When the traditional method of growing your family is not an option, you can always turn to surrogacy. There are hundreds of women willing to be surrogates. However, the challenge here is to find the perfect surrogate who checks all the boxes.

In your quest to experience surrogacy, you have two options to consider. One, you can find a surrogate carrier on your own, where you do all the legwork. Or two, you use a surrogacy agency to find the perfect match for you. To let you see the bigger picture, let’s explore the pros and cons of finding a surrogate with or without an agency.

Finding A Surrogate Without An Agency
During an independent surrogacy, the usual option for a surrogate is a family member or a friend. Other options are social networking, surrogate finder sites, print ads for “surrogate wanted,” and referrals. Since you would do all the legwork, it is essential to take note of the following procedure:

Look for a prospective surrogate
Screen the candidates
Hire a lawyer for the contract
Choose a fertility clinic
Seek counseling for you and the surrogate

Pros:
Though the process is time-consuming, tiring, and often stressful, finding a surrogate on your own has its advantages.

Cost – The cost is less in an independent surrogacy since there is no agency fee. Plus, a family member or friend won’t charge too much – if at all. Typically, a surrogate price is around $30,000 to $40,000, depending on the agreement and relationship.

Personal involvement – You get to experience and organize every aspect of the entire surrogacy journey.
Cons:
Independent surrogacy has its drawbacks, and sometimes they are not worth the risks.

Wait time – Since you’re searching on your own without backup from a professional agency, the wait time could be longer.

Lack of professional screening – Due to your lack of experience in this area, you may not be able to carry out a thorough screening of your candidates.

Untrained surrogate – An independent surrogate may not be adequately trained and counseled for the task.

Finding A Surrogate With An Agency
Many couples prefer to use a surrogacy agency to grow their family because of the certainty of success. The agency has all the right resources to find a great match of a carrier for you, and the screening process is thorough. Plus, the agency has numerous surrogates on standby, waiting for the perfect match. Both you and the prospect surrogates must create a profile, and the agency will use them to pair the intended parents and surrogates.

While there are many pros attached to the option for an agency to grow your family, there are also challenges.

Pros:
A surrogacy agency comes with favorable aspects, such as:

Short wait time – The agency works fast in matching intended parents and surrogates. They have carriers ready to carry a baby, and they handle all the matching, meeting, and communication.

Professional guidance – Everyone in a surrogacy agency is a professional for matching couples and carriers. Plus, they have access to lawyers, medical facilities, and counselors. So you are never alone in the journey.

Strict screening process – The surrogates are adequately screened on their criminal background, medical history, family relations, personal habits, and moral values.

Cons:
There’s no question as to the convenience of using an agency for your surrogacy purposes. However, there are also challenges in this route.

Cost – The use of an agency costs more, which could hurt your budget. With the help of an agency, you could be charged between $100,000 to $170,000, depending on the agency. The overall fee includes agency fee, surrogate reimbursement, and compensation, etc.
Finding your perfect surrogate

Finding a surrogate without an agency is a personal choice that could save you a lot of money. However, the risks are too high, and the uncertainties can make you lose sleep and add to your stress. However, if you allow a seasoned surrogacy agency to process everything for you, the journey is smooth.

Let The Guidance Agency be your anchor as you explore all the possibilities in surrogacy. Trust that we can find the perfect surrogate to carry your precious baby into this world. Plus, we handle all the legalities and overall procedures. So you just need to sit back, relax, enjoy the journey, and let the process flow without a hitch.