Friendship is about putting others’ needs above your own. It’s about kindness, compassion and understanding. As a good friend, you’re always looking out for the people you love and doing what you can to make them happy.
If you have friends who are going through a difficult struggle with infertility, or friends in a same-sex relationship who would like to start a family, then you may be wondering about being a surrogate for a friend.
Becoming a gestational carrier can be amazing. It’s a way to experience the joys of pregnancy while giving your friend the best gift of all — family. But, surrogacy can also be challenging. The process is complex, and it comes with some risks.
To make the best decision for yourself and your friends, you need a clear picture of what it means to commit to this process. That’s why we’ve created this guide to being a gestational carrier for a friend. We’re going to answer some of the most common questions about how to become a surrogate for a friend, and help you understand the pros and cons of this process.
After reading, you may want to follow up with more personal questions. You can contact us at any time to speak with a surrogacy professional.
5 Questions About Being a Surrogate for a Friend
Every situation is unique. If you do become a surrogate for a friend, your journey as a gestational carrier will be shaped by the specific details of your situation. With that said, these are five big questions that everyone has, and the answers can help you decide whether or not being a surrogate for a friend is right for you.
Can I be a surrogate for a friend?
Yes, being a surrogate for a friend is a possibility. The first thing you should do if you are considering this option is check on the requirements for surrogacy. Since a gestational carrier takes on some physical and emotional risks with the process, they must meet these qualifications in order to become a surrogate for a friend with our program:
- Be at least 21 years old
- Have a previous healthy pregnancy
- Be raising your own child in your home
- Be smoke- and drug-free
- Have a healthy BMI
- Be able to travel for surrogacy appointments
- Live in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee or Alabama
- And more
If you meet these requirements, there will be additional background checks, medical screenings and psychological evaluations to complete. All of this is meant to protect you by ensuring you are ready for the process of being a surrogate for your friend.
How do I become a surrogate for my friend?
There are several ways to become a surrogate. If you already know that your friend will be the intended parent, then you will be pursuing an identified surrogacy — which means you won’t need to find a surrogacy match. The main question, now, is whether or not you will still enlist the services of a surrogacy program.
Southern Surrogacy’s full-service program takes a personal approach. We work hard to meet our clients’ needs at every step of the process, putting years of experience to use for their benefit. From working with the fertility clinic, to providing logistical support for the hospital plan, to ensuring the legality of the process according to your state’s laws, and more, our team can help you complete a successful surrogacy process.
Identified surrogacy with the support of a surrogacy program can be a beautiful journey.
What are the benefits of being a surrogate for your friend?
Surrogacy can be beautiful, life-changing journey for everyone involved. Many gestational carriers look back on the process as one of the best things they ever did, and intended parents are more thankful for the gift of family that surrogacy gives than they can express. When you are thinking about being a surrogate for your friend, these ideas are undoubtedly on your mind.
In the right situation, there are plenty of benefits to being a surrogate for your friend. These can include:
- Giving your friend an amazing gift: By carrying a child for your friend, you’re playing a key role in fulfilling their dreams of starting a family.
- The chance to experience the joys of pregnancy: Since previous, healthy pregnancies are a requirement for gestational carriers, women usually already know that they enjoy being pregnant before beginning the surrogacy process.
- The support from a good surrogacy program: Southern Surrogacy will be there with you every step of the way to make this process as smooth and stress-free as possible.
What are the risks of being a surrogate for a friend?
There are some risks associated with the surrogacy process, and some risks specifically associated with being a surrogate for a friend. Our goal in sharing these is not to scare you, but to give you a clear picture of what the process can entail:
- The medical risks of surrogacy: Along with the risks associated with pregnancy, there are some specific risks of the embryo transfer process that you should speak with a fertility clinic and surrogacy professional about.
- The ways your relationship will change: There are few things more personal than the surrogacy process. It will change your relationship with your friend. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but you can’t expect things to stay the same.
- The emotions of the new relationship: Not only will there be a new relationship with your friend, but also with the baby you carry. Have you thought about how you’ll navigate this relationship?
When you think about these risks, remember that the professionals at Southern Surrogacy work hard to minimize them. We have years of experience providing support to intended parents and gestational carriers. We can help you navigate the challenges of surrogacy and experience the best version of your journey.
Who can help me become a surrogate for a friend?
Do you meet the requirements for surrogacy listed above? Do the services provided by our program sound like something that would make your surrogacy journey better? If so, then Southern Surrogacy could help you be a surrogate for a friend.
To take your next steps, fill out this initial Information Request Form. It will only take a couple minutes of your time, and will help us determine whether or not our program is right for you. Once you have filled out the form, you will be sent follow-up materials and, then, contacted by one of our surrogacy professionals to discuss your next steps.
If you still have more questions before committing to the process, you can contact us today to speak with a surrogacy professional.
