| Once a surrogate mother or a set of intended | | | | party and go between the surrogate and her |
| parents has decided to start a surrogacy journey, | | | | intended parents, helping the compensation |
| the first step, after extensive research, is to find a | | | | discussions. |
| potential match to work with. There are two basic | | | | Pro: Surrogacy agencies handle escrow. |
| options when it comes to matching for a surrogacy | | | | When it comes to having a third party handle all the |
| journey: using a surrogacy agency or finding a match | | | | monetary transactions between a surrogate and |
| independently. | | | | intended parents, a surrogate agency is the perfect |
| There are several pros and cons to using a surrogacy | | | | fit. As escrow agents, they make all reimbursements |
| agency. Some surrogates and intended parents | | | | and handle payments for the surrogacy. |
| choose to utilize an agency, while others do not. | | | | Con: Agencies are very expensive. |
| There is no right or wrong way. | | | | Surrogacy is expensive. Intended parents that are |
| Pro: Surrogacy agencies match surrogates and | | | | looking to use an agency in their surrogacy will find |
| intended parents. | | | | themselves paying thousands for the use of these |
| The biggest job of a surrogacy agency is to match | | | | services. Many intended parents cannot afford this |
| potential intended parents with a surrogate mother | | | | added cost to surrogacy. |
| that meets their needs. This can be a difficult aspect | | | | Con: Some policies are set in stone. |
| of surrogacy, as many intended parents simply do | | | | Some agencies have policies, such as their |
| not know where to begin to find the right match. An | | | | compensation for surrogates, set in stone. This |
| agency takes this process out of the parents' hands | | | | makes it difficult to negotiate a higher or lower |
| and provides them with their match. | | | | surrogacy compensation between the intended |
| Pro: Surrogacy agencies set appointments and share | | | | parents and surrogate mother. Those who do not |
| experience. | | | | agree with an agency's policies are likely not to work |
| For those who are not experienced in surrogacy, | | | | with the agency, limiting the choices during matching. |
| having an agency there to assist both parents and | | | | Con: Some agencies are biased. |
| surrogates with paperwork, scheduling testing, | | | | Some agencies, whether by design or by accident, |
| coordinating appointments for procedures and | | | | take one side in surrogacy. For instance, an agency |
| evaluations is a lifesaver. This can take much of the | | | | run by a former surrogate mother might be more |
| uncertainty and stress out of the surrogacy. | | | | sympathetic to surrogates instead of intended |
| Agencies are full of experience and both surrogate | | | | parents. Most likely, an agency will follow the money |
| mothers and intended parents can capitalize on that | | | | and will side consistently with the intended parents, |
| experience. | | | | thereby rejecting their role as a third party. |
| Pro: Agencies facilitate compensation discussions. | | | | Each surrogacy journey is different, and there is no |
| Talking about money and compensation can make | | | | wrong or right. In all cases, a surrogate agency is paid |
| many a surrogate mother and her intended parents | | | | for by the intended parents. Surrogate mothers do |
| uncomfortable. Agencies usually will act as a third | | | | not pay to be listed with an agency. |