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| The Psychological Side of Screening | When you decide that you will become a surrogate, no matter whether you are matched in an independent way by the couple of intended parents, or with the help of some surrogacy agency, you will have to undergo a psychological screening. The reason of it is that there is no reproductive endocrinologist, who agrees to work with any potential surrogate mother without it. In addition, there is no point to consider that if a woman is of sound mind, she will bear being a surrogate. There are people, who are mentally stable; however, they can not become surrogates for a number of reasons.
Anyway, to begin with, you should find a licensed and well – qualified psychiatrist, who has been working with surrogate mothers as well as with couples of intended parents. It should also be mentioned, that not only the surrogate mother will have to undergo the screening, the couple of intended parents are to be screened as well. Moreover, there are cases, when the husband or a male partner of a surrogate is also to undergo the psychological screening.
Every person, who gets screened, is to take a special test, which helps to identify definite personal, behavioral as well as social problems, and it is also considered to be a wonderful aid when surrogate mothers are screened. The test consists of a great number of items, which are either in form of statements or questions, the answers on they are to be true or false. About two hours are given every person to complete the test. In reality these are same questions, which are asked over and over in different formats; that is why if you would put too much thought into every answer, you can show you as try to “cheat”. The best you can do is read every question and mark the first answer, which would come into your mind. However, you should make sure that you really read every question, and not simply skim over it.
As soon as the test is passed, it needs to be scored. There are psychiatrists, who do it on their own; however, others have to send them off in order to have it scored so depending on that you will get an idea of when you are to speak with the psychiatrist. Therefore, there are clinics, which invite you to come to them for the whole day and they conduct the throughout psychological and medical screening in one day, and then you have a possibility to speak to the psychiatrist at the same day.
Anyway, you will have to come to the surrogacy agency or to the clinic along with your husband or boyfriend, in case if you have one. You should consider spending at the psychiatrist not less than one hour, as the doctor will ask you a lot of questions. Be ready to answer the questions about your past, your childhood and your present way of life. You will be asked about your addictions, if you use drugs or alcohol, if you smoke, etc. You will also have to answer the questions about your relationship with your husband or male partner, with other members of your family, with your relatives and friends. Before visiting a psychiatrist, think whether any of these people will be able to provide you support in your decision to become a surrogate mother. Be ready to answer what are your motivations for becoming a surrogate mother? The psychiatrist will ask you what relationship you would like to keep with the couple of intended parents. You will have to tell where would you like to deliver, and if you have spoken with the doctor and / or nurses about your delivery? You will also be given questions about what kind of transfer it will be, fresh or frozen, what will occur, in case if you will not get pregnant from the first attempt. Be ready to answer the questions about the medicines you will be given and how would you feel about giving yourself shots.
In addition, you should also remember, that you will have to abstain from having sexual contacts for some period of time. That is why you will have to answer the question how you and your male partner feel about it.
Mind, that you can also get pregnant with multiples. The doctor will ask you questions how you feel about that. Are you ready to have a prolonged bed –rest, caesarean section, etc. How do you feel about the very process of delivery? The psychiatrist will really try to get into your mind and figure you out. But the only thing you can do about it is to take it easy, and remember that it is for the best.
You should keep in mind that you are not the first and of course, not the last surrogate mother in the world and every potential surrogate as well as every couple of intended parents is to go through it.
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