So you’re thinking about becoming a surrogate in Arizona? That’s pretty incredible — and we think you deserve to know exactly what you’re getting into, timeline-wise. The truth is, most women are surprised by how thorough (and sometimes lengthy) the surrogacy process actually is. But here’s the thing: every step exists for a good reason, especially in Arizona where the legal landscape makes choosing the right support absolutely essential.
The short answer? Most women can expect the entire journey — from first application to holding a baby — to take anywhere from 12 to 18 months. However, your timeline could be shorter or longer depending on several Arizona-specific factors we’ll explore.
Your Arizona Surrogacy Timeline at a Glance
Phase 1: Getting Started (1-2 months)
- Research agencies, apply, initial consultations (Extra time may be needed for Arizona agency vetting).
Phase 2: Screening & Approval (2-4 months)
- Medical/psychological evaluations, background checks. More comprehensive due to legal protections.
Phase 3: Finding Your Match (1-6 months)
- Profile reviews, meetings, compatibility assessment. Trust your gut, a strong match is crucial in Arizona.
Phase 4: Legal & Medical Prep (1-2 months)
- Contracts, Escrow services, medical setup. This is when the agency will help you set up critical protections.
Phase 5: Medical Process (2-4 months)
- Medications, monitoring, embryo transfer. Standard timeline regardless of state.
Phase 6: Pregnancy & Beyond (9+ months)
- Prenatal care, delivery, postpartum, and special legal considerations at birth.
Phase 1: Getting Started (1-2 Months)
This is where your surrogacy journey truly begins, and honestly, it’s one of the most exciting phases. You’re making the decision to help create families — and that deserves recognition.
What happens during this phase: You’ll be researching and selecting your surrogacy agency (this is critical in Arizona), completing your initial application, having your first consultation call, and gathering all required documents and records. If you’re just starting to explore surrogacy, you might want to brush up on how to become a surrogate and understand what the requirements are before diving into the application process.
Why this takes 1-2 months in Arizona: Something important to understand about Arizona surrogacy — since surrogacy contracts aren’t legally enforceable under Arizona Revised Statute 25-218, your agency choice becomes absolutely critical. You’ll want to spend extra time researching agencies that have developed comprehensive protection systems specifically for Arizona surrogates.
The good agencies will walk you through exactly how they protect you financially and medically without relying on traditional contract enforcement. Don’t rush this part — it’s the foundation of your entire journey.
Many Arizona women find it helpful to connect with other surrogates who’ve worked with agencies they’re considering. A reputable agency should be happy to facilitate these connections.
What to Do While You Wait (Phase 1)
Focus on thoroughly researching Arizona agencies and their specific protection systems — this choice is critical. Connect with other Arizona surrogates through online communities to learn from their experiences, and have detailed discussions with your family about this decision since their support will be crucial. Start taking prenatal vitamins to optimize your health and begin preparing your work situation for upcoming appointments and the flexibility you’ll need.
Phase 2: Screening and Approval (2-4 Months)
Now let’s discuss the part that makes some women nervous: the screening process. What we want you to know is that this isn’t about judging you. It’s about ensuring everyone’s health and safety throughout the pregnancy.
Medical screening includes:
- Comprehensive physical exam and medical history review
- Reproductive health evaluation
- STD testing and blood work
- Review of previous pregnancy and delivery records
- Sometimes additional testing based on your specific history
Want to know more about what medical requirements you’ll need to meet? Check out our detailed guide on surrogate mother requirements to see exactly what’s involved in the medical screening process.
Psychological evaluation covers:
- Mental health assessment
- Understanding of the surrogacy process
- Support system evaluation
- Coping strategies and stress management
Background checks and administrative tasks:
- Criminal background check
- Financial stability verification
- Home study (requirements vary by agency)
- Insurance review and verification
Why this phase can take 2-4 months: Arizona’s unique legal situation means agencies often require more comprehensive screening than in other states. Since they can’t rely on court enforcement if issues arise, they’re extra thorough upfront. This actually works in your favor — it means they’re serious about protecting you.
Don’t be discouraged if this phase feels lengthy. Many women use this time to prepare their families for the journey ahead and continue learning about the process.
What to Do While You Wait (Phase 2)
Schedule all required medical appointments efficiently, clustering them when possible to minimize schedule disruption. Use downtime between appointments to research and interview potential OB/GYNs experienced with surrogacy arrangements, and begin conversations with your employer about upcoming flexibility needs.
Connect with other surrogates for valuable insights and emotional support while focusing on optimizing your health through good nutrition and regular exercise.
Phase 3: Finding Your Match (1-6 Months)
This is honestly one of the most meaningful parts of the entire process — meeting the people whose lives you’re about to change forever. But it’s also where timelines can vary dramatically.
The matching process typically involves:
- Reviewing intended parent profiles
- Initial conversations or meetings (often virtual first)
- Deeper compatibility discussions
- Finalizing your match decision
Curious about how this actually works? You might find it helpful to learn more about how to find intended parents and how intended parents are screened to understand both sides of the matching process.
What affects matching time in Arizona:
- Your specific preferences and requirements
- Intended parents’ location preferences (many prefer in-state surrogates)
- Timing of when you enter the matching pool
- Your agency’s client base and matching system
Important to know: Some Arizona surrogates find their perfect match within weeks, while others take several months. There’s no “normal” here — just what feels right for your situation. Many women find that taking time to find the right match makes the entire journey more positive.
Arizona advantage: Because Arizona’s legal framework requires everyone to be extra intentional about the process, many matches here end up being particularly strong and well-thought-out.
What to Do While You Wait (Phase 3)
Use this time to reflect on what kind of relationship you want with intended parents and join surrogate support groups to learn about different matching experiences. Continue focusing on your health and wellness while researching birth plans and delivery preferences for informed discussions with potential matches. Make sure your family understands the matching process, and most importantly, stay flexible — many surrogates find their perfect match comes unexpectedly or doesn’t fit their initial criteria exactly.
Matching Success Checklist
Before reviewing profiles:
- Clarify your own preferences and boundaries
- Understand what level of communication you want during pregnancy
- Decide on your comfort level with intended parents at delivery
- Consider geographic preferences (local vs. out-of-state intended parents)
During the matching process:
- Ask about their support system and pregnancy expectations
- Discuss communication styles and frequency preferences
- Understand their birth plan hopes and flexibility
- Talk about post-birth relationship expectations
Questions to ask potential matches:
- “What does your ideal communication look like during pregnancy?”
- “How involved do you want to be in medical appointments?”
- “What are your hopes for our relationship after the baby is born?”
- “How do you handle stress and unexpected situations?”
Phase 4: Legal and Medical Preparation (1-2 Months)
Once you’ve found your match, things start moving pretty quickly. This phase is all about getting everything officially set up and ensuring everyone’s on the same page.
Legal preparation includes:
- Contract drafting and review (even though contracts aren’t enforceable in Arizona, they still serve important purposes)
- Independent legal representation (absolutely essential in Arizona)
- Understanding your rights and protections
- Finalizing compensation and medical coverage details
Speaking of compensation — if you haven’t already explored this, you’ll probably want to understand how much gestational carriers make and learn about different compensation structures before finalizing your legal agreements.
Medical preparation covers:
- Choosing your OB/GYN for the pregnancy
- Finalizing insurance coverage or medical payment plans
- Initial fertility clinic appointments
- Baseline testing and health optimization
Why Arizona makes this phase crucial: Since surrogacy contracts aren’t legally enforceable in Arizona, this preparation phase becomes your safety net. Your agency should be setting up escrow accounts, direct medical coverage, and other protections that don’t rely on contract enforcement.
This is where working with an experienced Arizona agency really pays off — they know exactly how to structure these protections within the state’s unique legal framework.
What to Do While You Wait (Phase 4)
Schedule time to meet with your independent attorney to fully understand your protections, and finalize your OB/GYN choice, ensuring they have experience with surrogacy arrangements and Arizona’s legal considerations. Prepare your family and employer for the upcoming intensive medical process, explaining what to expect and the work flexibility you’ll need. Create a comfortable, organized space at home for managing daily medications and use this time to strengthen your relationship with the intended parents.
Phase 5: The Medical Process (2-4 Months)
Here’s where things get medically intensive, but also really exciting — you’re getting ready to carry a baby!
Typical medical timeline:
- Weeks 1-4: Birth control regulation and baseline testing
- Weeks 4-8: Hormone medications to prepare your body
- Weeks 8-10: Final monitoring and preparation for transfer
- Week 10-12: Embryo transfer procedure
- Weeks 12-14: Early pregnancy monitoring and confirmation
What could affect this timeline:
- Your body’s response to medications
- Intended parents’ embryo availability and quality
- Coordination with fertility clinic schedules
- Any minor health issues that need addressing
Arizona considerations: Make sure your fertility clinic has experience with Arizona surrogacy arrangements. The legal nuances can affect how they handle certain procedures and documentation.
Many women find this phase both exciting and nerve-wracking — that’s completely normal. Your agency should be providing support throughout this entire process. If you want to dive deeper into what the medical surrogacy process involves, we have a comprehensive guide that walks through each step.
What to Do While You Wait (Phase 5)
Follow medication schedules precisely while tracking side effects, and maintain open communication with your healthcare providers about how you’re feeling physically and emotionally. Keep intended parents regularly updated on appointment results and practice stress management techniques like deep breathing or gentle exercise, as this phase can feel overwhelming.
Arrange practical support for embryo transfer day, stay positive but realistic about outcomes, and plan how you’ll share pregnancy news with intended parents if the transfer is successful.
Phase 6: Pregnancy and Beyond (9+ Months)
Congratulations — you’re pregnant! This is the phase everyone’s been working toward, and it’s truly special.
During pregnancy, you’ll experience:
- Regular prenatal care with your chosen OB/GYN
- Ongoing communication with intended parents
- Support from your agency throughout the pregnancy
- Preparation for delivery and postpartum planning
Delivery and immediate postpartum:
- Hospital delivery with intended parents present (if desired)
- Immediate legal processes for parental rights transfer
- Recovery support and medical care
- Initial postpartum check-ins
If you’re wondering what the actual surrogate delivery experience is like, we have detailed information about what to expect during this meaningful moment.
Arizona-specific postpartum considerations: Because Arizona law considers you the legal mother until specific steps are taken, your agency should have clear processes for handling the legal transfer of parental rights. This typically happens quickly after birth, but the process should be clearly explained to you beforehand.
Ongoing relationship: Many Arizona surrogates maintain some level of contact with the families they’ve helped create. This is entirely up to you and should be discussed during the matching process. If you’re curious about this aspect, our guide on building healthy relationships with intended parents offers great insights into making these connections meaningful and sustainable.
What to Do During This Phase
During pregnancy: Maintain regular communication with intended parents about appointments and milestones while following your prenatal care plan consistently. Consider documenting the journey through journaling or photography, and prepare your family for delivery and the postpartum period. Have ongoing discussions with intended parents and your OB/GYN about birth plan preferences, and stay connected with your agency support team throughout the pregnancy.
Preparing for delivery: Taking a tour of the hospital and understanding their specific policies for surrogacy births helps eliminate surprises during an already intense time. Confirming who will be present at delivery and understanding everyone’s roles can help the experience feel more organized and meaningful. Prepare emotionally for the delivery experience and plan your postpartum recovery support in advance.
After delivery: Focus on your physical and emotional recovery while maintaining whatever level of contact feels right with the new family. Process the experience with your support system — family, friends, or other surrogates — and consider whether you’d want to be a surrogate again in the future, though this decision can wait until you’ve fully recovered.
What Could Affect Your Timeline in Arizona?
Several factors unique to Arizona can impact your surrogacy timeline:
Legal complexity: Arizona’s legal gray zone means extra preparation time, but this actually works in your favor by ensuring better protections.
Agency experience: Working with agencies that don’t understand Arizona’s unique requirements can cause significant delays. Choose wisely.
Medical provider familiarity: Some healthcare providers are more experienced with Arizona surrogacy arrangements than others.
Insurance complications: Arizona’s legal framework can create insurance coverage challenges that experienced agencies know how to navigate.
Personal factors that might extend your timeline:
- Taking time to thoroughly research agencies
- Needing additional medical clearances
- Preferring to take the matching process slowly
- Scheduling around work or family commitments
Factors that might speed things up:
- Working with an established Arizona agency
- Having straightforward medical clearances
- Being flexible with matching preferences
- Having strong family support systems
Ready to Begin Your Journey?
We want to be completely transparent with you — becoming a surrogate in Arizona requires careful planning and the right support team. But here’s what we want you to remember: thousands of women have successfully completed this journey in Arizona, and with proper preparation, you can too.
Your next steps:
- Research agencies thoroughly — Look for those with proven Arizona expertise and comprehensive protection systems
- Connect with other Arizona surrogates — Learn from women who’ve completed the journey
- Understand the legal landscape — Make sure you’re comfortable with how protections work in Arizona
- Prepare your support system — This journey affects your whole family
Remember, you’re considering doing something truly extraordinary. The timeline might seem long, but every phase serves a purpose in ensuring the best possible outcome for everyone involved.
Ready to take the first step? Explore Our Surrogacy Programs
Considering surrogacy in Arizona? Our experienced team understands the unique legal landscape and has developed comprehensive protection systems specifically for Arizona surrogates. Contact us today to learn how we can support you through every phase of your journey.