Surrogate Mothers Online Q & A: I am 25 and have two healthy beautiful baby boys. I am currently in counseling for some childhood issues with my mother and am wondering if that, in any way, would make me an undesirable candidate for surrogacy. I would love to help a couple that cannot have their own child as I know several people who are childless for medical reasons and the despair it causes them.

Please help support this site by visiting our sponsor!

Surrogate Mothers Online Q & A

Q & A: Typical Requirements & Screening - Surrogacy

Topics may include the screening process, qualities to look for in an SM/IP, typical requirements for becoming an SM, etc.

16. I am 25 and have two healthy beautiful baby boys. I am currently in counseling for some childhood issues with my mother and am wondering if that, in any way, would make me an undesirable candidate for surrogacy. I would love to help a couple that cannot have their own child as I know several people who are childless for medical reasons and the despair it causes them. - Anonymous - Top

Hello! I think that you should be commended for seeking counseling and dealing with painful memories. That should actually be a plus for you. I think couples will appreciate your honesty about the situation and see you took measures to deal with the issues that effect you. I think honesty is a must, and that you need to be open and upfront with your agency and couple. I don't think you should have any problems what-so-ever. I know for my psych evaluation, I did a 2 hour counseling session and was administered the MMPI. So that's all they will ask. I wish you the very best of luck and if you have any more questions please feel free to write me.

Jennifer S.

I don't believe that should stop you from being a surrogate. If anything, it shows me that you are in touch with your emotions and working at bettering yourself. A good idea might be to ask your counselor if she/he feels surrogacy would be a problem and if it would bring up any issues for you.

Best of luck!

Linda P

Anonymous,

Going to counseling does not automatically make you an undesirable SM candidate. Personally, I think it shows that you are responsible enough to get assistance instead of just ignoring the problem. However, depending on what those issues are and whether or not they would have an impact on your ability to be an SM would have to be determined by your counselor, the psychologist that conducts your screening, and/or the IP's that are considering you as a SM. I would suggest speaking to your counselor about becoming a SM and see what His/Her opinion is. Hope this helps.

Lynn in VA - Updated: January 17, 2000
Topics may include the screening process, qualities to look for in an SM/IP, typical requirements for becoming an SM, etc.

16. I am 25 and have two healthy beautiful baby boys. I am currently in counseling for some childhood issues with my mother and am wondering if that, in any way, would make me an undesirable candidate for surrogacy. I would love to help a couple that cannot have their own child as I know several people who are childless for medical reasons and the despair it causes them. - Anonymous - Top: Hello! I think that you should be commended for seeking counseling and dealing with painful memories. That should actually be a plus for you. I think couples will appreciate your honesty about the situation and see you took measures to deal with the issues that effect you. I think honesty is a must, and that you need to be open and upfront with your agency and couple. I don't think you should have any problems what-so-ever. I know for my psych evaluation, I did a 2 hour counseling session and was administered the MMPI. So that's all they will ask. I wish you the very best of luck and if you have any more questions please feel free to write me.

Jennifer S.

I don't believe that should stop you from being a surrogate. If anything, it shows me that you are in touch with your emotions and working at bettering yourself. A good idea might be to ask your counselor if she/he feels surrogacy would be a problem and if it would bring up any issues for you.

Best of luck!

Linda P

Anonymous,

Going to counseling does not automatically make you an undesirable SM candidate. Personally, I think it shows that you are responsible enough to get assistance instead of just ignoring the problem. However, depending on what those issues are and whether or not they would have an impact on your ability to be an SM would have to be determined by your counselor, the psychologist that conducts your screening, and/or the IP's that are considering you as a SM. I would suggest speaking to your counselor about becoming a SM and see what His/Her opinion is. Hope this helps.

Lynn in VA - Updated: January 17, 2000

Unless stated otherwise, all responses in the SMO Q&A are courtesy of one or more of the following hosts:

Sherry - Experienced gestational surrogate currently working on her 2nd surrogacy arrangement

Linda - New Mommy to twins born via gestational surrogacy and egg donation

Jennifer S. - Experienced AI surrogate

Lynn - New Mommy to a daughter born via traditional surrogacy

Tracie - 5 time egg donor (triplets, 2 sets of twins and 2 singletons) and 3 time surrogate (2-AI, 1-IVF).

Lisa - Experienced egg donor and previous gestational surrogate currently working on her 2nd surrogacy arrangement (Lisa was our former ED host, prior to July 1999.)
Disclaimer: Responses from SMO Q&A Hosts do not necessarily represent the opinions and ideas of SMO. Neither the Q&A hosts nor SMO guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information contained in the responses given here. As such, neither SMO nor the Q&A hosts are responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of such information. Neither SMO nor the Q&A hosts shall be liable or responsible to any person or entity for any loss or damage caused, or alleged to have been caused, directly or indirectly by the information or ideas contained, suggested, or referenced in these responses.

Q&A Categories | Search Q&A's | Submit A Question | SMO Home Page