The most common disqualifications from surrogacy are: being under 21 or over 43, a BMI outside the healthy range, no prior successful pregnancy, a history of serious pregnancy complications, more than two or three prior C-sections, current smoking or substance use, untreated or severe mental-health conditions, financial instability, a serious criminal record, and living in a state or country that prohibits surrogacy.
Most are medical, and most trace back to one question: whether a pregnancy can be carried safely. Some of these are permanent and some are temporary. Knowing which is which tells you whether to look at a different path or simply a later one.
Quick reference: common disqualifiers
| Category | What tends to disqualify | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Age | Under 21 or over 43 | Maturity; pregnancy risk rises with age |
| Health / BMI | BMI outside ~18–33, chronic conditions | Gestational and delivery complications |
| Reproductive history | No prior birth, repeated miscarriage, 3+ C-sections | Predicts risk in a future pregnancy |
| Mental health | Severe or untreated anxiety or depression | Stability through pregnancy and hand-over |
| Lifestyle | Smoking, drug use, heavy drinking | Fetal health |
| Legal | Serious criminal record, restrictive location | Safety and legal validity |
| Support | No family or friend network | Practical and emotional load |
Age and health
Age outside 21 to 43 and BMI outside the healthy range are two of the most common reasons a candidate is turned away. Below 21, programs look for more life experience; above 43, the medical risks of pregnancy climb. BMI matters because a high BMI raises the risk of gestational diabetes and delivery complications, while a very low BMI can affect weight gain during pregnancy. Chronic conditions such as poorly controlled diabetes or high blood pressure, and reproductive conditions like significant endometriosis or uterine problems, are evaluated closely because of how directly they affect a pregnancy.
Reproductive history
Your pregnancy history is one of the most heavily weighted factors, because it is the best available predictor of how a future pregnancy will go. A candidate with no prior birth is almost always disqualified, since there is no track record to assess. A history of pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, or preterm labor becomes a central part of the evaluation, and repeated miscarriage raises questions because patterns matter clinically. Most programs also cap prior C-sections at two or three, because each one raises the risk of uterine rupture in a subsequent pregnancy.
Mental health
Untreated or severe mental-health conditions can disqualify a candidate, and this is about stability, not stigma. Carrying a pregnancy and then transferring the baby to its parents asks for real emotional steadiness. Well-managed conditions are often acceptable; active severe anxiety or depression, or a recent psychiatric hospitalization, typically are not. Some programs also ask about specific medications and stability over time. A psychological evaluation is a required part of screening for exactly this reason.
Lifestyle and substance use
Current smoking, drug use, or heavy drinking is disqualifying, and it is verified through testing during screening rather than taken on trust. Past substance use is assessed case by case. Because you would be carrying for someone else, programs hold a high standard here for the same reason any obstetrician would: these exposures affect fetal development.
Legal and location
Where you live can disqualify you regardless of your health. As of 2026, some states and countries prohibit or heavily restrict surrogacy, and most programs require you to be a citizen or legal resident of where they operate. A serious criminal history, particularly anything involving violence or child endangerment, is also disqualifying. Minor issues such as an old traffic ticket are not. Our guide to paid surrogacy laws by state covers where compensated surrogacy is permitted.
Financial instability
Financial instability can disqualify a candidate, which surprises people given that surrogacy pays. The reasoning is ethical: programs want the decision made freely, not under financial pressure, both to protect the surrogate and to keep the arrangement sound. Reliance on government assistance is often treated as a sign of instability. It is less a judgment than a safeguard.
Which disqualifications are temporary
Several of the most common disqualifiers can change with time, and it is worth separating those from the fixed ones.
Temporary, can be addressed and reapplied for:
- A BMI outside the range
- Current smoking
- A very recent birth
- Short-term financial instability
Fixed, generally do not change:
- Certain reproductive histories
- A high number of prior C-sections
- Some chronic conditions
If you are close on a temporary factor, addressing it and reapplying is a realistic route.
Authoritative references
For current, medically accurate information, these are the sources worth consulting:
- The American Society for Reproductive Medicine for reproductive-medicine and surrogacy guidelines
- The CDC's ART data for national surveillance
- The Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology for clinical standards
- The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists for pregnancy and reproductive-health guidance
Always confirm your own situation with a qualified medical and legal professional.
What to do next
If none of these disqualifiers applies to you, the next step is confirming the full criteria in surrogate qualifications and then reading how to become a surrogate for the path from here. If a temporary factor is in the way, address it and reapply, many surrogates do.
Frequently asked questions
Can anyone become a surrogate?
No. Surrogacy has strict eligibility criteria: age 21 to 43, at least one prior successful pregnancy, a healthy BMI, good physical and mental health, financial stability, and passing medical and psychological screening.
Can I be a surrogate if I have had pregnancy complications?
It depends on the type and severity. Mild, well-controlled gestational diabetes may be acceptable; severe pre-eclampsia, preterm labor, or major complications typically disqualify. Each case is assessed individually.
Do mental-health conditions disqualify surrogates?
Not automatically. Well-managed conditions are often acceptable. Active, severe anxiety or depression, or a recent psychiatric hospitalization, typically disqualify, because emotional stability through pregnancy and hand-over is essential.
Can multiple C-sections disqualify me?
Yes. Most programs cap prior C-sections at two or three, because each one increases the risk of uterine rupture in a later pregnancy.
Can I be a surrogate if I smoke or used to smoke?
Current smoking is disqualifying because of the pregnancy risks and is verified during screening. Past smoking is assessed case by case, and quitting well before applying removes it as a barrier.
Does being on Medicaid or government aid disqualify me?
Usually, because programs require financial stability and treat reliance on assistance as a sign of instability. It is a safeguard to ensure the decision is made freely rather than under financial pressure.