At Love & Kindness, we often receive the question – Can I be a surrogate if I’m over the age of 40? Although this question is not a difficult one to answer, it does require that we know more about your overall health to make an informed decision. In this blog, we will discuss the role of a gestational carrier and how age plays into this person’s ability to become a surrogate.
The Requirements to Become a Surrogate
Before we discuss how age plays a role for a surrogate, let’s start by discussing the requirements for any surrogate, regardless of age. It’s important to note that there are standards set out by American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) that most agencies in the US adhere to in every case. These are guidelines that are based on extensive knowledge and research from ASRM. It’s unlikely that you will find a surrogacy agency or clinic that will not adhere to these standards. On top of these industry standards, some agencies will add more requirements to their list for their own personal reasons.
For example – ASRM states the suggested age limit for a surrogate is 45 years old. Some agencies and clinics will set their age requirements at 45, while others only go up to 38 years of age.
Below is a brief list of requirements set out by us at Love & Kindness. For more information on these requirements, visit our website or contact us to discuss your case.
- You’re between 21 and 43 years old
- You’re a US citizen or permanent resident
- You have a valid driver’s license
- You’ve had one or more healthy pregnancies
- You’ve had fewer than two c-sections
- You’ve had fewer than five pregnancies
- You’re able to pass a standard background check
- You’re a non-smoker, and have no history of drug use
- You have a BMI of less than 32
In some cases, there are previous health or pregnancy complications that can disqualify a person from becoming a surrogate. We prefer to discuss your case with you directly before we turn anyone away.
So can you be a surrogate over the age of 40?
When working with Love & Kindness, the answer is YES!
We believe that every surrogate is unique, so although there might be extra physical risks for some over 40, there are cases where the risks are still minimal. We will discuss these risks with your Intended Parents before you match to ensure everyone understands what to expect from your surrogacy journey.
Let’s talk about the risks involved with a surrogate over 40 years old!
The Risks
There are always risks involved in a surrogacy journey, just like with any pregnancy. For this reason, we will always consider all the information you give us regarding your overall health and pregnancy history before making a decision.
Being a surrogate over the age of 40 does come with increased risks, although for some surrogates, these risks are very minimal regardless of age.
- Difficulty getting pregnant
- Higher risk of miscarriage and stillbirth
- Higher risk of gestational diabetes
- Higher risk of a cesarian section being necessary
- Low birth weight with the baby
So you are under the age of 43 and meet all the other surrogate requirements set out for you by Love & Kindness, now what’s the next step?
Contact us so we can discuss your surrogacy journey in further detail. We will collect your health records, consult with a physician regarding your case, and work to get you medically cleared. From there, it’s on to matching with one of our amazing Intended Parents. After finding the right Intended Parent(s) for you, we will work to get you medically cleared with the IP’s clinic of choice.