Last year, I helped my cousin manage her entire surrogacy journey in Georgia, and I went through more than a dozen agency contracts and surrogate medical reports along the way. Honestly? The most expensive quote is not the safest plan. It’s the details nobody talks about — how the trigger shot gets scheduled, whether chromosomal screening is written into the contract — that decide whether your money is well spent or completely wasted. Here’s my full checklist, broken down for you.
The One Line in the Quote I Always Questioned: Who Pays for Chromosomal Screening?
One agency quoted $42,000 and it looked pretty complete. But when I asked about each item one by one, I discovered that PGT-A testing for embryos (which screens for chromosomal abnormalities) was not included — an extra $250 per embryo. If you culture 8 blastocysts, that’s $2,000 in hidden costs. Another agency quoted $48,000, and it turned out to be all-inclusive.
That’s when it clicked for me: a lower quote doesn’t necessarily save you money. What matters is whether the testing fees and any clauses about additional surrogate compensation during pregnancy are clearly listed. So when you get a quote, ask one direct question: for PGT-A, amniocentesis, and the surrogate’s hospitalization for pregnancy preservation — who covers these three? If they can’t answer smoothly, walk away.
The Three Things I Checked in the Surrogate’s Medical Report — One of Them Almost Nobody Looks At
A surrogate screening report should include at minimum: a six-hormone panel, hysteroscopy results, and full pregnancy history. When I asked the fourth agency for their report, they only provided hormone data and said the hysteroscopy records could be “reviewed during the visit.”
That’s a red flag. A surrogate with two previous missed miscarriages carries a completely different risk profile. Here’s what I did: I required the surrogate’s complete pregnancy and delivery history from the past 3 years — including delivery methods and any pregnancy complications — before signing, and had it written into the contract appendix. If the report is incomplete, I’d rather wait an extra month and swap candidates than take the risk.
From Stimulation to Trigger Shot: My Plan Got Changed Twice in Those Days
Before my cousin’s egg retrieval, I made sure I understood the trigger shot process: the timing is set by the doctor that evening based on follicle size (once 18mm follicles are dominant), and even a 1-hour error can affect egg quality. On day 6, the clinic moved the originally scheduled 10 PM trigger up to 9:15 PM — and only notified us one day in advance. Luckily we were already in Georgia. If you’re still in your home country relying on remote communication, it’s very easy to miss it.
My advice for anyone preparing to go: after starting your cycle, confirm the next day’s schedule with your coordinator every evening, and make sure you’re physically in Tbilisi on trigger day. Don’t gamble on jet lag.
How I Finally Picked the Agency: Three Hard Numbers
I looked at 7 agencies and eliminated 5 using just three data points. First, blastocyst culture rate — if the lab’s rate is below 50%, I won’t sign. Second, surrogate matching time — if it takes more than 4 months without a match, their surrogate pool is too small. Third, the contract must clearly state how chromosomally abnormal embryos are handled — destroyed, or disclosed so you decide. If this isn’t written down, you’re the one stuck in a dispute later.
For the two remaining agencies, I had a local lawyer verify the latest surrogacy legislation (Georgia currently only allows married heterosexual couples) before paying any deposit.
If you’re choosing a Georgia agency right now, don’t rush to compare prices. First, get itemized quotes and check the screening fees line by line. Second, request the surrogate’s complete medical report. Third, have a lawyer review the clauses on chromosomally abnormal embryo disposition and the surrogate’s liability for compensation. Do these three steps, and the pitfalls you avoid will easily save you tens of thousands.