Intended Parent Requirements

Intended Parent Age

We do not limit the age of our Intended Parents. We recommend that parents with a maximum age of 55 or a combined 110 with a dual-intended parent household consider their family’s long-term plan. 

Number of Embryos

Conception requires that our Intended Parents have a minimum of  2 PGT-A tested embryos to be matched with a surrogate and that the Intended Parent’s IVF physician determines these embryos to be “viable.” If Intended Parents do not have 2 or more PGT-A tested embryos, they may still sign up for our program provided that they are willing to create embryos while on the match list for a Conception surrogate. 

Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) is widely used today in in-vitro fertilization (IVF) to select genetically normal embryos for transfer and to increase the likelihood of achieving a live birth in many IVF procedures. Conception surrogates are counseled that working with Intended Parents with PGT-A tested embryos will increase the likelihood that they will need only 1 or 2 transfers to deliver successfully. We encourage Intended Parents to give our surrogates more than one chance at achieving a healthy live birth, and we provide a fixed fee program to support this goal.   

Medical Need

Conception does NOT require that Intended Parents have a medical need for surrogacy. We realize that some programs have this requirement, but we believe that individuals have the right to choose their pathway to parenthood for different reasons.  

Surrogate Contact

In order to foster a positive relationship with the surrogate that you have matched with, Conception expects that Intended Parents communicate on a weekly basis. This can take place through texting, phone calls, video chats or in-person meetups.  This is one way to start to think about how the surrogate will interact after the baby is born.  

English Language Proficiency

We require basic proficiency in English to be an Intended Parent at Conception. Our contracts and communications with our Intended Parents are in English. Surrogates expect to have a relationship with their Intended Parents, and English language proficiency facilitates those connections. We do have translation services available in additional languages, including Spanish, Mandarin, and Filipino. However, the Intended Parents must be prepared and comfortable conducting all business relationships in English.

Background Check

We perform background checks on all of our Intended Parents. Any history of violent offenses, assault, domestic violence, or armed incidents will be considered disqualifying for the program. Our surrogates need to feel confident that they are delivering a child into a safe home.

Psychological Preparedness Evaluation

Consistent with the guidelines of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, all Intended Parents are required to speak with a psychologist, psychiatrist, or family therapist about their intention to enter into a surrogacy arrangement and have that individual write a letter attesting to the Intended Parent’s preparedness for the journey. We will provide a recommended list of psychologists/family therapists specializing in third-party reproduction if you do not have an existing therapist or clergy relationship. This requirement is typically completed after the Intended Parents sign up for the match list.