Everything you wanted to know about IVF embryo adoption, explained by experts.
Everything you wanted to know about IVF embryo adoption, explained by experts
Embryo adoption, also known as embryo donation, is an IVF procedure indicated when both members of the couple cannot become parents using their own eggs and sperm. In this case, couples who have undergone IVF and do not wish to use all their embryos, can offer them to other couples, giving them a chance to parenthood.
It is possible that couples who undergo In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) will create more embryos (fertilized eggs) than they need. For example, this may be the case when couples have twins or triplets via IVF.
When this happens, the extra embryos may be frozen, using a method called cryopreservation, so that they can be used in the future.
However, sometimes the couple may choose not to use these embryos at all. These patients can either have their embryos:
Embryo donation is a valuable gift to couples struggling with infertility, giving them the ability to become parents.
Most often this involves a frozen embryo transfer (FET), following the relevant IVF embryo freezing process. In rare cases, the donor’s and the recipient’s ovulation cycles coincide, so fresh embryos are used.
Embryo adoption is the perfect solution for many fertility patients, including:
The IVF Process Timeline for the woman undergoing IVF through embryo donation, is similar to the classic IVF method: the egg recipient’s endometrium is prepared by hormone therapy to receive the embryos.
Once the woman’s health status is confirmed, a full pelvic examination is performed, and the embryo transfer date is set.
In most cases, the donor couple jointly signs a special form, declaring that they waive all rights and donate the embryos anonymously and without financial compensation to unknown recipients.
The receiving couple may choose to adopt embryos from a couple with similar characteristics to theirs.
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