Screening Process for Gestational Carriers
At Katrina Cassidy P.C. the screening process is done in three stages:
- legal
- psychological and
- medical.
The Legal Stage of the Screening Process for Gestational Carriers
During the legal stage, you will be speak to Katrina Cassidy about the process and the requirements to become a gestational carrier and whether you meet those requirements. Of course, any and all questions you may have about the process will be answered as well. You will be asked to complete a gestational carrier questionaire, provide some photos and also provide a copy of your health insurance policy for review if you are insured. A criminal background check of you and your husband (or significant other if residing with you) will also be done.
The Psych Evaluation Stage
Once you have met the parents and there is a mutual decision to move forward, you will be referred to a psychologist for a psych evaluation. This generally includes a one-time consultation of about 45 minutes to an hour. Often, the MMPI, a multiple choice personality test is also administered. This may take an additional 2 hours of time. Often your husband, if you are married, is asked to come in as well after your initial consult for a joint consult. This is also a one-time consult. This could all be done on the same day or on two separate visits, depending on everyone’s schedule. The Intended Parents pay for this evaluation.
The Medical Screening Stage of the Screening Process
Finally, once the psych evaluation is done and the carrier approved, the carrier will go for a medical screening. This screening generally consists of two appointments. The first appointment is usually set around Day 1 of the Gestational Carrier’s menstrual cycle and is primarily to do a blood draw. Here the clinic will check hormone levels and for STD’s among other things. They will also take a history and review medical records of the Gestational Carrier. Next the clinic will set another appointment for the Gestational Carrier to come in and consult with the IVF Physician and do either a Hysterosalpingogram (HSG) or sonohysterogram (non-invasive non-surgical medical procedure to view a female’s internal reproductive system). In some cases if warranted by the Gestational Carrier’s previous medical history, a more invasive hysteroscopy may be ordered.
Once all of these screenings are completed and the Gestational Carrier is approved by the Intended Parents attorney, psychologist and IVF Physician, the parties are ready to begin legal documentation.
