Choosing a surrogacy agency is a big decision, so take your time and ask plenty of questions before you commit. You’re trusting this team to support you through an incredibly personal experience, and you deserve to know exactly what that support will look like. From matching and surrogate compensation to medical screening, legal contracts, and ongoing support, the right questions can help you feel confident in your choice. And don’t be afraid to ask about the “what ifs,” too — what happens if plans change, a match doesn’t work out, or you need extra support along the way?
Bamboo Surrogacy is a full-service, IVF clinic-affiliated surrogacy agency based in Laguna Hills, California. We support gestational surrogates through every stage of the journey with concierge-level coordination, transparent communication, and 24/7 support.
Our surrogacy agency handles matching, coordination, and ongoing support, while our partner fertility clinic manages your medical care, including IVF treatment planning, embryo transfer, and early pregnancy monitoring. With efficient matching with intended parents, often within two weeks or less, Bamboo Surrogacy brings medical and surrogacy agency support together to help make the surrogacy process feel simpler and more connected.
Most importantly, you should feel heard, respected, and supported from your very first conversation. Take your time, ask every question, and choose a surrogacy agency that feels like the right fit for you.
Questions to Ask a Surrogacy Agency About Intended Parent Matching
A good match involves more than finding intended parents who are ready to begin. You’re entering a relationship that may continue through medical appointments, embryo transfer, pregnancy, birth, and communication afterward.
Before accepting a potential match with intended parents, ask the surrogacy agency:
- How do you choose which intended parents to introduce to me?
- What information will I receive before the match call?
- How much say do I have in choosing intended parents?
- Can either party decline the match?
- What happens if we initially match but later decide not to continue?
- How long does matching usually take?
Your surrogacy agency should explain what it considers when introducing intended parents and surrogates. Communication preferences, expectations during pregnancy, family structure, location, and the type of relationship each person wants are all important considerations. You should also understand what happens if you meet intended parents and don’t feel comfortable moving forward. A potential match is an introduction, not an obligation.
Bamboo Surrogacy in Laguna Hills, CA, works with a select number of families and focuses on compatibility during the surrogacy matching process. Most surrogates are matched with intended parents in as little as two weeks.
What Should You Ask About Surrogate Compensation?
Surrogate compensation has several parts, so don’t look at the base amount alone.
Ask the surrogacy agency to explain:
- Your surrogate base compensation and additional benefits
- When and how payments are made
- Which travel, childcare, and medical expenses are covered
- How lost wages or physician-ordered bed rest are handled
- What happens financially after an unsuccessful transfer or pregnancy loss
- Whether any surrogacy agency fees come out of your compensation
- Who manages the escrow account
Before you sign, you should have a clear written breakdown of your surrogate compensation, reimbursements, covered expenses, and payment schedule. That way, you know what to expect financially throughout the surrogacy journey.
At Bamboo Surrogacy, first-time California surrogates receive starting compensation of $60,000 in base pay plus a $10,000 benefits package. First-time surrogates outside California start at $55,000 plus a $10,000 benefits package, while repeat surrogates start at $85,000 plus a $10,000 benefits package. Surrogate compensation may vary based on experience and matching preferences. The full surrogate compensation and benefits information also explains additional coverage for expenses such as travel, health and life insurance, and lost wages.
What Should You Ask About Medical Screening and Care as a Surrogate?
Medical screening tells the fertility clinic whether you’re medically ready to become a gestational carrier. Surrogacy agency screening and fertility clinic clearance aren’t always the same thing, so ask what happens at each stage.
Questions include:
- What pregnancy and delivery records do I need?
- What medical and psychological screening will I complete?
- What blood tests or in-person evaluations should I expect?
- Which fertility clinic will I work with?
- Who coordinates medications and embryo transfer appointments?
- Who reviews my health insurance?
- How are uncovered medical expenses handled?
- What happens if a medical concern develops during pregnancy?
Bamboo Surrogacy carefully reviews each prospective surrogate’s health history, pregnancy history, lifestyle, and overall eligibility before moving forward in the surrogacy process. Qualified surrogate candidates complete medical and psychological screening to help ensure they are physically and emotionally prepared to become a gestational carrier. Medical screening may include a review of medical history and previous pregnancies, while psychological screening helps assess readiness for the unique experience of surrogacy. These evaluations are an important part of the gestational carrier screening process and help protect the health and well-being of the surrogate, intended parents, and baby throughout the surrogacy journey.
It’s equally important to understand who makes decisions once you’re pregnant. A gestational carrier retains authority over her own medical care. Your surrogacy agreement may address prenatal testing, selective reduction, termination, and the birth plan, but you should understand how those subjects are handled before agreeing to the match with intended parents.
What Questions Should You Ask About the Surrogacy Contract?
The surrogacy agreement puts the expectations you’ve discussed into writing. By the time you sign, you should understand what it requires from you and from the intended parents.
Ask:
- Who prepares the surrogacy agreement?
- Will I have my own independent attorney?
- Who pays my legal fees?
- How much time will I have to review it?
- What happens if my attorney recommends changes?
- How does it address compensation and reimbursements?
- What happens after pregnancy loss or a cancelled transfer?
- How are bed rest and lost wages addressed?
- What does it say about the birth plan?
Your attorney should represent you alone, explain the agreement privately, and give you an opportunity to request changes before you sign. California gestational carrier agreements require intended parents and the surrogate to have separate independent attorneys.
What Should You Ask About Surrogacy Agency Support?
Your surrogacy agency becomes the connection point between many people involved in your journey. Knowing what support looks like before you sign gives you a better idea of what happens when you have a scheduling issue, reimbursement question, or difficult conversation.
Ask:
- Who will be my primary contact?
- Will I work with the same coordinator throughout the journey?
- How quickly should I expect a response?
- Is someone available outside normal business hours?
- Who handles travel and appointment coordination?
- What happens if communication with the intended parents becomes difficult?
- What emotional support is available?
- Does case management continue after delivery?
Support shouldn’t stop at birth. Ask how the surrogacy agency handles postpartum communication and who remains available while you recover physically and adjust emotionally after delivery.
What Are Red Flags When Choosing a Surrogacy Agency?
Pressure is one of the clearest reasons to slow down. Be cautious if you’re pushed to sign quickly, compensation terms change during conversations, expenses aren’t explained in writing, or you’re discouraged from speaking privately with your attorney.
Be cautious if the surrogacy agency can’t clearly explain how it handles insurance, medical screening, escrow, pregnancy loss, or unsuccessful transfer cycles. The surrogacy agency should be willing to discuss situations that don’t go according to plan without frightening you or promising an outcome no one can guarantee.
Communication is one of the most important factors. If getting basic answers during the surrogate application process already feels difficult, consider what that may mean once you’re relying on the surrogacy agency during pregnancy.
Surrogacy Agency Questions Checklist for Surrogates
Before choosing a surrogacy agency, make sure you know:
- How the surrogacy agency matches intended parents and surrogates
- Whether you’re free to decline a potential match
- What your surrogate compensation and benefits include
- How payments, reimbursements, and escrow work
- What medical and psychological screening you’ll complete
- Who reviews insurance and medical expenses
- Which fertility clinic will oversee IVF treatment
- Who will represent you legally
- What the surrogacy agreement requires
- Who you’ll contact when something changes
- What support continues after birth
If something still feels unclear, ask before you sign. You should understand the agreement and the surrogacy process without having to fill in the gaps yourself.
FAQs About Choosing a Surrogacy Agency and Becoming a Gestational Carrier
Can I say no to intended parents if the match doesn’t feel right?
Yes. You should feel comfortable with the intended parents before agreeing to move forward. Ask the surrogacy agency how much input you’ll have during matching, what you’ll learn before the match call, and what happens if either side decides
Is surrogacy agency screening different from fertility clinic screening?
Yes. A surrogacy agency may first review whether you meet its surrogate requirements and collect information about your health and pregnancy history. The fertility clinic then completes its own medical evaluation before clearing you for an embryo transfer.
Do surrogates have to pay a surrogacy agency fee?
Ask every surrogacy agency exactly how its financial structure works before signing. Surrogate compensation, reimbursements, legal fees, medical expenses, insurance costs, and any agency-related charges should be explained clearly so you understand whether anything could come out of your compensation.
How do I know if a surrogacy agency is right for me?
Pay attention to more than compensation or matching speed. Consider how the team communicates, whether your questions receive clear answers, how much choice you have during matching, and whether you feel comfortable discussing sensitive medical, financial, and legal subjects.
Feel Confident About the Surrogacy Agency You Choose
The right surrogacy agency should give you confidence in the process, trust in the team supporting you, and a good understanding of what to expect before you commit.
Bamboo Surrogacy in Laguna Hills, CA, offers a boutique, concierge-level experience and works with a select number of surrogates so our team can stay closely involved. Most surrogates are matched in as little as two weeks, and surrogates have access to 24/7 support along with experienced case managers and professional wellness support.
If becoming a gestational carrier feels like the right next step, complete the surrogate application to start a conversation with Bamboo Surrogacy.
