When women are unable to conceive due to certain clinical or medical problems like an absent uterus, they can use gestational surrogacy as a treatment option. This enables them to have their own children through what is called in-vitro fertilization or IVF procedure. This process creates embryos using the genes of both partners and then transfers these embryos to the uterus of a surrogate host.

Gestational surrogacy becomes necessary when the woman lacks a functioning uterus or when she has gone through repeated miscarriages. This treatment option is quite straight forward and transfers frozen embryos to a surrogate. Choosing a surrogate mother agency is an important decision which you will need to make to perform this procedure successfully.

Tips to choose surrogate agencies:

• You should actively research the surrogate agencies in your area before choosing one. This involves verifying the credentials of the agency and going through customer testimonials. Referrals from medical professionals and attorneys dealing with such cases are a good idea. Alternatively, you can also get names of these agencies from an Internet search.
• There are several agencies which claim to specialize in gestational surrogacy but you should not trust just any one blindly. You must check their track records to find out how many successful cases it has delivered in the past.
• You must get a complete idea of the total cost estimates and compare these with those quoted by other similar agencies before making a final choice. The costs typically include the fees of the surrogate, the lawyer and specialist's fees, and adoption fees, if these crop up.
• Agencies should always carry out both clinical and psychological screenings of surrogates before they are introduced to clients. The agency should also conduct both criminal and financial checks on the prospective candidates.
• Find out whether the agency has been involved in any legal suits or if the surrogates have been involved in legal disputes.
• While health plans will not usually cover surrogacy, there are some agencies which do give an insurance cover for surrogacy or assisted reproduction. While this may be expensive, you can be certain of coverage.
• Ensure that the agency you choose operates in states where surrogacy is not considered illegal.

These factors can help you choose a surrogate mother agency for performing gestational surrogacy successfully. You should take a decision only after weighing the pros and cons of each and asking all necessary questions to get your doubts clarified.