Surrogacy can involve many words and phrases that may feel unfamiliar at first. If you are new to the process, understanding common surrogacy terms can make it easier to read profiles, ask questions, and speak with intended parents, surrogate mothers, agencies, clinics, or legal professionals.
This guide explains common surrogacy terms in simple language. The exact meaning of some terms can vary depending on country, state, clinic, agency, and legal process, so you should always seek qualified legal, medical, and professional advice before moving forward.
SurrogateFinder.com is a matching platform that helps intended parents, surrogate mothers, egg donors, sperm donors, and agencies create profiles and connect online. It is not a surrogacy agency, clinic, legal adviser, or medical provider.
Surrogacy
Surrogacy is a family-building arrangement where a woman carries a pregnancy for intended parents. The process can vary depending on the people involved, the location, the clinic, the legal advice, and the type of arrangement being considered.
If you are new to the topic, start with What Is Surrogacy? and How Does Surrogacy Work?.
Intended parents
Intended parents are the person, couple, or family hoping to have a child through surrogacy. Intended parents may be looking for a surrogate mother, speaking with agencies, learning about legal advice, or creating a profile to explain their family-building hopes.
Intended parents can create a free intended parent profile on SurrogateFinder.com.
Surrogate mother
A surrogate mother is a woman who carries a pregnancy for intended parents. She may create a profile, share her general location and preferences, and speak with intended parents or agencies when there may be a possible match.
Surrogate mothers can create a free surrogate mother profile on SurrogateFinder.com.
Gestational carrier
Gestational carrier is a term often used in some professional or medical settings for a woman who carries a pregnancy for intended parents. The exact meaning and legal use of this term can vary by location and professional context.
Because terminology can differ, it is important to speak with qualified legal and medical professionals before entering any arrangement.
Traditional surrogacy
Traditional surrogacy is a term sometimes used to describe an arrangement where the surrogate mother may also have a genetic connection to the child. The legal status, availability, and meaning of this term can vary widely by location.
You should not rely on general online information to understand whether this is allowed or appropriate in your situation. Always seek qualified legal and medical advice.
Gestational surrogacy
Gestational surrogacy is a term often used to describe an arrangement where the person carrying the pregnancy is not genetically connected to the child. Medical and legal details can vary by country, state, clinic, and agreement.
Any medical process should be discussed with qualified healthcare professionals or fertility clinics.
Surrogacy agency
A surrogacy agency may help intended parents and surrogate mothers with matching, coordination, support, guidance, and parts of the journey depending on the agency and location.
SurrogateFinder.com is not a surrogacy agency. It is a matching platform where agencies can also register their agency and be discovered by intended parents and surrogate mothers.
Matching platform
A matching platform is a website or service that helps people create profiles and connect online. SurrogateFinder.com is a matching platform for intended parents, surrogate mothers, egg donors, sperm donors, and agencies.
Matching platforms can help people find and start conversations, but they do not replace legal, medical, clinic, or agency support.
Profile
A profile is the public or member-facing information someone shares about themselves on a platform. A profile may include location, profile type, introduction, preferences, and other details.
Helpful guides include How to Create a Strong Surrogate Mother Profile and How to Create a Strong Intended Parent Profile.
Match
A match is when intended parents and a surrogate mother may decide there is a possible connection worth exploring further. A match should not be assumed from a profile or first message alone.
Before moving forward, both sides should ask questions, take time, and seek qualified legal, medical, and professional advice.
Screening
Screening may refer to medical, psychological, legal, or other professional checks that can happen before a surrogacy arrangement moves forward. The type of screening can vary by clinic, agency, country, and personal situation.
SurrogateFinder.com does not provide medical screening, legal screening, or clinic approval.
Fertility clinic
A fertility clinic is a medical provider that may help with fertility treatment, medical screening, pregnancy-related medical processes, or other healthcare steps depending on the journey.
SurrogateFinder.com is not a fertility clinic and does not provide healthcare advice.
Legal advice
Legal advice is guidance from a qualified legal professional. Surrogacy can involve important rights, responsibilities, agreements, and parentage issues, and laws can vary widely by location.
Intended parents and surrogate mothers should each seek independent legal advice before entering any surrogacy arrangement.
Independent legal advice
Independent legal advice means that each side has access to their own legal professional, rather than relying only on one person or one shared adviser. This can help protect everyone involved.
The need and process for legal advice can vary by location, so speak with a qualified professional in the relevant area.
Medical advice
Medical advice is guidance from qualified healthcare professionals. Surrogacy can involve medical screening, fertility treatment, pregnancy care, and health considerations.
Medical suitability should always be discussed with a doctor, clinic, or qualified healthcare professional.
Counselling or emotional support
Counselling or emotional support may help intended parents and surrogate mothers think through the emotional side of the journey. Surrogacy can involve complex feelings, communication, expectations, and decisions.
Some agencies, clinics, or professionals may recommend or require counselling depending on the process and location.
Egg donor
An egg donor is someone who may provide eggs as part of a fertility or family-building process. Egg donation can involve medical, legal, and ethical considerations, and should be handled with qualified professional guidance.
Users can browse egg donor profiles on SurrogateFinder.com.
Sperm donor
A sperm donor is someone who may provide sperm as part of a fertility or family-building process. Sperm donation can involve medical, legal, and professional considerations.
Users can browse sperm donor profiles on SurrogateFinder.com.
Intended parent profile
An intended parent profile helps surrogate mothers and agencies understand who the intended parents are, where they are located, and what kind of journey they may be hoping for.
For guidance, read How to Create a Strong Intended Parent Profile.
Surrogate mother profile
A surrogate mother profile helps intended parents and agencies understand a surrogate mother’s general location, story, preferences, and whether she may be open to conversations.
For guidance, read How to Write a Surrogate Mother Introduction.
Privacy and boundaries
Privacy and boundaries are important in early conversations. People should avoid sharing sensitive documents, full private addresses, medical records, financial details, or identity documents too early or publicly.
Respectful conversations should allow both sides to move carefully and ask questions before making decisions.
Useful guides to read next
If you are still learning surrogacy terminology and process, these guides may help:
- What Is Surrogacy?
- How Does Surrogacy Work?
- How to Find a Surrogate Mother
- How to Become a Surrogate Mother
- How Intended Parents and Surrogate Mothers Start a Conversation
Frequently asked questions
What are common surrogacy terms?
Common terms include intended parents, surrogate mother, gestational carrier, surrogacy agency, matching platform, profile, match, screening, fertility clinic, legal advice, and medical advice.
Is a surrogate mother the same as a gestational carrier?
The terms may be used differently depending on location, clinic, legal setting, and personal preference. You should seek qualified professional advice to understand terminology in your situation.
What does matching mean in surrogacy?
Matching means intended parents and a surrogate mother may have found a possible connection worth exploring. It does not mean an arrangement should move forward without legal, medical, and professional advice.
Is SurrogateFinder a surrogacy agency?
No. SurrogateFinder.com is a matching platform, not a surrogacy agency, fertility clinic, legal adviser, or medical provider.
Why is legal advice important in surrogacy?
Surrogacy can involve legal rights, responsibilities, agreements, and parentage issues. Laws vary by location, so qualified legal advice is important before moving forward.
Start learning and connecting
Understanding surrogacy terms can make it easier to read profiles, ask questions, and move through the early stages with more confidence.
You can create an intended parent profile, create a surrogate mother profile, or browse surrogate mother profiles on SurrogateFinder.com.
SurrogateFinder.com is a matching platform, not a medical provider, legal adviser, fertility clinic, or surrogacy agency. Always seek independent legal, medical, and professional advice before entering any surrogacy arrangement.