What Does the Psychological Evaluation Encompass?

Are you thinking about becoming a surrogate? Want to know more about the approval process?

Towards the end of your approval process you will have to undergo psychological screening, this process is intended to ensure that the surrogacy process will not be a depleting or devastating experience for the surrogate.

Most agencies will cover this, in the case that you are not working with an agency you will want to ensure that you work with a psychologist who understands the emotional impact of surrogacy so they are better able to assess your mental state surrounding surrogacy to ensure that surrogacy is a safe option for you and will result in a positive outcome in your life.

Understand that it is normal to feel nervous about the screening test, and that this test is not intended to judge you as a person but rather to ensure that you as the surrogate will not be negatively impacted by the surrogacy process. Remember that there is no right or wrong answer, answer as honestly as you can and try not to think about the end result, just remember this step is in your best interest to protect you.

The questions you will be asked are meant to make sure that you have both the personality and the emotional maturity to know and understand what will be asked of you as a surrogate, the possible decisions you will be asked to make, and the emotions that you may experience throughout the surrogacy journey.

The screening is done by a psychologist or social worker specializing in third-party reproduction. They will want to know if you have had any psychological challenges and how you were able to overcome them and resolve them. You will talk about what you should consider before becoming a surrogate in order to help you think and reflect to ensure that being a surrogate is a healthy and positive decision for you.

When the screening takes place is depended on the clinic and agency you are working with, but it is a requirement in any surrogacy journey. It can be done in conjunction with the medical screening or separate. But once both the psychological and medical screening are complete the process tends to move at the speed in which you are comfortable with.

In some cases, you will undergo a personality assessment in conjunction with your psychological evaluation, this depends on both the agency and the clinic you are working with.

The PAI is a 344-item personality test that assesses the surrogate’s personality and psychopathology, this test takes roughly an hour to complete. It’s divided into 22 scales, including anxiety-related disorders, alcohol and drug problems, aggression, dominance, warmth, inconsistency, and negative/positive impressions.

The psychological screening is a mandatory requirement. This meeting can be scheduled in person or conducted via facetime/Skype.

During this interview the surrogate will be asked a series of questions regarding:

• How she sees the surrogacy journey, and what she is comfortable and not comfortable with
• What the surrogate’s support system looks like
• Who she would like to carry a baby for
• Questions regarding invasive procedures, her thoughts and feelings on such things as selective reduction and pregnancy termination

In the case of a surrogate who is in a relationship the examiner will also request to speak to your spouse or significant other in order to ensure that both you and your partner are on the same page throughout surrogacy journey. Effective evaluation, clear expectations and communication between all involved parties help to ensure the possibility that the IPS and Surrogate can have a healthy, happy and safe surrogacy journey.