This article was published on May 27, 2021 and updated on August 21, 2024.
The short answer is, “Yes.” The long answer is “No.”
For some women, becoming a surrogate is something they’ve considered for years. It could be for financial reasons or lifestyle choices. Ultimately, becoming a surrogate with and without having a child is a goal for so many young women.
As a surrogate, you will be making the dreams and hopes of another family a reality. And what an incredible gift that is to give.
The requirements to become a surrogate can vary from state to state. But most are universal. To understand if you qualify to become a surrogate, you should understand if you can be a surrogate if you have never had a child.
Short Answer: Technically, Yes
Can you be a surrogate if you’ve never had a baby? Yes, you can be a surrogate mother, even if you have never been a mother before. There is no physical or medical reason why you cannot just as easily deliver another woman’s baby as your own. That was the short answer. And in the short answer lies the seed to the long answer.
Long Answer: In Reality, No
The longer answer is that, while you have no physical or medical reason why you cannot just as easily become a surrogate and deliver another woman’s baby as your own, you have no idea how easily you can deliver your own. The process of surrogacy without previous pregnancy is almost non existant.
As much as you may want to help another woman fulfill her dreams of becoming a mother, there is no way that you could ever know what the expect during pregnancy. Successful pregnancy is the ultimate goal of the intended parents and the medical professionals helping you along. And a successful pregnancy is just not clear.
And that’s the first and most crucial reason why you cannot become a surrogate without a previous pregnancy.
No Experience
Without mincing words, the most important issue is that you have no history as a mother. So you have no idea how easily you can deliver another woman’s baby. And neither do the medical professionals involved in the gestational surrogacy process. Experience is the best determinant of prediction.
You would not want to board a plane where the pilot has never flown before.
You would not want to have an operation performed by a surgeon who has never cut before.
Notice that we want a mother who has gone to term already with her own child, and delivered the child. We want her to have experience raising the child (well, at least for a couple of years). And we want a track record of a pregnancy and a delivery free from complications. This is critical to determine the extent to which we can rely on you to be fit as a surrogate mother for another couple.
Too Many Unknowns
Intending parents do not want their child gestated and delivered in a woman who has never given birth before. If you become a surrogate without having been pregnant before, you won’t know how your body will handle the challenges of embryo transfer and pregnancy.
Even if your fertility tests look good, there are other factors that could affect your ability to carry a pregnancy safely. This can make gestational surrogacy more risky for you.
There’s also a small chance you could lose your ability to have children in the future, which means becoming a surrogate without a previous pregnancy could prevent you from having your own biological kids.
There are just too many complicated factors to consider and intended parents want to avoid as many unknowns and risks as possible. If you have never carried a child to term, then there are so many unknowns to consider.
Medical Professionals May Even Refuse
Most reproductive endocrinologists (REs) will refuse to work with a first-time mother. Most fertility clinics and surrogacy agencies will refuse also to work with a first-time mother. For instance, here are three of the criteria that we insist on for any surrogate mother we work with:
- Have experienced a full-term pregnancy and delivery
- Have given birth to a child of your own and raising that child
- Have had uncomplicated pregnancies and deliveries
There are just too many pregnancy complications to consider.
Emotional Complications
There is another reason, perhaps less universal, but also important in many instances of gestational surrogacy. A mother who is satisfied with her own biological child is unlikely to change her mind part-way through and decide that she wants to keep the child she is carrying, after all.
However, if it is the first child, and she develops a newly discovered motherly instinct – and, yes, the hormones can do all sorts of things to a woman’s body and to her mind – there could at best be stress and emotional issues for the gestational surrogate and the baby she is carrying and at worst animosity and even legal issues.
Do You Want To Become a Surrogate?
It is safer for the intended parents, as well as for the fertility clinic and the surrogacy agency, to avoid dealing with first-time mothers. An experienced mother has a better sense of what she is getting into and is in a more mature position to manage the situation for the benefit of all involved.
If you’re still wondering how to become a surrogate mother without having a child, please contact us directly and allow us to help you through the surrogacy process and this journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I be a surrogate if I’ve never been pregnant?
As mentioned above, even though you are likely medically capable of carrying a baby to term, most intended parents and medical professionals want to work with a woman who has had a child.
Can a virgin be a surrogate mother?
In most cases, no. This is the same answer as above because ultimately, you have no experience with a prior pregnancy.
I want to become a surrogate, but I haven’t had any children. What can I do?
There is not much that can be done at this juncture. But that doesn’t mean you cannot become a gestational carrier in the future, once you have had a child.
What disqualifies you from being a surrogate?
- Age: Most surrogates are between 21 and 29 years old. That being said, there are many agencies that will work with women up to 45 years of age.
- BMI: Of course, your health is so important in the process. Prospective surrogates above a certain BMI are not eligible.
- Substance Abuse: Any gestational surrogates that abuse alcohol or drugs, or smoke (including vaping) will likely be disqualified from surrogacy.
- Citizenship: Gestational carriers must be U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents.
Can you get a surrogate without a medical reason?
Yes. There are more women than ever who want children but cannot take time off work or do not want to experience pregnancy.
Can a single mother become a surrogate?
Yes, single mothers can become a gestational carrier. This could be a healthy way to make additional income while giving an incredible gift to another woman.
What happens if a surrogate gets pregnant with own child?
Surrogates who become pregnant and follow the requirements and medical process will never have to worry about becoming pregnant with their own child. You will be impregnated with the intended parents’ child.
