Disclaimer: This is not medical advice and should not be used in lieu of speaking with your physician about the prospects of becoming a surrogate mother or egg donor.
If you are reading this blog, you have probably already decided that you are interested in helping someone start a family. That’s fantastic! Now that you have made your decision, you may be asking yourself, “So, how do I do that?” Good question. Becoming a surrogate mother or an egg donor are both great options that you should consider. The key is understanding which one is right for you. Below, you will find a brief overview of both surrogacy and egg donation, including benefits, drawbacks and requirements, to help you make an informed decision before you begin the application process.
How are the requirements different?
Before you begin weighing the costs and benefits of surrogacy and egg donation, it is important to understand the requirements for each one. This will save you some time and effort if you find that you don’t qualify for one of the options.
At a minimum, to become a surrogate mother at California Surrogacy Center, you must meet the following:
- Your age must be between 21 and 37 years old.
- Your BMI must be under 32.
- You must have given birth and be raising your child.
- You must be a US citizen or permanent resident with no criminal record.
- You must have no history of mental illness, drug use, or alcoholism.
- You must be a non-smoker living in a non-smoking home.
- You must agree to medical, psychological, and drug screenings.
- It is preferred that you live in the state of California (but not required).
At a minimum, to become an egg donor at California Surrogacy Center, you must meet the following:
- You must be between 21 and 30 years old.
- You must have regular monthly periods.
- You must have no reproductive disorders.
- You must be a non-smoker and non-drug user.
- You must have no history of mental illness, drug use, or alcoholism.
- You must be willing to take injectable medication.
- You must agree to medical, psychological, and drug screenings.
- You must be willing to undergo an outpatient procedure for egg retrieval.
- You must be able to follow a doctor’s instructions.
The requirements for becoming a surrogate mother are inherently more stringent than that of becoming an egg donor. This is because becoming a surrogate requires you to, in a sense, donate your entire body, whereas egg donation only requires you to donate your eggs. Your day-to-day lifestyle also becomes much more relevant with surrogacy, because it is integral that you lead a healthy and nurturing lifestyle during your pregnancy.
On the other hand, your ability to submit to an injectable medication regimen and follow a doctor’s orders become especially important with egg donation, because you will need to do so in order to have your eggs successfully retrieved. Your personal traits and personal health will also come under closer scrutiny, because the intended parent(s) will want to make sure that you are delivering healthy eggs that meet his/her/their needs. In particular, it is very important that you do not have any genetic diseases.
It is also important to note that surrogates are required to be US citizens or permanent residents, while we accept egg donors from all around the world.
How are the benefits and drawbacks different?
If you meet the requirements to become both a surrogate mother and an egg donor, you should then consider the benefits and drawbacks that come with each option. The biggest difference between becoming a surrogate mother and egg donor is that surrogacy requires a greater commitment. Surrogacy truly does require you to donate your entire body, and it requires you to do so for a full nine months of pregnancy. If this sounds overwhelming to you, perhaps egg donation might be a better choice. Alternatively, some women may consider donating their eggs for someone else’s use to be a greater sacrifice than temporarily donating their bodies and their time.
And, of course, another thing to consider when deciding which option is right for you is the amount of compensation you will receive. At California Surrogacy Center, our surrogate mothers are compensated between $40,000 and $50,000 for their first time and up to $65,000 for becoming repeat surrogates. They also receive generous compensation packages that include a $1,000 signing bonus and, in most cases, reimbursement for any out-of-pocket costs like medical co-pays, maternity clothing, travel expenses, and legal fees. Egg donor compensation at California Surrogacy Center varies from $4,000 to $10,000 depending on a few factors, including donation frequency and whether a donor exhibits high-demand traits. Egg donors also get compensated for their medical screenings, travel expenses, and legal fees.
Can you become both a surrogate and an egg donor?
You may find that you are one of the lucky ladies who are willing and able to become a surrogate and an egg donor. So long as you meet the requirements for both surrogacy and egg donation, the answer is, “Yes! You can absolutely do both – but NOT at the same time.” You cannot be both an egg donor and a surrogate mother at the same time; however, you may become an egg donor after you have completed your surrogacy journey, or vice versa.
Apply to Become a Surrogate and/or an Egg Donor Today!
If you have reviewed all the requirements, benefits and drawbacks, and you are ready to start the application, that’s great news! Click one of the buttons below to begin the application process for becoming a surrogate and/or egg donor. If you still have further questions, send us a message using the form below instead.