Your Guide to Becoming a Surrogate in MN, and How to Apply

There are a few important things to know about the process for Minnesotans considering becoming a surrogate. Here we’ve laid out a guide to the steps involved in becoming a gestational surrogate in Minnesota along with tips on how to navigate the process smoothly.

What is Gestational Surrogacy?

Gestational surrogacy is a type of surrogacy in which a woman carries a fertilized embryo that is not biologically related to her. This embryo is created using in vitro fertilization (IVF) and can be created using the intended parents’ sperm and egg, or using donor sperm and/or eggs. The surrogate has no genetic connection to the child she is carrying and is therefore referred to as a gestational carrier. 

In the past surrogates have been referred to by the more traditional term, surrogate mother — and you sometimes still hear this term in use, though you will rarely hear it used by professionals or in a clinical setting.

Steps to Becoming a Surrogate in Minnesota

• Meet the eligibility criteria: To become a gestational surrogate in Minnesota, you must be a resident of the state and must meet certain medical and lifestyle criteria. You should be between the ages of 21 and 45, have had at least one successful pregnancy, and be in good physical and mental health. Additionally, a supportive partner is hugely helpful and a stable living situation is essential.
• Find a surrogacy agency: Working with a surrogacy agency can simplify the process and ensure that all legal and medical requirements are met. The agency will help you find intended parents, coordinate medical appointments, and provide emotional support throughout the journey.

• Complete medical screenings: Before being matched with intended parents, you will need to undergo a thorough medical evaluation to ensure that you are a suitable candidate for surrogacy. This will include a physical exam, medical history review, and various lab tests.

• Find intended parents: Once you have been cleared for surrogacy, your surrogacy agency will assist you in finding intended parents who are looking for a gestational surrogate. You will have the opportunity to meet with them, discuss their expectations, and decide if you would like to work with them.

• Sign a surrogacy agreement: Once you and the intended parents have agreed to work together, you will need to sign a surrogacy agreement that outlines the terms and conditions of the arrangement. This agreement should be reviewed by legal counsel and must be approved by a judge.

• Begin medical treatment: Once the surrogacy agreement has been signed, you will begin medical treatment to prepare your body for pregnancy. This will typically involve taking hormones to prepare your uterus for implantation of the embryo.

• Carry the pregnancy: Once the embryo has been successfully implanted, you will carry the pregnancy to term and deliver the baby for the intended parents.

• Finalize the legal process: After the birth, the intended parents will legally adopt the child and will become the child’s legal parents. In Minnesota, as in neighboring Wisconsin, Missouri, Iowa and several other Midwestern states like Ohio and Indiana, the birth certificate will list the intended parents as the legal parents.