How Are Surrogates Screened Before Matching?

Last updated: October 4, 2026

Choosing a surrogate should not begin with a profile and end with a hope that important screening will work itself out later. At Egg Donor & Surrogacy Institute, also known as EDSI, the required pre match qualification work is completed before a surrogate candidate is presented to intended parents.

For families learning how to find a surrogate, the most important point to understand is that surrogate screening is not one test or one approval.

EDSI calls this the Ready for Matching Standard. A candidate does not receive Ready for Matching status simply because she completed an application or met basic requirements. Before presentation, the required qualification process must be complete, including pregnancy and delivery record review, current health and medication review, OB clearance and required health documentation, psychological evaluation, background screening, support and practical readiness assessment, preliminary insurance review, and final internal EDSI qualification.

Before presentation, a qualified mental-health professional completes the required psychological evaluation and required background screening is completed through the appropriate provider. After a mutual match, the intended parents’ fertility clinic performs its own medical evaluation and makes the final medical-clearance decision. Separate reproductive attorneys handle the legal process, insurance professionals complete journey specific review, and journey funds are held through an independent third-party bonded escrow provider.

A higher standard before matching. Our stringent Ready for Matching Standard is one of the things that sets EDSI apart. We do not believe intended parents should be asked to become invested in a surrogate while fundamental qualification work is still incomplete. 98% of EDSI surrogate candidates presented for fertility clinic medical evaluation are accepted by the clinic. The fertility clinic always retains final medical clearance authority, and no agency can guarantee medical clearance, pregnancy, or a live birth.

Quick Answer: What Does a Strong Surrogacy Agency Screening Process Check Before Matching?

A strong surrogate screening process should answer one question clearly: what has actually been completed before intended parents see a surrogate profile?

At EDSI, a candidate is not presented to intended parents until the required Ready for Matching qualification steps are complete. These include:

1. A detailed application and personal interview
2. Verification of identity, age, location and basic eligibility
3. Collection of pregnancy, delivery and postpartum medical records
4. Review of prior pregnancy complications and current medical history
5. Discussion of medications, lifestyle, employment and household support
6. Background screening
7. Psychological evaluation by a qualified mental health professional
8. Review of health insurance coverage

Once these qualification steps are complete, the candidate may be designated Ready for Matching and presented to compatible intended parents.

What Happens After a Surrogate Is Ready for Matching?

9. Compatibility based matching with intended parents
10. After a mutual match, fertility clinic medical evaluation and final clearance
11. After clinic clearance, separate legal representation for the surrogate and intended parents
12. Journey specific independent escrow funding before contractual payments and treatment milestones require it

These steps fit within the broader surrogacy process for intended parents, which continues through legal agreements, embryo transfer, pregnancy, delivery and parentage documentation.

Professional guidance from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine recommends medical evaluation, infectious-disease testing, psychosocial evaluation, preconception testing, uterine-cavity evaluation and legal counseling as distinct parts of the gestational-carrier process. EDSI uses that professional framework as an external benchmark while keeping agency qualification separate from the fertility clinic’s final medical-clearance authority.

EDSI Ready for Matching Standard

Selective before matching. Transparent about what remains.

A surrogate candidate is not presented by EDSI simply because she is interested, appears healthy, or satisfies a few basic requirements. The required pre match qualification file must be complete before she can receive EDSI Ready for Matching status. That includes the required records, health and medication, background, support, readiness and preliminary insurance reviews, plus the required psychological evaluation and final internal qualification.

Final medical clearance is independently determined by the intended parents’ fertility clinic after a mutual match. EDSI Ready for Matching confirms completion of the required pre match qualification process, but it does not replace the clinic’s medical evaluation.

For more than 25 years, EDSI has coordinated third party reproduction journeys through a structured process that separates agency coordination, fertility clinic medical decisions, independent legal representation, insurance review and an independent third party bonded escrow provider.

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What Does EDSI Ready for Matching Mean?

EDSI Ready for Matching means every required EDSI pre match qualification step is complete and the candidate may be presented to intended parents for consideration. It includes required records review, health and medication review, psychological evaluation, background screening, support and readiness review, preliminary insurance review, and final internal qualification. It does not replace fertility clinic final medical clearance.

One agency may use the term after reviewing only an application and conducting a telephone interview. Another may wait until pregnancy records, delivery records, background screening and psychological evaluation have been completed.

Even after extensive agency screening, the intended parents’ fertility clinic must conduct its own review and make the final medical decision.

Intended parents should therefore ask exactly what has been completed rather than relying on labels such as:

• Pre-screened
• Agency approved
• Qualified
• Clinic ready
• Fully screened
• Medically approved

A trustworthy agency should explain its terminology before intended parents become emotionally or financially committed to a proposed match. This is one of the main standards families should evaluate when deciding how to choose a surrogacy agency.

Screening stage	Who is responsible?	What the result means
EDSI Ready for Matching	EDSI qualification process	Every required EDSI pre match qualification step is complete and the candidate may be presented to intended parents
Medical-record review	Agency and later the fertility clinic	Pregnancy and delivery history is reviewed for potentially relevant concerns
Background screening	Agency or outside provider	Identity and relevant background information are reviewed
Psychological evaluation	Qualified mental-health professional	Emotional readiness, expectations and support are professionally evaluated
Insurance review	Qualified insurance professional	Coverage, exclusions and possible additional insurance needs are assessed
Final medical clearance	Intended parents’ fertility clinic	The clinic decides whether it will approve the candidate for treatment
Legal clearance	Separate reproductive attorneys	The agreement is completed and legal clearance is sent to the clinic
Ready for medications or transfer	Clinic, attorneys and coordinating team	Required medical, legal, insurance and funding steps have been completed

EDSI Ready for Matching is not the same as fertility-clinic medical clearance.

Not sure what should be completed before you review a surrogate profile?

Egg Donor & Surrogacy Institute can explain the screening, matching and clinic-clearance stages based on your fertility clinic and family-building plans.

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A responsible agency should state that distinction clearly.

Why Does Surrogate Screening Matter to Intended Parents?

Screening protects the surrogate, intended parents and future pregnancy by identifying information that may affect safety, timing, compatibility or the ability to proceed.

Meaningful screening can reduce the chance that intended parents:

• Form an emotional attachment before pregnancy records have been reviewed
• Pay for avoidable clinic screening or travel expenses
• Lose time because important records were never collected
• Discover major differences in expectations after matching
• Reach the legal stage without understanding insurance concerns
• Learn too late that the parties disagree about pregnancy decisions
• Enter a match without a clear communication or support plan
• Need to restart the process because basic eligibility was not verified

Screening cannot remove every uncertainty. Pregnancy, fertility treatment and human relationships involve variables that cannot always be predicted.

The purpose is to identify foreseeable issues before intended parents become deeply committed. EDSI explains this separation of screening, medical clearance, legal coordination, insurance review and escrow protection in The Architecture of Protection in a Surrogacy Journey.

What Does EDSI Review Before Presenting a Surrogate?

EDSI’s Ready for Matching qualification process is designed to create a complete, reviewable candidate file before a profile is presented to intended parents.

1. Application and Initial Interview

The process begins with a detailed application and a direct conversation with the candidate.

The application and interview typically address:

• Age and location
• Pregnancy and delivery history
• Current health
• Current and recent medications
• Smoking, vaping and substance use
• Employment
• Health insurance
• Household composition
• Relationship status
• Childcare and transportation
• Motivation for becoming a surrogate
• Availability for appointments and travel
• Previous surrogacy experience
• Communication preferences
• Views about important pregnancy decisions

An application alone is not enough.

The interview helps clarify answers, identify missing information and determine whether the candidate understands the medical procedures, time commitment and responsibilities involved.

2. Pregnancy and Delivery Record Collection

A candidate’s description of her prior pregnancies is a starting point. Relevant medical records are needed to verify and better understand that history.

Depending on the circumstances, records may include:

• Prenatal records
• Labor and delivery reports
• Hospital discharge summaries
• Cesarean operative reports
• Postpartum records
• Records involving pregnancy complications
• Infant gestational age and birth information
• Current Pap test results
• OB clearance documentation
• Specialist records when relevant
• Records relating to postpartum treatment

Records can reveal information that is not apparent from a short application.

A candidate may remember that a pregnancy “went well,” while the delivery report may contain information that the fertility clinic needs to evaluate. Conversely, a medical term in a record may sound concerning but require context from the physician who managed the pregnancy.

EDSI requires and reviews the pregnancy and delivery records needed for qualification before a candidate can receive Ready for Matching status. After a mutual match, the intended parents’ fertility clinic conducts its own medical review and may request additional records, testing or specialist input. The clinic remains responsible for final medical eligibility.

3. Prior Pregnancy and Delivery History

A fertility clinic will want to understand how the candidate’s body responded to her previous pregnancies.

Relevant history can include:

• Whether pregnancies reached full term
• Vaginal deliveries
• Cesarean deliveries
• Preeclampsia
• Pregnancy-related hypertension
• Gestational diabetes
• Preterm labor
• Premature delivery
• Placental complications
• Significant bleeding
• Postpartum hemorrhage
• Blood transfusion
• Hospitalization
• Cervical complications
• Fetal-growth concerns
• Postpartum depression or anxiety
• Recovery after delivery
• The amount of time since the most recent pregnancy

A prior complication does not always mean that a candidate cannot become a surrogate.

The type of complication, severity, recurrence risk, treatment and outcome of later pregnancies all matter. A fertility clinic may request:

• An explanation from the prior OB
• Updated testing
• Current OB clearance
• Maternal-fetal medicine review
• Cardiology or another specialist’s opinion
• Additional records from the delivery hospital

ASRM guidance states that a gestational carrier should ideally have had at least one term, uncomplicated pregnancy. It also recommends considering prior delivery and cesarean history, along with family stability and adequate support. Individual fertility clinics may apply more restrictive requirements.

4. Current Health and Medications

Past healthy pregnancies do not establish current eligibility.

EDSI asks about:

• Current diagnoses
• Prescription medications
• Recent surgeries
• Mental-health history
• Current counseling or psychiatric care
• Migraine or pain treatments
• Blood-pressure concerns
• Diabetes or metabolic conditions
• Seizure history
• Cardiovascular history
• Recent pregnancy
• Breastfeeding
• Current weight and BMI
• Recent changes in health

Medication use does not always result in disqualification. The fertility clinic must determine whether a medication, diagnosis or treatment plan is compatible with fertility medications and pregnancy.

Candidates should never stop a prescribed medication merely to qualify without consulting the prescribing physician.

Medical decisions belong to the candidate and her qualified healthcare providers.

5. Lifestyle and Practical Readiness

Medical history is only one part of readiness.

A surrogate journey requires reliable transportation, frequent communication, medical appointments, medication adherence and a plan for disruptions that could affect work or family responsibilities.

EDSI discusses:

• Smoking, vaping and substance use
• Work schedule and flexibility
• Transportation
• Childcare
• Planned travel
• Household stability
• Partner and family support
• Ability to attend appointments
• Comfort with injections and fertility medications
• Ability to follow clinic instructions
• Plans for pregnancy-related work restrictions
• Communication during urgent situations

This review is not intended to judge a candidate’s lifestyle. It is intended to determine whether the practical structure needed for a demanding journey is in place.

6. Support System

A surrogate does not complete the journey alone.

Her spouse, partner, relatives and other household members may be affected by appointments, travel, medication schedules, pregnancy restrictions and delivery.

The screening process should explore:

• Whether the candidate’s partner supports the decision
• Who will care for her children during appointments or delivery
• Who can help if she is placed on activity restriction
• Whether household members understand the commitment
• Whether she has reliable emotional support
• Whether family responsibilities conflict with the anticipated journey

A mental-health professional may also meet with the candidate’s partner or primary support person as part of the psychological evaluation.

7. Preliminary Insurance Information

Having health insurance does not automatically mean that a surrogacy pregnancy will be covered.

Preliminary insurance review may identify:

• The type of health plan
• Whether coverage is employer based
• The expected policy year
• Possible surrogacy exclusions
• Deductibles
• Out-of-pocket limits
• Whether another policy may be required
• Whether employment or insurance is likely to change

A qualified insurance professional should review the policy before the journey proceeds to embryo-transfer medications.

Intended parents can read more about policy exclusions, premiums, deductibles and pregnancy-related coverage in EDSI’s guide to medical insurance and surrogacy.

EDSI coordinates insurance review but does not provide insurance advice or guarantee that a particular claim will be covered.

Background and Psychological Screening Before Matching

Background screening and psychological evaluation are both required parts of the EDSI Ready for Matching process and are completed before a candidate is presented to intended parents.

It should be conducted by a qualified mental-health professional with experience in third-party reproduction.

The professional evaluates whether the candidate understands the emotional, relational and practical implications of carrying a pregnancy for intended parents.

Topics may include:

• Motivation for becoming a surrogate
• Mental-health history
• Prior pregnancy and postpartum experiences
• Stress management
• Family relationships
• Partner and household support
• Communication style
• Conflict resolution
• Expectations about the intended parents
• Contact during and after pregnancy
• Pregnancy termination and selective reduction
• Expectations surrounding delivery
• Boundaries and privacy
• Possible responses to miscarriage or failed transfer
• Possible responses to pregnancy complications
• Postpartum planning

This is not a test of whether someone is a good person.

It is an independent professional assessment of readiness for a medically, emotionally and legally complex arrangement.

ASRM recommends psychosocial evaluation and implication counseling for potential gestational carriers. Its guidance also addresses evaluation of the carrier’s partner or primary support person and counseling for intended parents.

How Do Agencies and Fertility Clinics Handle Surrogate Medical Screening?

The intended parents’ fertility clinic makes the final medical-clearance decision.

Clinic requirements differ. A candidate who meets one clinic’s requirements may not meet another clinic’s protocol.

The fertility clinic may review or require:

• Complete pregnancy and delivery records
• Current medical history
• Physical examination
• Bloodwork
• Infectious-disease testing
• Blood type and Rh factor
• Immunity testing
• Cervical cancer screening
• Urine drug screening
• Uterine-cavity evaluation
• Saline sonogram or other imaging
• Evaluation of the anticipated medication protocol
• OB clearance
• Specialist clearance
• Testing of a spouse or partner when required
• Review of prior cesarean deliveries
• Review of prior pregnancy complications

ASRM recommends medical evaluation, infectious-disease testing, preconception testing and uterine-cavity evaluation as parts of gestational-carrier screening.

Why Do Strict Fertility Clinics Have Different Surrogate Requirements?

Fertility clinics create their own protocols based on physician judgment, institutional policies, risk tolerance and the facts of each case. That is why a strong agency screening process should do more than check basic eligibility. It should review the candidate deeply enough before presentation to identify issues that a strict fertility clinic is likely to question, while still recognizing that the clinic makes the final medical decision. EDSI’s Ready for Matching Standard is designed for that purpose: complete the required agency qualification work first, then submit the candidate to the intended parents’ clinic for its independent evaluation. 98% of EDSI surrogate candidates presented for fertility clinic medical evaluation are accepted by the clinic. That figure is a proof point for the strength of the pre match qualification process, not a guarantee that every clinic will approve every candidate.

Differences may involve:

• Maximum age
• BMI
• Number of prior deliveries
• Number of cesarean deliveries
• Time since the last pregnancy
• Previous pregnancy complications
• Mental-health history
• Medication history
• Vaccination requirements
• Specialist-clearance requirements
• Recent breastfeeding
• Uterine findings
• Infectious-disease results

This is why no agency should promise that agency approval guarantees clinic clearance.

How Long Does Surrogate Screening Take?

There is no single screening timeline.

The EDSI Ready for Matching qualification process can take several weeks or longer. Medical record retrieval is frequently the most unpredictable part because required records may come from multiple hospitals, OB offices or older medical systems.

Screening is one stage within the full surrogacy timeline from consultation to birth.

Stage	Common planning range
Application and initial interview	Several days to two weeks
Obtaining pregnancy and delivery records	Two to eight weeks or longer
Psychological and background screening	Approximately one to three weeks
Preliminary insurance review	Approximately one to three weeks
Final EDSI qualification review after the required file is complete	Approximately one to two weeks
Fertility clinic record review and medical screening after a mutual match	Approximately two to four weeks or longer
Additional specialist review when required	Depends on appointment and testing availability

These are planning ranges, not guarantees.

Missing records, inconclusive laboratory results, clinic scheduling or the need for specialist clearance can extend the timeline.

What Causes Delays in Surrogate Screening?

Common causes include:

• Missing hospital records
• Missing delivery records
• Records filed under a former name
• A hospital that has closed
• A healthcare system that changed record platforms
• Incomplete medical releases
• A missing cesarean operative report
• An expired Pap test
• The need for updated OB clearance
• Recent breastfeeding
• A newly prescribed medication
• A clinic requesting specialist clearance
• Abnormal or inconclusive laboratory results
• Insurance-policy changes
• Scheduling an in-person clinic appointment
• Waiting for a spouse or partner to complete testing
• Questions requiring clarification from a former OB

The safest way to shorten screening is not to skip steps. It is to obtain a complete, well-organized file early.

Can a Surrogate Be Declined After She Is Matched?

Yes.

EDSI Ready for Matching status reduces avoidable uncertainty before clinic review, but it cannot eliminate clinic specific judgment or guarantee final medical clearance.

A candidate may not receive clearance because:

• The clinic interprets a prior complication differently
• A missing record reveals new information
• A uterine evaluation identifies a concern
• Laboratory testing requires treatment or follow-up
• A health condition has changed
• A medication conflicts with the clinic’s protocol
• An OB or maternal-fetal medicine specialist advises against another pregnancy
• The fertility clinic identifies a medical concern or applies a clinic-specific requirement that was not part of the agency qualification criteria
• The candidate and intended parents have incompatible expectations
• The clinic applies a requirement that was not part of EDSI’s pre match qualification criteria or was not known before matching

A clinic declining a candidate does not necessarily mean that she is unhealthy or did anything wrong.

It means that the clinic is not willing to approve her under its protocol based on the information available.

What Happens If a Surrogate Does Not Pass Screening?

The next step depends on why she could not proceed.

Possible outcomes include:

• Obtaining missing records
• Repeating an inconclusive test
• Treating a temporary medical issue
• Waiting after delivery or breastfeeding
• Obtaining updated OB clearance
• Receiving maternal-fetal medicine review
• Receiving another specialist’s opinion
• Pausing the proposed match
• Ending the proposed match
• Presenting another candidate

An agency should not pressure a candidate to challenge a safety-based decision merely to preserve the match.

Before signing with an agency, intended parents should ask what happens if a candidate withdraws, does not receive medical clearance or cannot continue. EDSI’s article on questions to ask a surrogacy agency can help families compare screening, matching, communication and rematching procedures before making a commitment.

Are Repeat or Experienced Surrogates Screened Again?

Yes.

Previous success as a surrogate is valuable, but it does not replace updated screening.

Since the previous journey, a candidate may have experienced:

• Another pregnancy or delivery
• A cesarean delivery
• A new diagnosis
• A medication change
• A change in insurance
• A move to another state
• A new partner or household member
• A different work situation
• A different childcare situation
• A postpartum mental-health concern

Repeat surrogates must complete updated EDSI Ready for Matching qualification before they are presented again, including updated pregnancy and delivery records, current health and medication review, psychological evaluation, background screening as required, support and readiness review, and preliminary insurance review. After a mutual match, the intended parents’ fertility clinic performs its own medical evaluation and makes final clearance.

Does a Known Surrogate Need the Same Screening?

Yes.

A friend, sister, cousin or other known surrogate should meet the same core qualification and professional safeguards as an agency-recruited candidate. Before EDSI presents or coordinates a known-surrogate match, the relevant pregnancy and delivery records, current health and medications, psychological evaluation, background screening, support and readiness, and preliminary insurance considerations should be reviewed. After the parties decide to proceed together, the intended parents’ fertility clinic performs its own medical evaluation and makes final medical clearance, followed by journey-specific legal, insurance and escrow steps.

Personal trust cannot establish whether:

• Pregnancy is medically advisable
• The uterus is suitable for transfer
• The parties agree about pregnancy decisions
• Insurance will cover the pregnancy
• The agreement complies with applicable law
• The relationship can withstand difficult outcomes
• The surrogate is participating without pressure

Known-surrogate arrangements may require particularly careful counseling because an existing family relationship or friendship could be affected by conflict, failed transfer, miscarriage or different expectations.

Is Surrogate Screening Different in California?

The medical principles are similar, but legal requirements depend on the states connected to the surrogate, intended parents, agreement and anticipated delivery.

In California:

• The surrogate and intended parents must be represented by separate independent attorneys before executing the gestational-carrier agreement.
• The agreement must be fully executed before injectable medication begins in preparation for transfer or before the embryo-transfer procedure.
• The agreement must address how medical expenses for the surrogate and newborn will be covered.
• An action to establish parentage may be filed before the child’s birth.

These requirements appear in California Family Code section 7962.

EDSI is based in Beverly Hills, California, but works with surrogate candidates across the United States. A surrogate does not necessarily need to live in California.

The candidate’s residence and anticipated delivery location must be reviewed by the independent attorneys handling the individual case.

Are Intended Parents Screened Too?

A responsible process should also evaluate whether the intended parents are prepared to enter a surrogacy arrangement.

This is not identical to surrogate medical screening. Intended-parent preparation may include:

• Confirming that the fertility clinic is prepared to proceed
• Understanding whether embryos exist or still need to be created
• Reviewing legal jurisdiction
• Confirming financial readiness
• Explaining expected expenses and escrow funding
• Discussing communication expectations
• Discussing pregnancy termination and selective reduction
• Planning for travel and delivery
• Preparing for unsuccessful transfers or rematching
• Understanding newborn insurance
• Identifying international-documentation needs
• Participating in psychoeducational counseling when recommended

Families can use EDSI’s Intended Parent Surrogacy Readiness Checklist to evaluate agency structure, screening, legal coordination, insurance, escrow, communication and financial preparation before beginning.

Screening should protect both sides. The surrogate should also receive enough information to decide whether the intended parents are the right match for her.

How Does Screening Affect Matching?

Screening and matching are connected, but they are not the same.

Screening asks: Has this candidate completed the required EDSI pre match qualification steps and demonstrated the documented medical history, psychological readiness, background, support, practical readiness and preliminary insurance profile required to be presented as Ready for Matching?

Matching asks: Should this surrogate and these intended parents proceed together?

A candidate may complete EDSI Ready for Matching qualification and still not be the right match for a particular family. Qualification addresses whether she is ready to be presented; matching addresses whether the surrogate and intended parents are compatible enough to proceed together.

EDSI evaluates compatibility factors such as:

• Communication frequency
• Communication style
• Desired relationship during pregnancy
• Expectations after delivery
• Surrogate and intended-parent location
• Travel requirements
• Fertility-clinic criteria
• Embryo plans
• Number of embryos anticipated for transfer
• Pregnancy termination and selective-reduction views
• Vaccination expectations
• Delivery-room preferences
• Breast-milk or pumping preferences
• Social-media and privacy expectations
• Involvement of spouses, partners and children
• Expectations if complications arise

Both the intended parents and surrogate must independently approve a proposed match.

Before agreeing to a match, intended parents can also review what to look for in a surrogate profile, including medical history, compatibility and questions that may need clarification.

A candidate should never be pressured to accept intended parents, and intended parents should not be pressured to proceed merely because a profile is available.

Can Intended Parents See a Surrogate’s Full Medical Records?

Intended parents need enough relevant information to make an informed decision, but they should not expect unrestricted access to every unrelated medical record in a candidate’s life.

Medical-information sharing depends on authorizations, privacy requirements and the role of each professional.

Generally:

• The agency collects and organizes relevant records with authorization
• The fertility clinic reviews the medical information needed for its decision
• Intended parents may receive a summary of material history
• Relevant prior complications should be disclosed
• Unrelated private information should not be distributed unnecessarily
• Attorneys and mental-health professionals protect information according to professional requirements

Intended parents should ask how the agency balances meaningful disclosure with the candidate’s legitimate privacy.

What Should Intended Parents Ask About Surrogate Screening?

Before choosing an agency, intended parents should ask:

1. What screening is completed before a profile is presented?
2. Are pregnancy and delivery records obtained?
3. Does the agency rely primarily on self-reporting?
4. Who reviews the records before the fertility clinic?
5. Is current OB clearance requested?
6. When is psychological screening completed?
7. Who conducts the psychological evaluation?
8. Is the candidate’s partner or support person included?
9. What background screening is completed?
10. When is insurance reviewed?
11. Who makes the final medical-clearance decision?
12. What happens if the clinic requests specialist clearance?
13. Can a candidate be matched before all records are received?
14. What happens if she does not receive clinic clearance?
15. Is there a written rematch policy?
16. How are intended parents prepared?
17. How are medical records and personal information protected?
18. Does each party have a separate reproductive attorney?
19. Who holds the journey funds?
20. Does the agency promise clearance, pregnancy or live birth?

Specific answers are more useful than general claims that screening is “rigorous” or “comprehensive.” Intended parents should be able to identify, in writing, which records are reviewed before presentation, whether psychological and background screening are complete, whether insurance has received a preliminary review, who makes the clinic medical decision, and what happens if the clinic requests additional testing or declines the candidate. EDSI publishes those distinctions because transparent screening roles are part of the Ready for Matching Standard.

Intended parents comparing agency screening standards can also review EDSI’s guide to top surrogacy agencies in the United States to see how screening, matching, legal coordination, escrow, communication, and other program safeguards can be evaluated across agencies.

What Are Red Flags in a Surrogate Screening Process?

Intended parents should be cautious when:

• A profile is presented before pregnancy records are obtained
• “Fully screened” is used without explaining what is complete
• The agency implies that agency approval equals clinic clearance
• Medical eligibility is based only on an application
• No qualified mental-health professional is involved
• The surrogate’s partner or support system is ignored
• Insurance is not reviewed before transfer
• The same attorney represents both parties
• Journey funds are held directly by the agency
• There is no written rematch policy
• The agency avoids discussing prior complications
• A candidate is encouraged to conceal medication or medical history
• Speed is emphasized more than record completeness
• Intended parents are promised guaranteed success

No agency can remove every uncertainty.

A trustworthy agency should explain what it does, what it does not do and which independent professional makes each decision.

How EDSI Structures Surrogate Screening and Clearance

Egg Donor & Surrogacy Institute is a Beverly Hills-based surrogacy and egg donation agency serving intended parents across the United States and internationally.

EDSI’s role is structured coordination, not medical or legal decision-making.

Stage 1: EDSI Qualification Review

EDSI collects and reviews the pregnancy and delivery records required for qualification, current health and medication information, lifestyle factors, support, preliminary insurance considerations, expectations and practical readiness before a candidate can receive Ready for Matching status.

Stage 2: Required Independent Evaluations Before Presentation

Required background screening and psychological evaluation are completed before a candidate can receive EDSI Ready for Matching status and be presented to intended parents.

Preliminary insurance review is also completed before presentation, while journey specific formal insurance work continues later as appropriate.

Stage 3: Compatibility Based Matching After Ready for Matching

After a candidate receives Ready for Matching status, EDSI evaluates the intended parents’ fertility clinic requirements and the preferences of both parties.

Communication, location, embryo plans, pregnancy decision expectations and desired involvement are discussed before a match is confirmed.

Stage 4: Fertility Clinic Clearance

After a mutual match, EDSI organizes records and communication with the intended parents’ fertility clinic.

The fertility clinic conducts its evaluation and independently determines final medical clearance.

Stage 5: Attorney Guided Legal Process and Independent Escrow

After clinic clearance, the intended parents and surrogate are represented by separate reproductive attorneys.

Journey funds are held and disbursed by an independent third party bonded escrow provider rather than by EDSI.

Stage 6: Ongoing Coordination

After medical clearance and legal completion, EDSI coordinates communication, milestones, appointments, expense documentation, pregnancy support and delivery preparation.

This separation of roles helps intended parents understand who is responsible for each decision.

EDSI’s screening and matching framework is led by Parham Zar, Founder and Managing Director of Egg Donor & Surrogacy Institute. Medical, psychological, insurance and legal decisions remain with the qualified independent professionals responsible for those areas.

Discuss your screening and matching plan with EDSI

Review your fertility clinic’s requirements, embryo status, timing, insurance considerations and surrogate preferences before beginning the matching process.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Surrogate Screening

Begin With a Clear Screening Process

Intended parents should know more than whether a surrogate profile is available.

They should understand:

• What has already been reviewed
• What remains incomplete
• Who will make each professional decision
• What the clinic still needs
• What happens if the proposed candidate cannot continue
• What expenses may arise before or after medical clearance

They should also understand how screening fits within the overall cost of a surrogacy journey, including clinic screening, psychological evaluation, insurance review, legal fees, travel and possible rematching expenses.

Egg Donor & Surrogacy Institute helps intended parents evaluate surrogate candidates through the EDSI Ready for Matching qualification standard, compatibility based matching, fertility clinic coordination, an attorney guided legal process and independent third party bonded escrow.

Begin With a Clear Screening and Matching Plan

Speak privately with EDSI about finding a surrogate, understanding what has already been reviewed and preparing for fertility-clinic clearance.

Request a Private Consultation

Private consultations are available for intended parents in the United States and internationally.