Course / Who Typically Becomes a Gestational Carrier?
Gestational carriers (GCs) — also known as surrogates — play an essential role in helping intended parents achieve biological parenthood. They are women who carry and deliver a baby conceived using embryos created from the gametes (eggs and/or sperm) of the intended parents or donors.
At Surrogacy4All, we adhere to the highest ethical and medical standards in screening and selecting gestational carriers. Each surrogate undergoes comprehensive physical, psychological, and social evaluations to ensure readiness for a healthy and positive surrogacy experience.
Typical Characteristics of Gestational Carriers
Age Range
Most approved surrogates are between 21 and 38 years old, the age range considered medically optimal for pregnancy.
Women beyond this range may still qualify if they have proven obstetric history and meet additional health criteria.
Reproductive History
A gestational carrier must have successfully carried at least one prior pregnancy to full term without major complications.
A history of healthy pregnancies demonstrates uterine competence and emotional preparedness for another gestation.
Health Status
Candidates must have a Body Mass Index (BMI) within a medically acceptable range (usually under 32).
They must be free from chronic medical conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, or autoimmune diseases.
No history of substance abuse or smoking is permitted.
Lifestyle and Environment
Carriers must live in a stable, supportive environment, with emotional and logistical backing from family or partners.
They must maintain a healthy lifestyle, with no exposure to illicit substances or environmental risks.
Psychological Screening
Mental health evaluations ensure the candidate understands the emotional aspects of carrying a pregnancy for another family.
The screening assesses motivation, support systems, and ability to separate emotionally after birth.
Legal and Ethical Readiness
Candidates must reside in a state or jurisdiction where gestational surrogacy is legally supported.
They must fully understand and consent to legal parentage agreements prior to embryo transfer.
At Surrogacy4All, our vetting process exceeds industry standards, ensuring that every surrogate is emotionally stable, medically qualified, and ethically aligned with intended parents’ goals.
Compensation practices for gestational carriers differ significantly between countries, primarily based on legal frameworks, cultural attitudes, and regulatory systems.
United States
The U.S. is globally recognized as the premier destination for compensated gestational surrogacy.
Most states legally permit compensated surrogacy, offering both financial incentives for carriers and strong legal protection for intended parents.
Compensation generally includes:
A base payment for the pregnancy
Coverage for medical, travel, and maternity-related expenses
Additional compensation for specific circumstances (e.g., carrying twins, cesarean delivery, or lost wages)
Surrogates in the U.S. typically receive $45,000–$75,000 or more, depending on experience and location.
This model allows intended parents to access highly screened, motivated, and medically supported surrogates while ensuring surrogates are fairly compensated for their commitment and time.
Canada
In Canada, surrogacy is altruistic only — meaning surrogates cannot receive payment beyond reimbursement for reasonable expenses. While ethical, this limits the number of available surrogates and may increase wait times for intended parents.
United Kingdom
Similar to Canada, the U.K. permits only altruistic surrogacy. The surrogate cannot receive direct financial compensation but can be reimbursed for legitimate pregnancy-related expenses. Legal parentage is established post-birth via a Parental Order.
Other International Regions
Ukraine and Georgia have historically allowed compensated surrogacy for married heterosexual couples, with legal protections for intended parents.
Greece allows altruistic surrogacy for both domestic and certain international couples, under judicial approval.
India, Thailand, and Nepal have restricted surrogacy access to domestic citizens due to past ethical and legal controversies.
At Surrogacy4All, we work exclusively with U.S.-based surrogates and clinics, where compensation is transparent, contracts are enforceable, and both surrogates and intended parents are protected by established law.
Our job is to listen, to connect the dots between your needs, and to determine how we can best help you have your baby. If you’re asking how much does it cost for a surrogate, we’ll walk you through every step of the process to ensure there are no surprises.
To make an appointment with one of our counselors or physicians, please call (212) 661-7673 or email info@surrogacy4all.com. We look forward to hearing from you.
Surrogacy4All is a unique international surrogacy service targeted at providing state of the art IVF and surrogacy services to Intended Parents irrespective of age, sex or color, at the lowest possible cost in the world.
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