No doubt being a surrogate is physically taxing on a woman. The physical commitment is unlike anything else. Medical testing, exams, IVF, and of course, the pregnancy and birth all take a toll on a woman’s body.
All of this is, of course, necessary to ensure the safety of both the surrogate and the baby. But, what about the psychological and emotional commitment? Most surrogates would agree that the mental health of a surrogate is just as important as physical health.
Surrogacy is a very personal journey. At Elevate Egg Donor Agency, we are very aware of the surrogate’s feelings and intentions. That’s why we take great steps to ensure their mental health is being taken care of every step of the way.
Why Psychological Screening is Important
The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) recommends that surrogate carriers receive counseling and a psychological evaluation before committing to becoming a carrier.
Any reputable agency should provide tests, support groups, and evaluations for their surrogate mothers. These evaluations will help determine if a woman meets the requirements to carry and help her understand everything she is committing to.
Even if a woman is physically able to carry a baby, she may not have the mental stamina or emotional support to be a surrogate.
The psychological testing will help a woman understand the process and be confident with her choice going forward.
What to Expect From the Screening
The surrogate psychological evaluation takes place after the initial screening. It’s the final step taken before meeting the intended parents.
As a potential surrogate, there is no need to be nervous. All you need to do is show up and be yourself.
Personality Test
Ever wonder what those quizzes are for that you find while scrolling Facebook? Many of them are personality tests that will tell you interesting facts about your character just from answering a few questions.
While these tests are fun to take, they do serve a purpose. In fact, many employers use these types of personality tests to figure out the best way to communicate and motivate their employees.
Surrogate candidates will complete a standardized personality test that will show strengths and weaknesses in different areas of their personality, such as communication, work ethic, and drive.
These results will help the intended parents learn how to work with their surrogate in a way that is
productive and meaningful.
MMPI-2
The test that is used is called the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory or MMPI-2. This is a test that consists of 567 true/false questions and must be given by a psychologist.
This test assesses any abnormal behavior such as:
Depression
Hysteria
Paranoia
Hypochondriasis
Psychopathic deviate
Masculinity/femininity
Psych asthenia
Schizophrenia
Hypomania
Social introversion
We are aware that everyone suffers from some mental health issues. So if you have had depression or tend to be a social introvert, it won’t automatically disqualify you from being a surrogate.
We want to make sure there are no underlying issues that could potentially cause harm to the carrier or the baby during the pregnancy.
Clinical Interview
After the MMPS-2, both the surrogate and her significant other will be interviewed and asked questions.
General questions will be asked dealing with educational, medical, and social history. Other issues that will be covered are certain scenarios that could come up during the pregnancy, such as how the couple feels about embryo transfer, selective reduction, and terminating a pregnancy due to medical issues.
A surrogate and her partner must be on the same page when it comes to sensitive issues unique to surrogacy. Meeting with a clinical psychologist will help the surrogate think about issues that she may not have considered before deciding to become a carrier.
Trust the Process
It may seem that agencies go overboard when it comes to screenings and evaluations. We do this to ensure the safety of all of our clients.
Our intended parents need to be able to depend on their egg donor and their surrogate to go through the process, while our egg donors and surrogates need to be fully educated on what they’re committing to.
Find/Become a Surrogate
Now is the time to look into our surrogate program. Intended parents can be confident that we do our homework. We take our time to find the best and most dedicated surrogates out there. We abide by the highest industry standards when providing surrogates to our clients.
If you’re a woman looking into being a surrogate, don’t hesitate to contact us today. Being a surrogate is one of the most meaningful and beautiful gifts a woman could give a couple. We take great pride in our surrogates and make sure they’re taken care of and treated fairly.
Let’s start today. We can’t wait to start working with you.
