California Center for Reproductive Medicine, also known as CACRM, is a fertility clinic in Encinitas, California, that runs its own surrogacy and egg donation program in house. It was founded by Dr. Lori L. Arnold, MD, who serves as its medical director. Rather than functioning as a third-party matching agency, the clinic says it operates its own surrogacy program, with the medical practice directing the process from the same place where treatment takes place.
For intended parents, that means the clinic is both the medical provider and the program coordinating the surrogacy arrangement: IVF and embryo transfer, egg donation when it is needed, and the matching and management of gestational carriers. According to its website, no retainers are required up front. Fee information is published, and the details appear further down this page.
The clinic works with intended parents who are LGBTQ+, single, or living outside the United States, alongside those pursuing surrogacy after infertility treatment. It is a for-profit organization with roughly 30 people on staff, based at a single location in Encinitas in northern San Diego County.
Surrogates applying to the program are expected to have had at least one prior pregnancy and to be raising a child in their own home, among other criteria. The full eligibility requirements, compensation range, and any licensing and BBB information appear in the tables below.
Because CACRM is a medical practice first, working with it generally means receiving care and surrogacy coordination through the same team, which is a different structure from agencies that match intended parents and surrogates and then refer them to an outside fertility clinic.
AI summary of 9 reviews · can make mistakes
Most reviewers describe a positive experience, often mentioning a caring, welcoming staff and a physician-led team that gives clear plans and answers questions promptly. Several reviewers credit the clinic with success after earlier attempts elsewhere had not worked. A minority were unhappy, describing poor communication and follow-through, along with billing and payment problems.
9 reviews match these filters.
“The child is born!” Those four simple words have been long-awaited for ten years by our overseas relatives and their families! The joy, excitement, smiles, relief, and happiness were beyond words that could describe the true feelings of experiencing and witnessing the birth of the new-born baby from the delivery room! All thanks to Dr. Arnold and her amazing team who made the once-unreachable dream come true! It was a long and determined story of wanting a baby for ten years from our overseas relatives who tried numerous methods and medications, visited so many different doctors and hospitals, experienced heart-broken miscarriage, and etc. In January 2025 our overseas relatives came to visit us. With their permission, we made an alteration to their travel plan to visit a few reproductive clinics in our area. During our contacts and visits, one clinic raised their price from our initial meeting and the other did the test on our overseas relatives but no test results were given or any kind of follow-ups. When we introduced them to Dr. Arnold, she and her office staff greeted them with open arms, big smiles, and solid plans to help them reach their dream, having a baby! Having gone through ten years of hopes, disappointments, and struggles, with over 25-year of reproductive practices and success in Dr.Arnold, our overseas relatives decided to give it a try under the supervision of Dr. Arnold. Since that day, systematic and detailed plans were given and carefully monitored by Dr. Arnold and her team. Our overseas relatives were enthusiastically and fully engaged and carried out. Step by step, one medication after another, one mock cycle after another, one test after another, the miracle started taking place! The pregnancy was successfully progressing month after month and the baby was growing healthy and well in her womb!!! We are so happy and thankful to Dr. Arnold and her team, who provided instructions clearly and explicitly and answered our questions promptly and patiently throughout the process! They are wonderful to work with and they are super helpful and supportive along the way!!! Thank you, thank you, Dr. Arnold and your great team from the bottom of our hearts!!! You made the impossible possible!!! You are the angels!!!
View on Google (opens in a new tab)La clinique CACRM a été durant notre process de GPA exemplaire. tous a fonctionné à la première tentative. Evelyn qui parle un magnifique français et a une très grande connaissance de notre culture nous a accompagnés avec tact et précision. Le Dr Arnold a été précise et claire dans toute sa communication. nous les recommandons vivement.
View on Google (opens in a new tab)I am deeply disappointed by my experience with this surrogacy clinic. What should have been a compassionate, supportive process instead became stressful, frustrating, and disheartening. From the beginning, communication was poor, inconsistent, and often dismissive. I frequently felt unheard and left in the dark during an already emotional time. The most upsetting part is that after I clearly decided not to move forward with this clinic—and despite the fact that I never signed a contract—I was still sent a bill. Being invoiced without a signed CONTRACT felt completely inappropriate and incredibly upsetting. It added unnecessary financial stress and made the entire experience feel unethical and transactional rather than supportive. There was little transparency, unmet expectations, and a noticeable lack of care for the emotional and financial impact this process has on intended parents and emotional impact on A SURROGATE were not taken seriously, and follow-through was poor. Surrogacy is a life-changing decision that requires trust, professionalism, and compassion. Unfortunately, this clinic failed on all three. I strongly caution anyone considering them to proceed carefully, ask very detailed questions, and ensure everything is clearly documented before engaging with this clinic.
View on Google (opens in a new tab)I got in contact with this agency via a coworker in March 2025. That’s when i met Monica and she started my process with me being her first patient/client. She has basically held my hand through the whole process and made me feel extremely comfortable. The whole staff is amazing, welcoming, caring and treat you with extreme care. I recommend Monica as your person and i recommend this clinic for all of your IVF and surrogacy needs.
View on Google (opens in a new tab)Google reviews are shown as written and link to the original. Forum, Yelp and Trustpilot entries are our short summaries of what was posted, linked to the source. Reviewer type is inferred from what each reviewer wrote.
Base compensation
Up to $125,000
Published by the agency. Benefits and allowances are usually on top of this.
Requirements change — confirm with the agency before applying.
See which agencies fit youCACRM accepts gestational surrogates between 21 and 44 years old.
CACRM requires surrogates to have a BMI of 30 or lower.
Yes. CACRM requires surrogates to have had at least 1 prior pregnancy.
Yes. CACRM requires surrogates to be raising at least one child of their own.
