What to Expect is a blog series compiled by Heartland Surrogacy. In these posts, we hope to shed some light on some of the parts of a surrogacy journey that may not be typical in a traditional pregnancy. Below, we discuss medical clearance, a crucial part of the screening process for a surrogate.
At Heartland Surrogacy, a nurse reviews surrogate medical records during the prescreening process, but the official medical screening occurs after you have matched with intended parents.
You will need to go to the intended parents’ clinic for the medical screening appointment. If you do not live nearby, travel arrangements will be necessary. Every clinic has slightly different requirements for this screening, with the same goal of determining if you would be a good candidate for surrogacy. Below, we discuss some of the basic requirements that tend to be a part of most medical screening appointments.
Psychological Evaluation
Some clinics include the psychological evaluation as part of the medical screening process. In these cases, a full day is needed to complete all the screening in one visit. If the clinic does not include this, we will coordinate a psychological screening appointment ahead of time and forward the results to the clinic for review.
Hysteroscopy
A hysteroscopy is a type of ultrasound done to examine the uterus and check for any abnormalities that may affect the chances of achieving a successful pregnancy. A liquid, like saline, is inserted to expand the uterus and images are taken to evaluate the lining. This is generally not any more invasive than an early pregnancy ultrasound and is usually done without anesthesia. [SRM]
Lab Work
You and your partner, if applicable, will need to have bloodwork done. The bloodwork often includes STD and infectious disease testing, as well as a drug screen. Additionally, your hormone levels may be checked.
Many times, the clinic can send lab work orders for the partner to have labs done locally, even if you need to travel for screening.
Meds-Training
This in-person meeting is often the first chance for you to meet the nurse you’ll be working with during the transfer cycle. The nurse will be able to go over the next steps and provide information on the medications you will use, as well as instructions on how to administer them.
The medical screening appointment can be an exciting step in your application process, as it can drive home the reality of this incredible path to pregnancy. Being informed and prepared for this appointment will help the process run more smoothly for everyone involved!
[SRM] https://seattlefertility.com/treatment-options/diagnostic-procedures/evaluation-and-analysis/