Surrogacy Disqualifications
Are you thinking about becoming a gestational surrogate? Are you wondering if it’s the right choice for you? It certainly takes a special kind of woman to take on such a monumental task, but the fulfillment and personal reward can be very profound. However, complications during the pregnancy can occur. As a result, there are certain factors that can disqualify you from becoming a surrogate. Some of them can be reversed, some can’t. In this article, we’ll go over commonly known disqualifiers of surrogacy candidates.
What medical conditions will disqualify me from being a surrogate?
There are certain medical conditions that will disqualify you from becoming a surrogate, including:
. Diabetes. Both Type 1 diabetes and gestational diabetes can cause serious complications during pregnancy.
. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Women who suffer from PCOS are at a greater risk of developing preeclampsia or endometrial cancer.
. Endometriosis. This condition can cause infertility, so it will disqualify you from the surrogacy process.
. HIV and hepatitis B or C. These are all incurable viral infections that can be passed to the baby.
. Lack of a uterus or hysterectomy. The surrogate must have a healthy uterus in order to get pregnant during the embryo implantation process.
Unfortunately, these are definite, “strong” disqualifications. Plus, most of these are not reversible and – in some cases – can’t even be treated.
However, if you suffered from gestational diabetes during a previous pregnancy, there’s still a chance that you could become a surrogate, but you’ll need to have the condition well-managed and under control. This means that during screening you’ll have normal A1c and fasting glucose tests.
If you’ve been thinking about surrogacy for a while now, you’re probably familiar with the qualifications to become a surrogate. But what are the major disqualifications that would prevent someone from being a surrogate?
Major complications in pregnancy
Of course, the number one requirement for a surrogate is that she’s able to carry a healthy pregnancy to term. This means that if you had any major complications during pregnancy, you will struggle to be accepted as a surrogate. Major complications can include:
. Preeclampsia (before labor)
. Chronic gestational hypertension (or severe prolonged high blood pressure)
. Gestational diabetes that was not diet-controlled
. Hospitalization for preterm labor with or without delivery
. Placenta previa
. Placental abruption
. Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
. Severe postpartum hemorrhage and more.
While requirements vary from clinic to clinic and some are more relaxed than others, if you know you had a hard time with your own pregnancies then it’s probably not a good idea to consider surrogacy. You could put your own life, and the life of someone else’s child at risk.
Preterm Delivery
If you delivered your own children prior to 37 weeks’ gestation, there’s a good chance you will be disqualified from being a surrogate. An exception to this rule is if you were carrying twins; normally clinics will accept anything after 34 weeks for a twin delivery.
BMI higher than ASRM guidelines
The ASRM guidelines state that a surrogate’s body mass index should not exceed 30. Although some clinics will accept surrogates with a higher BMI, generally most of them adhere to these guidelines and will reject a surrogacy candidate with a BMI over 30. If you’re considering surrogacy but know you’re overweight, it’s a good idea to work on it before you apply; it will be better for your own health in the long run, and will also open up way more matching opportunities when you’re not limited to those few clinics that are more relaxed about their BMI requirements.
Felonies on record
If you or your spouse have felonies on your record, you will be disqualified from being a surrogate. This to make sure the baby is safe with the surrogate for the duration of the pregnancy. A clean background also shows a level of responsibility that is required for a surrogacy journey. While it is understandable that people make mistakes, serious crimes on record will not be tolerated. However; a misdemeanor is usually okay and may or may not be accepted, at the agency’s discretion.
Mid-divorce
If you’re in the middle of divorce proceedings, you will have to wait until your divorce is final to pursue your goal of becoming a surrogate. This is for legal reasons, as your spouse would still have to be willing to go to medical screening and sign all legal documents even if you don’t live together, until the divorce is fully finalized.
More than 5 prior deliveries
After 5 deliveries, pregnancies become much more high risk as each pregnancy causes more strain on the uterus and cervix. For that reason, most doctors won’t accept patients with more than 5 prior deliveries. Like with everything else, it’s possible you will find a clinic to accept you with more than 5 prior deliveries IF you are an experienced surrogate. The chances of being accepted with more than 5 deliveries as a first-timer are quite slim, as the dangers of pregnancy would be heightened significantly.
Mental health issues
If you have psychological issues, or even if you have been medicated in the past for psychological issues such as anxiety or depression, this is a disqualification for surrogacy. The exception to this rule is if you were diagnosed with postpartum depression and were medicated temporarily – although, many clinics still state this is a disqualifier. You will undergo a thorough psychological evaluation as a surrogate to make sure you are mentally and emotionally fit to go through this process. The hormones associated with pregnancy can exacerbate underlying psychological problems, and so this requirement is for your own safety and that of the baby.
History of multiple miscarriages
If you have multiple miscarriages on your medical record, chances are this will be a disqualification. Some clinics will disqualify a candidate if her last pregnancy ended in miscarriage, although again this is at the clinic’s discretion.
Reproductive issues
Certain reproductive issues such as PCOS, uterine fibroids or endometriosis will disqualify you from being a surrogate.
Smoking or drug use
If you are a smoker or drug user, you will not be able to be a surrogate. You will be tested during medical screening and throughout the pregnancy. If your medical records show a history of smoking during pregnancy, it will be at the reproductive endocrinologist’s discretion to accept you as a patient.
Age over 44
ASRM guidelines suggest that a woman acting as a surrogate should be no more than 44 years of age.
Falsifying information
If you knowingly give false information on your application, or omit important information from your application, there is a good chance you will be disqualified. Not only is it important for the safety of the baby that the doctors have all the correct information to make a proper decision on whether you’re a suitable candidate, but it shows a lack of responsibility that is not acceptable when acting as a surrogate.
Final Word
There may seem to be a number of disqualifying criteria for Gestational Surrogacy but it is important to remember that the health of the surrogate and the baby is paramount. Any circumstances that may prove dangerous or questionable will be addressed in the early stages of application to ensure the utmost safety for our surrogates.
Read more about: What Is the Average Success or Failure Rate of Surrogacy?
About Iranian Surgery
Iranian surgery is an online medical tourism platform where you can find the best gynecologists and fertility specialists in Iran. The price of Surrogacy in Iran can vary according to each individual’s case and will be determined by an in-person assessment with the doctor.
For more information about the cost of Surrogacy in Iran and to schedule an appointment in advance, you can contact Iranian Surgery consultants via WhatsApp number 0098 901 929 0946. This service is completely free.
Source:
https://gshcsurrogacy.com/blog/surrogacy-disqualifications