Choosing a Surrogacy Agency: What to Look For

**When choosing a surrogacy agency, intended parents may face a number of difficulties: there are many agencies to choose from, their offers look more or less the same, and their websites also look professional. Making a choice is especially hard if you are in another country and are encountering the topic of surrogacy for the first time — due to personal circumstances.

We will try to highlight the most important details to pay attention to when communicating with an agency representative, as well as the advantages we offer as a surrogacy agency in Georgia.**

What to Look For When Choosing an Agency

1. Immerse yourself in the topic. If I were choosing an agency for myself, first of all I would study the subject a little. Yes, it may seem boring and unnecessary — after all, you are paying money precisely so that someone else takes on all the worries! But the reality is this: if you do not understand at all how the process works, you will not be able to adequately evaluate an offer. This applies not only to surrogacy but to the purchase of any service or any intermediary service for which you are about to spend a significant part of your budget. Relying on the honesty and professionalism of a salesperson is, of course, wonderful. But understanding exactly what they are saying and where they are "fuzzy" is far more important. Do not be lazy about spending a few weeks of your time to understand how the process works, because this decision may turn out to be one of the most important in your life. Caring for your future child is best entrusted to people you fully trust.

2. Ask questions and look for reviews. Do not hesitate to ask questions and look for reviews online. Pay special attention to news in which the agency is involved in scandals with surrogate mothers, with the police, or in court proceedings.

3. Study the political situation in the country. Even though Ukraine has long been in a state of war, many couples still travel there for surrogate children. Yes, the economic factor matters, but imagine that your child is in danger. Not everyone is ready to take on such an emotional burden.

4. Understand the pricing. Think about why one agency offers higher prices for seemingly the same services, and where exactly one can cut costs. If an agency does not have its own clinic, the only way to reduce program costs is either to cut costs on your surrogate mother (her maintenance, living conditions, pregnancy management) or to reduce its own profit (coordinator salaries, income from the program).

5. Find out about the experience of the specific specialist. In the field of surrogacy, experience is of key importance. In situations where a newcomer might get confused, an experienced agent will react appropriately — in some cases this can save a pregnancy, and in others, avoid legal problems at the end of the program.

6. Request contract templates. The contract with the clinic, the surrogate mother, and the agency is the basic minimum that must be provided to you upon request. Pay attention to contracts written "in general terms." Keep in mind: if an agency sends you a contract that says nothing specific, then most likely no one owes you anything specific.

7. Make sure the surrogate mother is protected. If you want to protect your surrogate mother and be sure that she will receive the money specified by the agency for the program, make sure that her compensation will either be paid into a special escrow account or that you will be able to transfer funds directly to her bank account after the birth.

8. Clarify when you will receive the surrogate mother's data. It is important if you know your surrogate mother's data before the transfer is performed.

9. Request a free video consultation. Usually this option is available among surrogacy agencies. Prepare a list of questions that are important to you and try to get specific answers to them.

10. Trust your gut. The person who will be consulting you should be someone you like. If you do not like them, find someone else.

What Sets Pons medical research Apart

1. A boutique approach. Our agency does not work on a "mass flow of clients" — we are more of a boutique company. However, this does not mean that the quality of services will be worse. On the contrary, we take every case to heart and sincerely want to help you become parents. The main difference of working with Pons Medical is personal responsibility for every family that turns to us for help. When selecting a surrogate mother or donor for you, we genuinely strive for the best possible result. For some, we look for a younger surrogate mother; for others, a more experienced one. To some, we strongly recommend a specific donor. Why? Because every case is unique and each of you has your own medical history. With experience, we have learned to determine in which cases our efforts will be justified.

2. Flexibility for a specific request. We are always ready to help if you have a specific request — unless, of course, it is the zodiac sign of the future child (that we unfortunately cannot guarantee). But if you need specific medical examinations, specific documentation for your country of residence, or other program conditions — we are open to dialogue and ready to offer you the option closest to your request, if possible.

3. We operate within the legal framework. Everything that must be notarized is notarized. Everything that must be translated is translated and explained. Since 2026, we have brought an independent lawyer onto the program — a surrogacy expert who personally reviews your documents at the beginning and at the end of the program. There will be no surprises.

4. We take into account the legal situation in your own country. We always consider the legal situation in your country of residence. If we recommend that you contact a local lawyer, contact them. This may be a key point before starting the program.

5. A professional medical expert on our team. Edel Pons, the founder of the agency, holds a degree from the University of Oslo in Nutrition. This gives us certain advantages: we clearly understand not only the practical organization of the process but also know how to respond adequately to the medical information provided to us. We can give recommendations on supplements and diet during pregnancy. Thanks to Dr. Pons's recommendations, we have been able to improve your surrogate mothers' preparation for pregnancy and sometimes even obtain the desired embryos after improving the quality of your own oocytes and sperm.

6. Transparent reporting. We provide you with a report on your surrogate mother's medical visits along with the medical documentation (ultrasound, doctor's report, video) with translation no later than the next day after the consultation. You are always aware of what is happening with your surrogate mother. At your request, an additional doctor's visit, tests, or a video call can be arranged. We will do everything in our power to ensure your peace of mind during the program.

7. A transparent payment plan. All possible expenses are specified in the contract. The program is paid in stages, depending on the progress of the pregnancy.

8. Careful selection of surrogate mothers. We select surrogate mothers who, in our opinion, will treat the carrying of your baby most appropriately. We do not work with starving or socially vulnerable women. We work with those who understand what surrogacy is and are ready to dedicate themselves fully to this project. Our surrogate mothers are interested in a successful pregnancy. We always ask whether they have support from their family and what their current life situation is. We always give preference to women who have already successfully given birth to several healthy children.

9. No emotional rollercoasters. The surrogacy process is complex, lengthy, and emotional. We understand how sensitively you may react to certain moments — just like your surrogate mother. During pregnancy, hormones can change a woman's behavior. We always treat your emotions with understanding and learn to smooth them out.

10. Openness and staying in touch. The current situation with surrogacy in Georgia raises many questions. Surely, reading the news, you wonder: is it worth going there? What if it is unsafe? What if there are scammers? What if my surrogate mother will live in poor conditions? We do everything in our power to avoid such situations. We openly share all information with you throughout the process. We are always in touch and respond no later than the next day, and sometimes within an hour if the situation is urgent. We are ready to show you a video of the surrogate mother's place of residence or arrange a video call with her. Our contract clearly states what we promise you and what we do not. We do not disappear after the birth — we stay in touch with you even when you are already home.

At Pons Medical Research, we do our utmost to preserve the most important thing that can exist in the relationship between a surrogate mother and biological parents — humanity. After all, at bottom, we work for people. For new, little people.