Surrogate Psychological Evaluation: What to Expect

The surrogate psychological evaluation can cause worry for surrogate candidates: the call feels like a test, there is stress about how to answer questions, and fears that saying the wrong thing could end their candidacy on the spot.

The evaluation is designed to understand the surrogate candidate psychologically and emotionally, and ensure she’s prepared for all that a surrogacy journey entails. 

It's Not a Pass-or-Fail Test; Surrogate Psychological Evaluation: What to Expect

The person conducting this evaluation isn't looking for a reason to disqualify a candidate. Their role is to make sure the candidate is prepared for the experience as a surrogate, not to judge the candidate or hunt for red flags.

During the conversation, there is a screening component when the candidate’s mental health history is discussed. But a much larger part of the conversation is about timing and readiness. Someone can be an excellent candidate, doing this for entirely the right reasons, with a family fully on board — and still have other stress in their life that makes right now the wrong window of time. Discovering this doesn’t mean the candidate “fails” the evaluation.It's exactly why this conversation exists, to surface any challenges before they become a problem mid-journey.

What the Evaluation Actually Covers

Surrogate Psychological Evaluation: What to Expect? It isn't unique to any one agency — it's required by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), the entity that sets the clinical standards most U.S. fertility clinics follow, before any embryo transfer can move forward.

A typical evaluation combines a clinical interview with standardized psychological testing — often the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI), sometimes the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) — administered by a licensed mental health professional with specific experience in third-party reproduction. Per ASRM guidance, the conversation is built around several core areas:

• Mental health history — a review of emotional health and readiness for the emotional demands ahead

• Motivations — the real reasons behind wanting to carry for someone else

• Informed consent — making sure the medical, legal, and emotional aspects (including risk and long-term implications) are fully understood

• Family dynamics and support system — the stability and people a candidate can lean on during the process

• Psychological resilience — the capacity to handle stress and the complexities that can come up

• Preferences — including the kind of relationship a candidate wants with intended parents, and views on topics like termination and vaccinations

  
  

When applicable, a spouse or partner is often included in part of this process too — not as a formality, but to confirm real support exists at home. A new evaluation is generally required for each new surrogacy contract, and if more than a year has passed since a prior one, a new evaluation will be required.

Thinking about becoming a surrogate? Our team can walk you through the full requirements and screening process, including what to expect from your psychological evaluation.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can you fail a surrogate psychological evaluation?

It's less about pass or fail and more about readiness. The evaluation looks at timing, support systems, and coping tools alongside mental health history — a strong candidate on paper can still be advised to wait if it isn't the right moment for other reasons.

What tests are used in a surrogate psychological evaluation?

Evaluations typically combine a clinical interview with standardized psychological testing, most often the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI), and sometimes the MMPI, administered by a licensed mental health professional experienced in third-party reproduction.

Does my partner have to be evaluated too?

When applicable, a spouse or partner is often included in part of the process, to help confirm that strong support is in place at home from the beginning.

How often is a psychological evaluation required?

Generally, a new evaluation is required for each new surrogacy contract. If more than a year has passed since a candidate's last evaluation, a new one is typically needed rather than reusing the prior result.

What kinds of things come up in the evaluation besides mental health history?

Motivations, informed consent, family dynamics, support systems, resilience, and preferences — including the kind of relationship a candidate hopes to have with intended parents and her views on topics like termination and vaccinations.