When you’re dreaming of starting or growing your family through surrogacy, one of the first questions that often comes up is: How long does the surrogacy process take? At Made in the USA Surrogacy, we understand how eager and hopeful parents feel at the beginning of this life-changing journey. Time matters—not just because you’re ready to welcome a baby, but because each phase of the surrogacy journey carries its own milestones, emotions, and commitments.
From your first consultation to delivery day, the surrogacy journey typically takes 12 to 24 months. This range depends on many factors, including the availability of qualified surrogate candidates, medical outcomes, legal steps, and your specific matching preferences.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the surrogacy timeline, explain what to expect at every stage, and share how our reputable surrogacy agency supports you through it all.
Why Understanding the Surrogacy Timeline Matters
Many intended parents are surprised to learn just how many moving parts go into a successful gestational surrogacy journey. Understanding how long each part of the process takes helps you:
- Set realistic expectations
- Coordination with your IVF clinic
- Plan financially, emotionally, and logistically
- Navigate your relationship with your gestational surrogate
- Prepare for birth and the legal steps that follow, including the birth certificate
Most importantly, knowing the timeline allows hopeful parents to trust the process—because with the right guidance, your dream of family is closer than you think.
The Full Surrogacy Timeline: What to Expect from Start to Finish in 7 Steps
While no two families have the same surrogacy story, here’s a comprehensive timeline that reflects the typical path for surrogates and intended parents working with our agency.
Step 1 – Initial Inquiry and Application
Your surrogacy journey begins with an email or call to our team. We’ll discuss your goals, explain how gestational surrogacy works, and walk you through all the details.
From there, you’ll complete an intended parent application. During this stage, we often hear many emotions—excitement, nervousness, and hope—as intended parents begin to imagine what lies ahead.
We also review your situation to determine what kind of surrogate would be a good match.
Step 2 – Surrogate Screening and Preparation
As you begin the journey, our team is already engaged in pre screening potential surrogate mothers. We only work with women who meet strict criteria, ensuring that they are emotionally and physically ready for the responsibility of a surrogate pregnancy.
Our surrogate candidates complete an extensive screening process, which includes:
- Full review of medical records from prior pregnancies and deliveries
- A recent Pap smear and OB clearance
- Drug testing and background checks
- Thorough interview with the agency
- Verification of health insurance coverage
This phase is crucial—it helps us ensure that every great surrogate we work with is ready to take this on, and ultimately makes the matching process smoother for intended parents.
Step 3 – Matching With a Surrogate
The intended parent match is one of the most meaningful steps in the entire journey. At Made in the USA Surrogacy, we believe that a good fit creates a strong, supportive relationship between surrogates and intended parents.
We take time to understand your values, communication style, preferences, and logistical needs. Some families may match quickly; others take longer depending on matching preferences and availability.
When a perfect match is found, we schedule a time for meeting intended parents and the potential gestational surrogate, ensuring both parties feel comfortable and aligned before proceeding.
Step 4 – Medical & Psychological Evaluation
Once matched, your surrogate visits your IVF clinic for medical screening. During these monitoring appointments, doctors will evaluate her uterine lining, hormone levels, and overall reproductive health.
She’ll also complete a psychological evaluation to confirm that she’s prepared for the emotional aspects of pregnancy and delivery day. Our agency works closely with both parties to coordinate everything, keeping the support network strong from the beginning.
Step 5 – Legal Contracts and Clearance
Next comes the creation of your surrogacy contract. Each party will have their own attorney to ensure all rights and responsibilities are clearly outlined.
The contract covers:
- Financial compensation
- Expectations around communication and involvement
- Plans for the birth plan and delivery
- Parental rights and legal custody
- Handling of potential medical decisions or complications
This step ensures that both parties are protected and that everyone moves forward with clear expectations.
Step 6 – Embryo Transfer Preparation
After contracts are finalized, your surrogate begins medications to prepare for embryo transfer. She may undergo a mock cycle to see how her body responds before the actual procedure.
Once ready, the embryo is transferred at your fertility clinic. This is an exciting time, full of hope and anticipation. A pregnancy test will confirm whether implantation was successful—sometimes on the first attempt, but occasionally requiring additional cycles.
Step 7 – Pregnancy and Delivery
Once pregnant, the surrogate continues regular routine appointments with her OB, and our agency coordinates with your clinic, doctors, and both families to ensure everything is on track.
During the pregnancy, you’ll stay connected, make decisions about the birth plan, and prepare for delivery day. Our agency ensures that communication remains open and that both parties feel supported.
Factors That May Shorten or Extend the Surrogacy Process
While we strive to make every surrogacy journey smooth, several factors can impact the timeline:
- Matching surrogates with specific preferences may take longer
- Multiple embryo transfers or IVF complications can add time
- Clinic scheduling conflicts or switching providers
- Need for additional medical screening or tests
We work closely with each family and surrogate mother to minimize these delays while keeping quality and safety at the forefront.
How Made in the USA Surrogacy Helps You Navigate Every Step
As a reputable surrogacy agency, our mission is to support both intended parents and surrogates with integrity, compassion, and transparency. We offer:
- U.S.-based, pre-screened surrogate candidates
- Strong relationships with IVF clinics and reproductive attorneys
- A clear matching process focused on perfect matches
- Emotional and logistical support every step of the way
By working with a full-service, U.S.-only surrogacy agency, you gain peace of mind knowing every detail—from legal to medical to emotional—has been handled with care.
Timeline for Surrogates: What to Expect if You’re Carrying a Baby
If you’re considering how to become a surrogate, the commitment is both meaningful and long-term. Most surrogate mothers invest 12 to 18 months in their surrogacy journey, including:
- Completing agency screening
- Waiting for a good match
- Going through the IVF process and pregnancy
- Attending monitoring appointments and prenatal care
- Participating in delivery day and post-birth support
Being a gestational surrogate is a gift beyond measure. Learn more about our surrogate requirements if you’re ready to help build a family.
Frequently Asked How Long Does the Surrogate Process Take Questions
How long does surrogacy take from start to finish?
The surrogacy process typically takes between 12 to 24 months from the initial consultation to the birth of your baby. This timeline includes important steps like surrogate matching, medical and legal clearance, embryo transfer, and a full-term pregnancy. At Made in the USA Surrogacy, we walk closely with each family through every phase—ensuring a thoughtful, supportive, and well-managed journey to parenthood.
How long does it take to get matched with a surrogate?
Matching with a surrogate typically takes 6 to 9 months, depending on your preferences, surrogate availability, and how soon qualified candidates are ready. At Made in the USA Surrogacy, we focus on providing a quality candidate—not just the fastest one—to set us up for a successful match. Our personalized matching process ensures every intended parent is paired with a well-screened, committed surrogate who’s the right fit for their journey.
Do surrogates get paid monthly?
Yes, surrogates typically receive monthly compensation once a confirmed pregnancy is established. These payments are part of a structured compensation package outlined in the surrogacy contract, covering both base pay and additional allowances. At Made in the USA Surrogacy, we ensure that every surrogate is compensated fairly, transparently, and on time for her incredible commitment.
Is the surrogacy process painful?
While parts of the surrogacy process can involve some physical discomfort—such as fertility injections, embryo transfer, and typical pregnancy symptoms—most surrogates describe the experience as deeply rewarding. Every woman’s body responds differently, and our agency ensures each surrogate is fully informed, supported, and medically cared for throughout the journey. At Made in the USA Surrogacy, your comfort and well-being are always a top priority.
Final Thoughts: Patience, Preparation, and the Right Support Make All the Difference
The surrogacy journey is filled with many emotions, small victories, and big milestones. While it can take time, it’s worth every step. Whether you’re a hopeful parent or a woman looking to become a surrogate, Made in the USA Surrogacy is here to support your journey from beginning to end.
Ready to take the next step? Contact us today to begin your journey toward growing your family with the compassionate support of our trusted surrogacy team.
