Can I Be a Surrogate if I’ve Had Preeclampsia?

You may still be able to become a surrogate if you’ve had preeclampsia, but a previous diagnosis can make qualifying more difficult. Your eligibility depends on the severity and timing of your condition, as well as medical clearance from a fertility clinic.

Even if you’ve been healthy since your last pregnancy, your previous experience with preeclampsia will be an important part of determining whether surrogacy is a safe option for you.

Connect with a surrogacy professional to discuss your pregnancy history, learn how your previous diagnosis may affect your eligibility and find out whether you can move forward with screening.

Why Does a History of Preeclampsia Matter for Surrogacy?

Having preeclampsia during a previous pregnancy increases your risk of developing it again. This is an important consideration for surrogacy because another pregnancy could put both your health and the intended parents’ baby at risk. If preeclampsia develops again, potential complications include:

• Severe High Blood Pressure: Can increase the risk of serious health complications for the surrogate.
• Organ Damage: May affect the kidneys, liver or other organs.
• Fetal Growth Problems: Can interfere with the baby’s growth and development.
• Premature Delivery: May require delivering the baby early to protect the health of both the surrogate and baby.

Fertility clinics carefully evaluate your previous pregnancy complications to determine whether carrying another pregnancy would be medically appropriate. A history of preeclampsia doesn’t guarantee it will happen again, but the increased risk is an important part of determining your eligibility.

What About Your Preeclampsia History Can Affect Surrogate Eligibility?

Your eligibility depends on the specific circumstances of your previous preeclampsia diagnosis. Surrogacy agencies and fertility clinics will review your pregnancy and delivery records to evaluate several important factors:

• Timing: Whether preeclampsia developed early in your pregnancy or closer to delivery.
• Severity: How serious your condition became, including whether you experienced severe high blood pressure or organ complications.
• Recurrence: Whether you experienced preeclampsia during one pregnancy or multiple pregnancies.
• Related Complications: Whether preeclampsia caused problems such as fetal growth restriction, placental complications or premature delivery.

These details help your agency assess your initial eligibility and the intended parents’ fertility clinic determine whether another pregnancy would be safe for you.

Can You Be a Surrogate if You Only Had Mild Preeclampsia?

You may still qualify for surrogacy if you experienced a single, mild case of preeclampsia late in pregnancy. Although these cases may present fewer concerns than severe or early-onset preeclampsia, a previous diagnosis still increases your risk of developing the condition again.

Your surrogacy agency and the intended parents’ fertility clinic will review your prenatal and delivery records to assess your previous complications. The fertility clinic will ultimately determine whether you’re medically cleared to safely carry another pregnancy.

Can You Be a Surrogate After Severe or Early-Onset Preeclampsia?

Severe preeclampsia or preeclampsia that developed early in pregnancy can make qualifying for surrogacy more difficult. These cases may carry a greater risk of recurrence and complications, including fetal growth problems and premature delivery.

Your fertility clinic will carefully review your previous pregnancy records, including the severity of your condition and any related complications.

What if Your Blood Pressure Returned to Normal After Pregnancy?

Having normal blood pressure after pregnancy is a positive sign for your current health, but it doesn’t erase your history of preeclampsia or the possibility of developing it again.

Many women who experience preeclampsia return to normal blood pressure levels after delivery. However, even if you’ve had no blood pressure concerns since, your previous diagnosis can still increase the risk of complications during another pregnancy.

How Does Surrogate Medical Screening Work if You’ve Had Preeclampsia?

When you apply to become a surrogate, your agency will ask about your previous pregnancies, including whether you’ve experienced preeclampsia. This initial review helps identify potential health concerns that could affect your eligibility.

If you’re able to continue, the intended parents’ fertility clinic will take a closer look at your medical records. They’ll consider when preeclampsia developed, how severe it became and whether it caused complications during pregnancy or delivery.

These findings, along with your current health, will help the clinic decide whether another pregnancy is medically appropriate and if you can be cleared for embryo transfer.

What Other Requirements Are There to Become a Surrogate?

A history of uncomplicated pregnancy is only one part of qualifying. Surrogacy agencies and fertility clinics also consider your overall health, lifestyle and personal circumstances when determining your eligibility. Common surrogate qualifications include:

• Age: Between 21 and 40 years old.
• BMI: A body mass index between 19 and 35.
• Pregnancy History: At least one successful prior pregnancy without significant complications.
• Parenting Status: Currently raising at least one child.
• Mental Health: Meeting the program’s mental health requirements, which may include restrictions on prescription medications for depression or anxiety.
• Background: No felony convictions.
• Lifestyle: No smoking or illicit drug use.

Exact requirements vary by surrogacy agency and fertility clinic, so meeting these general qualifications doesn’t automatically guarantee eligibility.

Can You Become a Surrogate After Preeclampsia?

Having preeclampsia in a previous pregnancy can make qualifying for surrogacy more challenging, but your individual circumstances matter. A surrogacy professional can discuss your pregnancy history, explain potential eligibility concerns and help you understand whether moving forward with medical screening may be an option.

Connect with a surrogacy professional to discuss your previous experience with preeclampsia and find out what your next steps toward becoming a surrogate could look like.

Other Ways to Help a Family if You Don’t Qualify

If your history of preeclampsia or another health concern means you don’t qualify for surrogacy, it can be disappointing, especially when you were hoping to help someone become a parent. However, protecting your health is just as important as your desire to help another family.

Through American Surrogacy’s surrogate referral program, you can refer women who may qualify to become surrogates and potentially earn compensation for helping connect them with families in need.