You are starting a parental project with a surrogate. This means you are working with a woman (the gestational carrier or surrogate mother) who will carry the pregnancy for you. The steps outlined below explain what you need to know.
STEP 1: Initial Consultation with the Doctor (Visit #1)
During your first visit, the doctor will explain:
- How to make sure everyone is safe and well-informed.
- What steps are needed before the pregnancy can begin.
- What a surrogacy project involves and what makes someone an ideal surrogate.
What makes an ideal surrogate?
- She is between 21 and 41 years old at the time of embryo transfer.
- She is healthy (e.g. no high blood pressure, no diabetes).
- She is a non-smoker.
- She does not take part in risky or dangerous behaviours.
- She wants to help for kind and unselfish reasons.
- Her body mass index (BMI) is less than 30 (this means she has a healthy weight).
- She has had between 1 and 5 children.
- She has had no more than 2 C-sections (caesarian section).
You, the intended parent(s) and your surrogate must separately attend a three-hour psychosocial information session. This session is intended to provide information about the psychological and social implications of using a surrogate, and can be done with a psychologist, a family therapist, a midwife or a sexologist. Upon completion, participants receive a signed certificate confirming their attendance.
Typically, the intended parents reimburse the surrogate for fees associated with the information session.
Everyone taking part in the surrogacy project must meet with a psychologist. This meeting helps everyone understand the process and prepare emotionally.
This one-on-one meeting is in addition to the three-hour Information session, and both parties, intended parents and surrogate, must attend separate meetings.
Following your initial appointment at the MUHC Reproductive Centre, we invite you to schedule this session with psychologist who specializes in third-party reproduction.
You will need to pay the professional fees for the information session and orientation with the psychologist (for you and the surrogate). These fees are separate from the MUHC Reproductive Centre and are paid directly to the provider, not to the clinic.
You, your surrogate, and the surrogate's partner (if applicable) will need to do blood and urine tests. These tests check for infections and diseases that could affect the surrogate and the baby. The tests will vary depending on whether the embryos meet Health Canada standards.
All serology tests for intended parents are valid for 12 months. If after 12 months the embryos have not been used, the tests must be repeated.
Serology test - if embryos meet Health Canada standards
If the embryos are Health Canada compliant (this means the intended parent(s) were tested like donors), you will need to do basic serology (blood and urine tests to check for infectious diseases.)
The tests can be done in any Quebec lab. If you choose the McGill University Health Centre, here is where to go:
Glen Site Blood Test Centre
1001 Decarie Blvd.
2nd floor of Block D (south side) Room D 02.2307
Bring the test requisition to your appointment.
Serology tests - if embryos DO NOT meet Health Canada standards
If the embryos are not Health Canada compliant (this means the egg or sperm providers were not tested like donors), then extra tests and steps are needed to help keep everyone safe. This can happen if:
- The egg or sperm provider’s blood work was not done at the Dynacare laboratory
- The treatment plan did not include surrogacy at the beginning
In these cases, the people who provided the eggs and sperm to create the embryos will need to do additional blood tests and checks to reduce health risks for the surrogate and the baby:
- Physical exam
- Health questionnaire (Initial Screening Form)
- Complete serology (infectious disease testing) and blood group:
This serology testing (blood and urine test) can ONLY be done at the following clinic:
Clinique Médicale Quorum
800 Maisonneuve East Blvd.
Montreal, QC H2L 4L8
Note: the specific hours during which you can do the tests at Quorum will be communicated to you by the coordinator. Be sure to bring all pages of your Dynacare requisition.
Fees for serology testing may apply:
Fees for RAMQ-covered cycles: one (1) Dynacare testing (serology) is covered for the egg provider and the sperm provider. Additional fees apply when:
- in male-male parental projects, there is a second sperm provider
- tests need to be repeated
Fees for non-RAMQ covered cycles: one (1) Dynacare testing (serology) for the egg provider and the sperm provider is included in the treatment fee. Additional fees apply when:
- tests need to be repeated
In preparation for your follow-up consultation with the doctor:
If the embryos created do not follow Health Canada rules:
Print, complete, and sign before Visit #2:
Print, complete and sign before Visit #3:
- RAMQ Undertaking Form (if applicable)
- 301-E- Surrogacy Frozen Embryo Replacement Cycle (FERC) - must be signed by you and the surrogate
Before visit #2 can be scheduled, send to [email protected] the following:
- Psychology Report
- Completed Initial Screening Form(s) (only applicable if embryos do not follow Health Canada rules)
- Surrogate Details:
- Full name
- Health insurance number (RAMQ)
- Address
- Telephone
The Third-Party Nurse Coordinator will make sure all your papers and test results have been received. After that, she will book your next appointment.
STEP 2. Intended Parent(s) - Follow-up Consultation with the Doctor ( Visit #2)
During this visit, the doctor will review the:
- blood test results
- psychologist's report
- Initial Screening Form(s), if applicable
- physical exam(s), if appliable
If all the results are acceptable, you will wait for Visit #3. The Third-Party Nurse Coordinator will schedule this visit after the doctor has looked at all of your surrogate’s test results, including the psychology report and the Initial Screening Form.
Note: Depending on her test results or health risks, the surrogate may need more tests, to see a specialist, or to meet with the Ethics Committee.
At any time, if the team at the MUHC Reproductive Centre is worried about the surrogate’s safety or the baby’s safety, the project will be stopped.
We recommend waiting before starting the process with the notary until your surrogate has been checked and confirmed as a good candidate for your project (after the third visit).
STEP 3. Discussion Regarding the Surrogate (Visit #3)
Please print, complete and sign, and bring the following documents to the appointment:
- 301-E- Surrogacy Frozen Embryo Replacement Cycle (FERC) (if not already submitted by the surrogate)
- RAMQ Undertaking Form (if applicable)
During this visit, the doctor will talk with you about important information regarding the surrogate. If the surrogate is cleared to proceed with the project, and you feel ready to move forward, you will be informed to start the notary agreement.
STEP 4. Notary Agreement
The visit and notarized agreement confirm that you and the surrogate understand the surrogacy process and agree to it. The agreement also clearly explains everyone’s rights and responsibilities and follows the law in Quebec. This helps keep the process safe and fair for the intended parents, the surrogate and the baby.
Before finalizing and signing, the notary will require that you and the intended parents attend the 3-hour information session. Bring the certificate of attendance to the notary.
Once the agreement is signed, send only the proof (attestation) of the notarized agreement to [email protected] Do not send the full agreement.
STEP 5. Payment
Proceed with the required payment if your project is not covered by the RAMQ (or if there are additional fees not covered by RAMQ).
- If you are eligible for RAMQ coverage, you and your partner (if applicable) must complete the RAMQ Undertaking Form..
- For information regarding the eligibility criteria, please visit the government website Québec.ca
- If you have questions regarding eligibility or insured services, please contact the RAMQ.
Visit the Pricing and Policies section of our website for more information.
Once we receive your payment (or the RAMQ undertaking forms) and proof of the notarized agreement, the Third-Party Coordinator will schedule the next appointments to plan the embryo transfer with the surrogate.
STEP 6. Pregnancy Test
The pregnancy blood test is usually done 11-13 days following the embryo transfer. The surrogate will be informed of the result and following instructions.
General Public Information on Surrogacy
Lignes directrices sur la prise en charge des demandes de services de procréation médicalement assistée impliquant une grossesse pour autrui (French only)
Rules for surrogacy where all parties live in Québec | Gouvernement du Québec
Having a Child with the Help of a Surrogate | Éducaloi
Last Updated: January 23, 2026