The Screening Process: Part 2 – Beginning the Journey with My Agency
After being declined by my first agency, I won't lie—I felt discouraged.
Even though they encouraged me to apply elsewhere because they believed I could still become a surrogate, hearing "no" was disappointing. I had already invested time gathering records, completing labs, and imagining what this journey might look like.
Thankfully, I didn't let that stop me.
On April 24, 2026, I had my initial phone call with the agency I ultimately chose.
Right away, I let them know that I had already started the screening process with another agency but had been declined. Instead of making me feel like I had to defend myself, the Surrogacy Center Coordinator was incredibly reassuring, friendly, and straightforward. She answered my questions honestly and made me feel comfortable from the very beginning.
That first conversation immediately felt different.
After our call, I was sent a detailed online questionnaire.
It covered just about everything you could imagine.
There was the standard identifying information—my name, date of birth, age, height, weight, contact information, and social media accounts—but it went much deeper than that.
The questionnaire asked about my insurance, employment, relationship history, citizenship, and surrogacy information.
There were also questions designed to make sure I understood the commitment involved. For example, I was asked whether I would be comfortable giving myself daily hormone injections, whether I could abstain from sexual intercourse for approximately six weeks during specific parts of the IVF cycle, and whether I could refrain from drinking alcohol throughout the process.
Next came questions about my reproductive history.
I documented each of my pregnancies, deliveries, miscarriage history, and information about my children. From there, the questionnaire moved into my medical history, family medical history, mental health history, STI screening, medications, lifestyle habits, and other health-related questions.
Finally, I completed a consent for a background check.
The questionnaire was definitely extensive, but I actually appreciated that.
It showed me they weren't just looking for someone to carry a pregnancy—they wanted to make sure they were matching intended parents with someone who was physically, emotionally, and mentally prepared for the journey.
After submitting everything, I scheduled a virtual interview for both myself and my partner on April 28.
This interview ended up being one of my favorite parts of the process.
Rather than feeling like an interrogation, it felt more like an orientation. The coordinator shared a PowerPoint presentation that walked us through every step of the surrogacy journey.
We talked about:
The overall timeline
The matching process with intended parents
The legal contract
The IVF and embryo transfer process
The compensation timeline
The agency's community and support resources
It answered questions I didn't even know I had.
Just as importantly, it gave my partner a chance to understand what the process would actually look like and ask questions of his own. Since surrogacy affects the entire family—not just the surrogate—I appreciated that they included him every step of the way.
After the interview, there were still a few more tasks before I could officially move forward.
I signed several medical release forms, completed a post-interview questionnaire, and received a pregnancy clearance form for my OB to complete. I also uploaded several documents, including:
Profile photos
My health insurance information
My driver's license
My COVID-19 vaccination card
Finally, I signed the agency's agreement to move forward with the screening process.
At this point, things finally started to feel real.
After months of researching agencies, comparing compensation packages, gathering medical records, and wondering whether I would even qualify after my first denial, I finally felt like I had found a team that genuinely wanted to get to know me—not just my medical history.
Then came the waiting.
One thing I noticed was how different agencies handled medical records. With the first agency, it only took about a week and a half for them to receive and review all of my records. This agency's timeline was much different.
It took 5½ weeks for them to receive all of my medical records and then another five days to review everything.
I'm honestly not sure why it took so much longer, but it definitely tested my patience. When you're excited to move forward, every day feels like a week. I found myself checking my email constantly, hoping for an update.
Finally, on June 10, I received the news I had been hoping for.
My records had been fully reviewed, everything looked good, and I was officially cleared to move on to the next steps in the screening process.
After the disappointment of being denied by my first agency, hearing those words was an incredible relief. It reminded me that one agency's decision isn't always the final answer, and sometimes all it takes is finding the right team that evaluates your history differently.
The waiting wasn't easy, but I know it will be worth it.
