without penalty?
• Who supports me during complications, hospitalization or postpartum recovery?

You do not need to perform enthusiasm

A good program should not pressure you to present surrogacy as purely selfless or to say what you think the agency wants to hear. Compensation, family impact, pregnancy risks and personal boundaries are legitimate topics. Your informed consent and autonomy matter throughout the process.

What happens after the agency call?

Passing an agency's preliminary review does not mean you are medically cleared. A typical process may include collection of obstetric records, additional agency screening, psychological evaluation, matching, fertility-clinic medical screening, independent legal contracts and insurance review before embryo transfer.

Bottom line

Prepare for your agency meeting by being informed, accurate and ready to ask questions. The goal is not simply to be selected; it is to determine whether the program can support a safe, ethical and transparent journey for you and the intended parents.

This article provides general educational information and is not medical or legal advice.