How Long Does The Surrogacy Process Take?
The surrogacy process can feel like a maze of decisions, paperwork, and milestones, especially for first-time intended parents. It’s normal to feel overwhelmed. After all, bringing a child into the world with the help of a surrogate mother involves multiple people, steps, and emotions. But having a clear sense of what to expect, and how long each step might take, can provide comfort and clarity as you embark on your surrogacy journey.
In this post, I’ll walk you through how long the surrogacy process usually takes, breaking it down by each phase. Whether you’re just beginning to research or are already talking to a surrogacy agency, understanding the overall timeline can help you plan ahead and move forward with confidence.
How Long Does The Surrogacy Process Take?
So: how long will it take to find a surrogate, get her pregnant, and finally have a baby? While each journey is unique, a typical surrogacy journey takes anywhere from 15 to 24 months from start to finish. That timeline can vary depending on many factors, including how quickly you match with a surrogate, medical and legal steps, and how many embryo transfer attempts are needed.
This blog post will walk you through what happens during the surrogacy process, how long each phase typically lasts, and what you as intended parents can do during each step. Whether you’re working with a surrogacy agency or pursuing an independent journey, this overview can help you feel more prepared and less in the dark.
What Happens In The Surrogacy Process
Every surrogacy journey has several stages, with each one being quite essential to the success of the whole. Let’s walk through them together so you know what to expect at each point, and how long each segment may take.
Phase 1: Research, Pre-Screening, and Choosing a Surrogacy Agency (1–3 months)
This first phase is all about research. Intended parents begin by learning about the surrogacy process and deciding whether to work with a surrogacy agency or pursue an independent journey. Most choose an agency because they offer guidance, access to trusted legal and medical professionals, and help with screening and recruitment of great surrogate candidates.
During this time, intended parents also complete pre-screening, including medical and psychological evaluations. You may also begin exploring egg donor options if needed. This phase can take one to three months, depending on how quickly you find an agency and complete required steps.
Phase 2: Matching With a Surrogate (1–12+ months)
Once you’ve chosen an agency and completed your pre-screening, the next step is to match with a surrogate. Your agency will help you review profiles of potential surrogates and arrange interviews. A good match is built not just on medical compatibility but also emotional connection, expectations, and mutual respect.
This phase is exciting but can also take time depending on surrogate availability, your preferences, and geographic considerations. For gestational surrogacies, where the surrogate has no genetic link to the baby, this stage also includes aligning on embryo transfer protocols.
Phase 3: Medical and Psychological Screening (2-3 months)
After a match is made, the surrogate mother undergoes comprehensive medical and psychological screening. Fertility clinics want to ensure she’s physically healthy and emotionally prepared to carry a child for someone else.
These screenings often include blood work, ultrasounds, uterine evaluation, infectious disease testing, and mental health assessments conducted by licensed social workers or psychologists.
Phase 4: Legal (1–2 months)
With the surrogate cleared medically and psychologically, it’s time to draft and sign the legal contracts. Each party will have their own legal counsel to ensure full understanding of rights, responsibilities, compensation, and contingencies.
Agencies often assist with connecting you to experienced attorneys in reproductive law. While the legal process can move quickly, allow 1 to 2 months for final agreements, revisions, and signatures. Once contracts are signed, you’re ready for the medical phase to begin.
Phase 5: Embryo Transfer Preparation (1–4 months)
The fertility clinic will prepare the surrogate mother for the embryo transfer using hormones to sync her cycle with the embryo development timeline. This process involves multiple clinic visits, medications, and careful timing. A gestational surrogacy typically uses IVF to transfer embryos into the surrogate’s uterus. From start to transfer, this phase can take about 1 to 4 months.
Phase 6: Pregnancy and Birth (9–10 months)
Once the embryo transfer is successful, the surrogate’s pregnancy begins. Like any pregnancy, this phase lasts around 9 months, although early monitoring and extra medical care may be involved in the first trimester to confirm viability.
Throughout the pregnancy, the relationship between surrogates and intended parents can grow. Many intended parents attend milestone appointments, communicate regularly, and prepare for the birth. Some intended parents may need to repeat the embryo transfer process if the first attempt doesn’t result in pregnancy. Each additional cycle can extend the timeline by 1 to 2 months.
From the first conversation with an agency to holding your baby in your arms, this journey usually spans 15 to 24 months though it can be shorter or longer depending on many variables. Understanding each phase of the process helps intended parents approach the experience with realistic expectations, emotional readiness, and informed decision-making.
Surrogacy is a major undertaking, but with the right support and a strong connection with your surrogate it can be one of the most meaningful journeys of your life.
If you're considering this path or already exploring options, I hope this post helps clarify what lies ahead. You can read more about surrogacy in this post, or reach out with questions. You're not alone on this path!