One of the first questions most women ask when considering surrogacy is: “How long does it take to become a surrogate in Connecticut?“
Here’s the honest answer: the entire surrogacy process timeline from your first application to holding a baby typically takes 15-18 months. That might sound like a long time, but when you break it down into phases, it becomes much more manageable (and honestly, time tends to fly once you get started).
Ready to learn exactly what each phase involves? Contact us today to speak with a specialist about starting your surrogacy journey.
The Connecticut surrogacy process follows a well-established sequence of steps, each designed to ensure everyone’s safety, compatibility, and success. While every journey is unique, understanding the typical timeline helps you plan accordingly and set realistic expectations for this incredible experience.
Getting Started: 1-2 Months
The beginning of your Connecticut surrogate process involves several important steps that typically take 1-2 months to complete. This phase is all about initial preparations and making sure surrogacy is the right choice for you and your family.
What happens during this phase:
- Initial application and research – Exploring agencies, completing applications, gathering documents
- Agency selection – Choosing the right fit and completing initial phone screenings
- Early preparations – Gathering medical records and discussing with family
- Timeline considerations – Planning around your family’s schedule and commitments
This exciting phase goes by quickly because there’s so much to learn and consider. You’ll be researching questions like which agency feels like the best fit, what compensation packages look like, and whether the timing works for your family.
Screening and Approval: 2-3 Months
The screening and approval phase is typically the longest part of the pre-matching process, taking 2-3 months on average. This comprehensive evaluation ensures you’re physically, emotionally, and practically ready for the surrogacy journey.
This comprehensive phase includes:
- Medical evaluations – Appointments with reproductive specialists, health screenings, fertility testing
- Psychological assessments – Meetings with reproductive mental health professionals
- Background verification – Criminal checks, financial stability review, reference interviews
- Connecticut compliance – Meeting state-specific legal requirements and surrogacy framework
The medical team needs to confirm that you can safely carry a pregnancy and that your reproductive health is optimal for surrogacy. The screening timeline can vary based on how quickly you can complete appointments and gather required documentation.
Finding Your Match: 1-4 Months
Surrogacy matching timeline varies significantly based on your preferences and availability of intended parents. Some surrogates match within weeks, while others prefer to take several months to find the perfect fit.
The matching process involves:
- Profile creation – Developing a detailed profile highlighting your personality and preferences
- Review and consideration – Intended parents review profiles to find potential matches
- Initial meetings – Phone calls, video chats, or in-person meetings with potential families
- Compatibility discussions – Communication styles, medical decisions, birth plans, ongoing relationships
Some surrogates know immediately when they’ve found the right match, while others prefer to meet several potential families before deciding. These conversations help everyone assess compatibility and shared expectations for the journey ahead.
There’s no rush during this phase—finding the right fit is crucial for a positive experience.
Legal and Medical Process: 1-2 Months
Once you’re matched, the legal and medical process typically takes 1-2 months to complete. This phase involves finalizing all legal agreements and completing final medical preparations.
- Key components of this phase:
- Contract negotiations – Independent attorneys handle legal agreements and protect your rights
- Legal reviews – Ensuring everyone understands rights, responsibilities, and protections
- Medical protocols – Final clearances, fertility clinic coordination, insurance verification
- Connecticut compliance – Meeting all state legal requirements for surrogacy agreements
American Surrogacy’s contract process expertise demonstrates how professional agencies streamline this phase. Connecticut’s surrogacy-friendly legal framework makes this process more straightforward than in many other states, though thorough legal review remains essential.
The Medical Process: 2-3 Months
The medical surrogacy process from medication start to confirmed pregnancy typically takes 2-3 months. This phase involves the most intensive medical coordination and monitoring.
This phase includes:
- Medication preparation (4-6 weeks) – Hormone therapy to prepare your body for transfer
- Regular monitoring – Blood tests and ultrasounds to track progress
- Embryo transfer – 15-minute procedure followed by two-week waiting period
- Early pregnancy monitoring – 8-10 weeks of specialized care after positive pregnancy test
If the first transfer isn’t successful, you might go through this process again. The actual transfer takes about 15 minutes, but the preparation and monitoring ensure the best possible chance of success.
Pregnancy and Beyond: 9+ Months
The Pregnancy journey follows the typical 40-week timeline, though your experience will be unique because you’re carrying a baby for someone else. You’ll have regular prenatal appointments, ongoing communication with intended parents, and support from your agency throughout.
Delivery and postpartum complete the surrogacy journey, followed by a recovery period and potential ongoing relationship with the family you’ve helped create. Many surrogates describe this phase as deeply rewarding, knowing they’ve helped fulfill someone’s dream of parenthood.
Relationship continuation varies by arrangement, with some surrogates maintaining ongoing friendships with intended parents while others prefer to step back after delivery. The choice is yours and should be discussed during the matching process.
Ready to Start Your Journey?
Now you know the realistic timeline: 15-18 months from start to finish, with each phase serving important purposes in ensuring everyone’s success and safety.
Ready to apply to be a surrogate? Talk to a specialist today to learn more about starting your surrogacy journey. They can provide personalized timeline information based on your specific situation and help you understand what to expect at each phase.
Learn more about how to start the surrogacy process and take the first step toward this incredible journey of helping create families.