Surrogate Information:

Over the years Woman to Woman Fertility Center has succeeded in matching infertile couples and individuals with generous women willing to help make dreams come true. With the use of the Prospective Mother's eggs or donated eggs and through the process of in-vitro fertilization, many of these recipients have achieved their dream of having children.

Becoming a surrogate is a process involving many steps. There are administrative legal, medical and psychological requirements that must be met in order to become a surrogate. Each step must be completed before continuing to the next step.

The surrogate candidate process begins with the submittal of an application. An application can be requested by calling our offices at (800) 314-9996 or you may also print it from our link on the right.   We hold a high health standard for our applicants. We will be unable to consider you if any of the following apply to you:

You have been exposed to Hepatitis
You have been turned down for blood donation
You have never given birth
You are using Norplant, DepoProvera or an IUD and do not wish to discontinue
Your schedule is not flexible enough to accommodate a minimum of 4 doctor appointments for each cycle
You use illegal or prescribed medications
You are a smoker

Return to us the requested forms so we may evaluate your candidacy. After we have reviewed your application, we will invite you in for an interview as the second step of your provisional acceptance. We may notify you at this time that you have not been accepted into the program. Under no circumstances are we at liberty to reveal why we have declined your application.

Step three begins with an interview of you with WWFC's Executive Director, Marlene Kaminsky. At this appointment you will be given a MMPI test which is the first part of our psychological screening. Allow about 3 hours for this appointment. If your results indicate your suitability, we will set up an appointment for you and your husband/partner to be interviewed by our psychologist.

Prospective parents will review your application. If they choose to go forward with you as their surrogate, we will set up a meeting between you. In the case of foreign couples, this meeting usually occurs later in the process. If the prospective parents choose to continue with you as their surrogate, you must then sign the Surrogate Agreement.

The fifth step is the medical screening. This takes place at the Prospective Parent's medical center. The IVF physician will discuss with you your family and medical history; the medical procedures involved in surrogacy and answer any questions you have about the procedure. You will have a pelvic exam, a hysteroscopy and blood tests. You will be screened for all sexually transmitted diseases including HIV. Additionally, if you have a partner he must also be tested for HIV. Results of all these tests must be negative in order to continue.

Once you have passed the medical screening the next step is the treatment cycle. Protocols vary from one treatment center to another, so we can only approximate a schedule in this guide. However, there are several points that are always true.

Do not plan any travel during the treatment cycle.
You must be available for a minimum of four visits to the recipientÕs medical center, and visits to a local lab.
You will be given medications that require daily injections.
You must be committed to following all the instructions for medications faithfully, as the success of the cycle depends on it.
You must attend every scheduled medical appointment without fail.
You must be accompanied on the day of embryo transfer, as you cannot drive yourself.
You must follow all the IVF physicianÕs instructions regarding bedrest, etc.

Our compensation schedules vary with each individual situation. We will be happy to discuss this with you upon your provisional acceptance. Our surrogates also receive generous compensation for all expenses as they are incurred.

We hope this information has helped you to understand this vital and wonderful process! We sincerely appreciate your interest and look forward to receiving your application soon.