What questions should I ask a surrogacy agency before signing?
Introduction
Expert reviewed by Sarah Adekola, BSc Biomedical Science (First Class Honours) - Human Anatomy Major, Certificate in Clinical Embryology and Andrology
Choosing a surrogacy agency is one of the biggest decisions you will make on your journey to parenthood. A good agency protects you, your surrogate and your baby. A poor one can cost you money, time and heartbreak. Agencies differ enormously in how they recruit and care for surrogates, what their fees include and how well they handle the law.
We manage surrogacy journeys and move embryos, sperm and eggs for intended parents across 80+ countries. These are the questions we believe every intended parent should ask before signing anything.
TL;DR
Check legitimacy: registration, track record, partner clinics and references from past parents.
Check the surrogate's screening and welfare: medical, genotype and psychological checks, housing, nutrition, insurance and her own lawyer.
Check costs: a written, itemised quote, what is excluded, and what happens if a transfer fails.
Check the law: exactly how you will become the legal parent and get your baby home.
Check embryo transport: supervised hand-carry only, never unaccompanied cargo.
Biggest red flag: pressure to pay quickly, nothing in writing, or discouraging you from using your own lawyer.
Contact Cryo Medical Logistics today.
📧 Email: transports@cryomedicallogistics.com
📱 WhatsApp - Telegram - Line - WeChat: +44 7585 610211
📞 Phone: +44 2081500059
How do I know if a surrogacy agency is legitimate?
Ask these questions first:
How long have you been operating, and how many surrogacy births have you completed in this country?
Is your company officially registered, and in which country?
Which licensed fertility clinics do you work with? Can I speak to the clinic directly?
Can I speak to two or three intended parents you have helped?
Be cautious of any agency that avoids these questions.
How does the agency find and screen surrogates?
How do you recruit surrogates? Recruiting through social media posts or offering women who are "available now" is a red flag.
What screening does every surrogate receive? Look for medical checks, infectious disease tests, genotype testing and a psychological assessment.
Can I see the screening results in writing?
Has the surrogate given birth before, and is she raising her own child? Most reputable programmes require this.
Does she have her own independent lawyer?
In West Africa, genotype testing matters. Ask whether it is done as standard.
How will the surrogate be looked after?
A surrogate who is well supported has a safer pregnancy. Ask:
Where will she live during the pregnancy, and who checks on her?
What will she receive for nutrition, transport, health insurance and counselling?
How much is she paid, in what stages, and is the money paid to her directly?
If an agency cannot tell you clearly how its surrogates are cared for, keep looking.
What questions should I ask about surrogacy costs?
Can you give me a written, itemised quote?
What is not included? Ask specifically about extra embryo transfers, extra IVF cycles, a caesarean section, pregnancy complications, neonatal care and legal fees.
What happens to my money if a transfer fails, the surrogate miscarries or she withdraws? Do you offer a guarantee or a rematch?
Is my money held in a separate client or escrow account?
When is each payment due?
The cheapest quote is rarely the cheapest journey. Compare what each agency actually includes.
What medical questions should I ask?
What is the clinic's live birth rate per embryo transfer? Pregnancy rates alone can be misleading.
How many embryos will be transferred at a time? Transferring one embryo is the safest option for the surrogate and baby.
Is genetic testing of embryos available?
Which hospital will the surrogate deliver in, and what neonatal care does it offer?
What legal questions should I ask?
Who drafts the surrogacy agreement, and can my own lawyer review it?
How will I become the baby's legal parent? This varies by country. In Ghana, it is usually through a court parental order. In Nigeria, it is usually through a court order or adoption after the birth.
How long will I need to stay in the country after the birth?
Have you helped parents of my nationality obtain citizenship and a passport for their baby?
Always take advice in your home country too.
What should I ask about moving my embryos or sperm?
If your embryos or sperm are frozen in another city or country, ask:
Will the receiving clinic confirm in writing that it accepts imported embryos or sperm?
Who will transport them? Insist on a supervised, hand-carry specialist courier, never unaccompanied cargo.
Is the transport insured, and is there a chain-of-custody record?
How will the shipment be protected from X-ray and temperature failure?
Your embryos may be irreplaceable. We hand-carry them in −196°C dry shippers, follow a Do Not X-Ray protocol, operate under ISO 9001:2015 quality management and carry FCA-regulated insurance.
How will the agency keep in touch with me?
Who is my single point of contact, and how quickly do they respond?
How often will I receive updates and scan results?
Can I speak to or meet the surrogate?
What are the biggest surrogacy agency red flags?
Pressure to pay quickly or in cash.
Refusing to put things in writing.
Discouraging you from using your own lawyer.
No clear information about the clinic or hospital.
Recruiting surrogates through social media or offering a baby rather than a surrogacy service.
Prices that seem too good to be true.
If you see any of these, walk away.
Unsure about an agency? Speak to us before you sign.
📧 Email: transports@cryomedicallogistics.com
📱 WhatsApp - Telegram - Line - WeChat: +44 7585 610211
📞 Phone: +44 2081500059
Should intended parents have fertility and DNA tests?
Yes. Male factors contribute to 40–50% of infertility cases, so both partners should be tested before surrogacy begins. Our sister company, London Diagnostics Clinic, offers fertility and DNA testing, including semen analysis, hormone profiles and genetic carrier screening. After the birth, a DNA test can support your baby's citizenship and passport application.
What if I need donor eggs, donor sperm or IVF medication?
Our partner, Greenplace Healthcare, provides Caucasian and European donor eggs and sperm and ships IVF medication worldwide. We deliver donor material by supervised hand-carry.
Important information
This guide is general information only and is not legal, medical or financial advice. Always take independent legal advice before signing any surrogacy agreement.
Contact Cryo Medical Logistics today.
📧 Email: transports@cryomedicallogistics.com
📱 WhatsApp - Telegram - Line - WeChat: +44 7585 610211
📞 Phone: +44 2081500059
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