‎‎Surrogacy in Iowa

How do I become a surrogate in Iowa?

To become a surrogate in Iowa, you must meet strict eligibility criteria designed to safeguard your and the baby’s health. If you meet all initial requirements, you’ll undergo comprehensive mental and physical health screenings, a thorough personal and family medical review, a background check, and more.

People may pursue surrogacy due to biological reasons, such as with gay male couples, or due to medical reasons that make it impossible or unsafe for someone to carry a pregnancy or give birth. As a gestational surrogate, you’ll be using eggs from an intended parent or a donor, so there is no genetic link between you and the baby. In addition to gaining a deep sense of fulfillment, you’ll also receive competitive compensation.

At Fertility Source Companies, we maintain strict requirements for all surrogates. These requirements may vary slightly depending on the agency you're working with, but in general, several important factors will be considered. We require all surrogates to be between the ages of 21 and 43, be a U.S. citizen or have the legal right to work in the U.S., and have delivered one or more children who you’re currently raising. We also ensure surrogates have a stable home and financial situation, a healthy BMI, and are not smokers or drug users.

All candidates must complete several key steps to become a surrogate, including:

• The initial application process
• Medical records submission
• Various physical and mental screenings to ensure readiness for surrogacy
• A comprehensive background check

If you move forward to the next stage, we’ll then begin the process of pairing you with intended parents. Once a match is made and everyone is happy with the arrangement, you’ll undergo the following:

• A comprehensive physical exam at the intended parents’ chosen fertility clinic
• A meeting with your own attorney to review the intended parents’ draft of the surrogacy contract and suggest any changes before signing
• A series of injectable fertility medications to prepare your body for pregnancy
• The embryo transfer procedure
• A pregnancy test and an ultrasound
• Regular appointments with your chosen obstetrician

Surrogacy is a unique and deeply personal experience, and we welcome you to learn more about the process and decide whether becoming a surrogate is right for you. Learn more about the surrogacy process.

How do I find a surrogate in Iowa?

To find a surrogate in Iowa, you’ll first begin by creating an intended parent profile that outlines your preferences and goals around family building and what you’re looking for in a surrogate. You can provide information about your values, lifestyle, general temperament and personality, interests, education, religion, and more. We’ll use this information to find potential surrogates who may be a good fit for your needs, with expert guidance throughout the process.

How Surrogates Are Screened in Iowa

All surrogates in Iowa are thoroughly screened to ensure they’re eligible and ready for this unique commitment. Comprehensive mental and physical health screenings, background checks, personal and family medical reviews, partner screenings (if applicable), and other evaluations will all be conducted.

This process is designed to protect the health and safety of everyone involved. The team at Fertility Source Companies takes pride in maintaining a stringent screening process. We evaluate potential surrogates’ level of commitment and perform in-home evaluations of their family and living situations, helping to ensure your baby is carried in a stable environment.

Once surrogates pass these screenings, we'll begin the matching process, comparing intended parents’ profiles to surrogate profiles to create potential pairings. Shared values, location, lifestyle, personality, communication style, and more will all be taken into account. Any preferences specified by the intended parents will also be considered, such as willingness to adhere to certain dietary restrictions.

We believe matching is about more than just compatibility — it’s about building a genuine connection to support a happy and harmonious surrogacy journey from start to finish.

Surrogate Costs in Iowa

Surrogacy costs vary depending on the individual circumstances of the intended parents and gestational carrier. At Fertility Source Companies, agency fees are divided into installments paid at key stages of the surrogacy journey, helping intended parents anticipate expenses as they move through the process.

Gestational carrier compensation represents a significant portion of the overall surrogacy budget. Base compensation currently starts at $65,000 for first-time gestational carriers and $75,000 for experienced gestational carriers.

Other expenses include allowances to cover maternity clothing, vitamins and supplements, childcare during medical appointments, pregnancy wellness services, and more. Other fees cover embryo transfers, insurance, attorneys, and more. Our financial coordinators will walk through all expected costs so you know exactly what to expect. Learn more about the breakdown of surrogacy costs and fees.

What are the surrogacy laws in Iowa?

Iowa is generally considered a surrogacy-friendly state. Unmarried couples, LGBTQ+ couples and individuals, and single intended parents can all pursue surrogacy in Iowa. Although there is no specific surrogacy statute in Iowa, surrogacy is legally recognized through court decisions and established legal practice.

Surrogacy arrangements in Iowa typically must include written legal contracts that detail the rights, responsibilities, and expectations of all parties. The intended parents work with their attorney to draft a contract before the surrogate reviews it with her own attorney and suggests any changes. Once everyone is in alignment, all parties will sign.

Legal Highlights:

• Surrogates in Iowa must meet strict requirements established by the agency they work with. In general, surrogates must be at least 21 years old, have previously given birth to at least one child of their own whom they are currently raising, and pass comprehensive medical and psychological screenings.
• Both the surrogate (and her spouse, if married) and the intended parents should have separate legal representation. The surrogate’s attorney must be Iowa-licensed, and it’s typically recommended that the intended parents’ attorney be Iowa-licensed as well.
• In Iowa, at least one intended parent must have a genetic link to the child in order to obtain a pre-birth parentage order. If there is no genetic link, a post-birth order may be required instead.

The legal aspects of surrogacy can be complex depending on your circumstances, but the dedicated team at Fertility Source Companies will help facilitate each step of the process.