By Dr. Arnold Mahesan
Fertility SpecialistBeverly Hills Babies
Dr. Arnold Mahesan is a board-certified fertility specialist with extensive experience in IVF, fertility treatment, and gestational surrogacy. He is committed to helping intended parents navigate their journey with personalized care and expert guidance
Surrogate requirements help identify women for whom another pregnancy appears medically and practically reasonable. Prior pregnancy experience, current health, age, body mass index and the support available to you all contribute to the review.
Meeting an application checklist is a starting point. The final recommendation depends on your records and individual circumstances.
1. Previous pregnancy and delivery
Professional guidance generally recommends that a gestational carrier has previously had at least one full-term, uncomplicated pregnancy. We need to understand what happened during your pregnancies, deliveries and recovery, rather than relying only on the fact that you have children.
Tell the team about high blood pressure, diabetes, premature birth, significant bleeding, placental concerns and any other complications. Accurate information helps us assess your safety. It does not mean every diagnosis produces the same answer for every applicant.
2. Age and current health
ASRM generally describes a preferred carrier age range of 21 to 45, while individual programs may use narrower criteria. Age is considered alongside health and pregnancy history; the professional guideline is not a promise of acceptance at every age within that range.
We also review medical conditions, medications, blood pressure and relevant test results. A healthy previous pregnancy cannot establish that your health is unchanged today. Medication decisions should be made with your treating clinicians; do not stop a prescribed treatment to qualify for surrogacy.
3. BMI and readiness for transfer
BMI is calculated from height and weight. Higher BMI can be associated with additional pregnancy risks, including diabetes and hypertensive complications, but it does not describe your full health picture.
BHB’s current BMI threshold for embryo transfer is below 33. Initial review may occur at a higher BMI when there is a clinician-guided preparation plan. Being considered at that stage does not mean that you are cleared for transfer. The required readiness criteria still need to be met before treatment proceeds.
If you are near or above the threshold, contact us for an individual discussion. Any weight-management medication and its timing before pregnancy need medical guidance.
4. A previous cesarean needs records review
A cesarean delivery does not automatically rule out surrogacy. The number of operations, type of uterine incision, reason for surgery and any complications help determine the recommendation.
The same applies to other pregnancy concerns. Some histories require additional specialist input; others may make another surrogate pregnancy inappropriate. An online checklist cannot make that decision safely.
5. Practical readiness matters too
You need the ability to attend appointments, follow the treatment plan and arrange support during pregnancy and recovery. Psychological evaluation, legal preparation and insurance review address important parts of readiness beyond medical testing.
If you are interested, begin with an honest application and a review of your records. BHB can explain which requirements you meet now and which questions need further assessment.
