What Are the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) Surrogate Screening Requirements in Oklahoma?

If you are interested in becoming a surrogate mother through OK surrogacy, you may have a lot of questions about how to start or what the process is like. We know how overwhelming the information can be, so that’s why we at Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Oklahoma have made it easier for you to know what the requirements are like.

What is the Surrogacy Process in Oklahoma? 

Before you decide to become a gestational carrier, the first step is to learn what surrogacy is like for you and what the process entails. When you become a surrogate mother, it means you are making the selfless decision to carry someone else’s baby for them. You can carry a baby for an individual or couple, but in any case, they desire to have children of their own. 

This is done through in vitro fertilization, also known as IVF, which means that the intended mother’s egg is fertilized with the intended father’s sperm in a lab. If being matched with an individual who is a hopeful intended parent, they can use a donor’s sperm or egg. Since this is gestational surrogacy, that means you, as the surrogate mother, are not biologically related to the child you carry. Before you become pregnant, your attorney will meet the intended parent’s attorney where they will make sure all parties know you have no parental rights or claim to the child. 

However, there are a lot of different steps needed before you do the IVF process. The very first step is to make sure you are a suitable candidate for becoming a surrogate mother. Keep on reading to learn about the specific requirements the American Society for Reproductive Medicine requires all surrogate mothers to have.   

What Are the ASRM Surrogacy Requirements? 

The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) is a multiorganizational nonprofit dedicated to advancing reproductive medicine. They set guidelines for the surrogacy requirements to make sure you, the baby you carry, and your intended parents are safe throughout the whole surrogacy process.  

• You have to be between the ages of 21 to 39 to ensure you are physically and emotionally equipped to become a surrogate mother.
• You must have had at least one healthy pregnancy, with no complications during your pregnancy or after your delivery.
  • This means you can not have had postpartum depression after your previous pregnancies. 
• This means that you are actively parenting at least one child at home. 
  • This child(ren) can not be on Medicaid, food stamps, or TANF.
• You can not have any mental health issues. During your surrogacy process, you will be required to undergo a psychological examination.
  • This means that you can not be on any medication to treat bipolar disorder, depression, or any other such related mental health issues.
• You must be healthy and be free of sexually-transmitted diseases. Like a psychological examination, you will also be required to go through physical exams as well.
• You must not smoke, nor be alcohol or drug-dependent.
• You also cannot be on public assistance, and you must be able to travel to appointments as needed.
• You must be able to pass a background check, meaning that you do not have a criminal record.
• You must also come from a stable lifestyle, and if you have a partner, you must have their support through this process.
• Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, you must be a U.S citizen currently residing in the United States. 

Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Oklahoma ensures all surrogate mothers and intended parents, who have their own specific set of requirements, have these met to ensure a safe and healthy surrogacy pregnancy for everyone involved. 

What Are the Other Parts of the Surrogacy Process? 

Now that you have reached all of these requirements, congratulations! You have made it through the first step in becoming a surrogate mother. The next step is being matched with an intended parent or parents. This is done through interviews and screenings to assess your values and what you want out of your surrogacy journey. Finally, you will be matched up to an individual or couple, which is a really exciting part of the process!

Once you are matched, everyone will go through screenings. This includes physical and psychological examinations for both you and the intended parents you are matched with. This is an important part of the process because it ensures that everyone is physically, emotionally, and mentally healthy and prepared for the surrogacy journey. This is done to make sure the intended parents are ready to become parents and that you are well enough for pregnancy.

Once that is completed, it’s onto the legal work. This is to ensure everyone is protected throughout the process and knows their roles and responsibilities. Again, this is seen as a legally-binding contract between you and the intended parents. It’s onto the IVF process! This may take some time, depending on how long it takes for you to become pregnant. This is a very exciting time for both you and the intended parents. Once you are pregnant, congrats! A new chapter of your surrogacy process begins.

At Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Oklahoma, we help you through every part of the process. We want you and your intended parents to have a beautiful and rewarding surrogacy journey that will change all of your lives. If you’re thinking of becoming a surrogate mother, contact us for more information or with any questions you may have in mind. We recognize how complex, exciting, and selfless of a decision this is for you. That’s why we want to help you the best way we can – by taking care of you and keeping your best interests in mind with our highly-trained professionals and resources. 

Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Oklahoma is a surrogacy and adoption agency, licensed by the state of Oklahoma and a leader in the community. We assist both intended parents and gestational carriers (surrogates). Our staff members are committed to providing an ethical, empowering, and personalized experience to all involved in the surrogacy process.
Toll-free: 800-898-6028 | OKC Local: 405-755-1999 | Tulsa Local: 918-447-7777 | Text: 405-201-6643 | Email

Meet the Author: Katie Doherty is a junior Writing, Literature, and Publishing major at Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts. She loves to write, read, and edit, whether it’s technical or creative writing. Although she enjoys writing poetry, narrative nonfiction, and fiction writing, she also loves to write on current political events, cultural trends, and research. She spends her free time listening to music, watching the Great British Bake Off, and learning how to crochet.