If you are considering becoming a surrogate, it is natural to wonder about surrogate disqualifications and whether you are likely to qualify. In California, not every applicant will meet the surrogate criteria, and that is not a reflection of your character or intentions. The surrogate requirements exist to protect your health, the baby’s development, and the intended parents counting on a safe and stable gestational surrogacy process.
At Bamboo Surrogacy, a leading surrogacy agency in Laguna Hills, each surrogacy candidate is evaluated individually to confirm she is physically, emotionally, and practically prepared to carry a pregnancy for another family. Understanding the disqualifications for surrogacy before you apply can help you move forward with confidence.
What Are the Surrogate Eligibility Requirements in California?
Surrogate eligibility requirements in California are designed to ensure candidates are in good physical and mental health, have a stable lifestyle and support system, and have experienced a previous pregnancy without major complications. According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), gestational carriers should meet a range of medical, psychological, and lifestyle criteria before being approved to carry a pregnancy.
At our surrogacy agency, the surrogate requirements for gestational carriers include:
- A history of prior pregnancies with no significant complications
- A healthy and responsible lifestyle
- Being a non-smoker and non-drug user
- Being under 31
- Good physical and mental health
- Age between 20 and 38
- U.S. citizenship or legal residency
- No more than two cesarean sections or five total deliveries
- Willingness to complete psychological, drug, and criminal screenings
The surrogate application process begins with a review of your medical history and personal circumstances. IVF clinics and fertility clinics involved in the process will conduct further medical evaluation once an initial match is made.
What Factors May Affect Your Eligibility as a Surrogate?
The most common surrogate disqualifications relate to age, BMI, pregnancy history, health, lifestyle, and legal status, each covered below.
1. No Prior Pregnancy or a History of Pregnancy Complications
To become a surrogate in California, you must have carried and delivered at least one healthy pregnancy without serious complications. This confirms your body can sustain a pregnancy and that you understand what the experience involves. A history of preterm labor, repeated miscarriages (>= 3 miscarriages), gestational diabetes, premature birth (<=37 weeks if singleton; <= 34 weeks if twins), or other significant complications (preeclampsia, hypertension) will be reviewed carefully during medical screening and may affect your surrogate eligibility.
2. Age Requirements for Surrogates in California
Age requirements for surrogates in California at Bamboo Surrogacy fall between 20 and 38. The lower age limit reflects the emotional maturity and life stability that surrogacy arrangements require. The upper limit is a safety consideration, as the risk of pregnancy complications increases with age. Both limits are in place to support the best possible outcome for you, the baby, and the intended parents.
3. BMI of 31 or Above
A BMI of 31 or above raises the likelihood of complications during IVF embryo transfer and throughout pregnancy, including gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and high blood pressure. This is a clinical guideline based on medical evidence, not a reflection of your worth or appearance.
4. Smoking, Vaping, or Substance Use
Smoking, vaping, recreational drug use, or substance abuse will make you ineligible to apply. Secondhand smoke poses documented risks to fetal development, and most surrogacy programs require candidates to have been completely tobacco-free for at least 12 months before submitting a surrogate application. Use of illegal drugs is an automatic disqualifier. Typically, IVF clinics will also conduct drug panel testing as part of surrogate pre-screening.
5. Medical Conditions That Disqualify Surrogates
Several medical conditions that disqualify surrogates relate directly to pregnancy risk. These include uterine abnormalities, reproductive issues affecting the uterus or fallopian tubes, poorly controlled diabetes or thyroid conditions, autoimmune disorders, and transmissible infections such as HIV or active hepatitis B or C. A fertility clinic will review your complete medical records during the screening process. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides guidance on assisted reproductive technology, and established fertility clinics use those standards as a foundation for their own surrogate medical screening criteria.
6. More Than Two Cesarean Sections or Five Total Deliveries
Multiple cesarean sections can lead to scar tissue and uterine changes that increase the risk of complications in future pregnancies. Bamboo Surrogacy sets a limit of two prior cesarean sections and five total deliveries to protect your health throughout the surrogacy process.
7. Untreated or Unstable Mental Health
Gestational surrogacy is emotionally demanding in ways that can be difficult to anticipate. It involves close coordination with intended parents, fertility clinics, and legal professionals over an extended period of time. A history of depression or anxiety is not automatically disqualifying, but those conditions must be stable and well-managed. All surrogate applicants complete a psychological evaluation as part of the surrogate application.
8. Citizenship, or State of Residence
You must also be a U.S. citizen, legal resident, or have an eligible immigration status (like DACA), and reside in a state where surrogacy agreements are legally recognized. California is one of the most surrogacy-friendly states in the country, which is one reason many gestational surrogates choose to work with a surrogacy agency in California rather than pursue the process elsewhere.
9. IUD or Depo Shot
If you’re planning to start your surrogacy journey, those with an IUD (including Mirena and copper) should have it removed as soon as possible, and those who have been receiving Depo shots should stop them immediately. This is because most IVF clinics require 1–2 normal menstrual cycles after discontinuing these forms of contraception before doctors will begin medical screening.
Can You Still Apply If You Are Unsure About Your Eligibility?
Yes! Many surrogacy candidates begin with an initial application even if they have questions about certain surrogate criteria. The common disqualifications for surrogacy are not always permanent, and most surrogacy agencies review each surrogate application individually rather than relying on a single factor.
Some surrogate disqualifications can change over time. Reaching a healthy BMI, completing a 12-month smoke-free period, stabilizing a managed health condition, or no longer relying on government aid programs may mean you qualify as a surrogate at a later stage. The surrogate eligibility requirements in California are thorough, but they are designed to identify candidates who are genuinely ready to safely carry a surrogate pregnancy, not simply to rule people out.
Ready to Become a Surrogate in California? Check Your Eligibility Today
If you are ready to find out whether you meet the surrogate eligibility requirements in California, our team at Bamboo Surrogacy in Laguna Hills offers personalized guidance to help you understand exactly where you stand before starting your surrogacy journey. You do not need to have every answer before you take the first step! Apply to become a surrogate today.
