Reproductive Law Services
What is Embryo Donation and Adoption?
- Embryo adoption is a new process in which individuals who have their own frozen embryos agree to release them to an adopting family.
- When a family has been successful through treatments such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), there are sometimes remaining frozen embryos that were unused.
- Donor families interested can choose to donate these unused embryos for adoption. This allows the adoptive family to experience pregnancy and childbirth.
- Many families experience difficulties with fertility but are able to carry a pregnancy. Our program will provide services for all types of families looking to expand their family through embryo adoption.
- The donor family relinquishes their parental rights before the embryo(s) is/are transferred. Once transferred, the adopting family has all legal rights to the embryo(s).
Looking to Adopt embryos?
Information for Donating Families
Maybe you are just starting the process of IVF, or just finishing. But every couple going through IVF treatment needs to decide what to do with the remaining embryos, if there are any. Embryo donation and adoption is a great choice for many families. You will be giving another family an opportunity to have a child of their own.
A Baby Step Adoption will make the process as easy for you as possible. You decide the type of involvement you would like. Some donating parents do so anonymously, while others like to choose the family the embryos are going to and keep contact with the receiving family. It's up to you.
If you are interested in learning more about our embryo adoption program, click here to receive more information from our agency.
Frequently Asked Questions for Donating Families
Q: What are the costs to genetic parents?
A: There are no fees to genetic parents. Depending upon your embryo donation contract, you may be entitled to reimbursements for certain expenses such as storage fees.
Q: What type of contact do the donating parents have with the adoptive family?
A: There is a lot of flexibility in regards to contact, both before and after the transfer. The choice is up to you, the donating parents. Some donating parents choose to donate completely anonymously. Others want to choose the couple and have on-going contact. Again, it's up to you.
Q: Who can participate in embryo donation?
A: Anyone with remaining frozen embryos who have completed successful IVF treatment can donate their remaining embryos. We work with donor couples from all over the country. Our agency will take care of contacting your storage clinic and transferring the embryos.
Q: How much work is involved on my part?
A: We do as much as we can to keep the work on your end as minimal as possible. If certain blood work has already been completed by the clinic, then all that is required from you is a little bit of paperwork to fill out. It's that simple!
Q: What happens to embryos that are donated but unused?
A: This again is up to you. Some couples choose to leave it up to the adoptive family to decide. Others choose to have them returned.
Information for Embryo Adoptive Families
Embryo adoption is a great option for women who can carry a child but unable to use their own embryos. It is less expensive than traditional adoption and gives women the chance to experience pregnancy.
Fertility clinics usually implant two to three embryos at a time, based on the clinics recommendations and the willingness of the couple to carry all embryos that implant to term. This is also dependent of the donating couples willing to allow the adoptive couple to reduce if necessary.
There is a lot of variety in terms of contact with the donor parents by the adoptive family, both before and after the transfer. Some donor parents prefer to choose the adoptive family while others have complete anonymity. After the transfer the contact varies from completely open to no contact at all. This is worked out between the two parties.
If the first embryo implantation does not result in a pregnancy, two more matches will be included in the agency fee at no additional cost. This could be with the same donor parents or the adoptive family may choose another donating couple. There will be an additional cost through the fertility clinic.
The adopting family may use a surrogate as well to carry the adopted embryo.
Step by step process of Embryo Adoption:
- Receive an information packet and application from Adoption Associates.
- Obtain a doctor's note stating that there are “no contraindications to pregnancy” for the woman who plans on carrying the child.
- Hold initial meeting with Adoption Associates to discuss embryo adoption, matching criteria, embryo adoption education, and all legal and adoptive requirements, including medical, genetic and social profile and history.
- Create a family profile, if not already completed. Include letter to donor couple expressing desire for contact and multiple children.
- Completion of home study.
- Matching process will begin with donor couple.
- Once a successful match is made, contracts are signed for all parties involved.
- Adoptive mother medically prepares to receive embryo, including but not limited to use of medications such as antibiotics, oral contraceptives, pituitary suppressors, estrogen supplements, progesterone, and prenatal vitamins.
- Embryos are transported to the adopting couples' clinic.
- Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET) is scheduled.
- On-going adoptive counseling as necessary to aid adoptive couple throughout pregnancy or new match if necessary.
Frequently Asked Questions for Embryo Adoptive Families
Q: Who can participate in embryo adoption?
A: Embryo adoption is open to all types of families. Any woman who can carry a pregnancy to term is eligible. It is recommended but not required that the woman carrying the pregnancy is under the age of 50.
Q: What information will be given to the adopting family about the genetic parents?
A: A medical history and a family profile on the genetic parents is provided to the adoptive family, giving you the information needed to find the match that is right for you.
Q: What is the success rate for thawing and viability of embryos? What is the success rate of implantation of embryos?
A: The average overall success rate for thawing embryos is 50 to 75%. Regarding implantation, there is a 35% chance of a successful implantation for embryo adoption, up from 32% for IVF.
Q: Do I have to travel for the implantation?
A: No. You can use a clinic near you that you are comfortable with. If you don't have a clinic you are working with, we have several in the Pennsylvania that can help. We will take care of the shipment and delivery of the embryos to you.
Q: What information will I receive regarding the donating family?
A: Adoptive families are provided with a medical history and family profile on the genetic/donor parents. This gives the adoptive family all the information needed to the find the match that is right for them. The FDA requires all parents who create embryos to have their blood screened twice for infectious diseases.
Q: When do donor parents relinquish their rights to the embryos?
A: The donor family relinquishes parental rights before the embryo(s) is transferred. Once transferred, the adoptive family has all legal rights to the embryo(s). The couple who gives birth to the child is recognized by the state as the infant's legal parents.
Surrogacy and Gestational Carriers
Some women, due to age or medical concerns, are unable to carry a child to term. Surrogacy is a wonderful way for a couple to have a child through the help of another woman.
Some couples choose to use their own egg, sperm or embryo, while others use donations of any of the above. A Baby Step Adoption will work with you throughout whichever means works best for you and your family.
A Baby Step Adoption works with surrogates, gestational carriers and couples around the country to find the match that is right for you. All carriers are required to have prior psychological screening and background checks, as well as be in good health and have had at least one successful pregnancy. You will have consistent contact with her throughout the entire pregnancy. Both parties meet first to review all contractual agreements with our attorney, Barbara Casey. You will have support from our adoption support counselors throughout the process and beyond.
Gestational Surrogacy The intended parents create embryos that are transferred to the surrogate mother, who carries the child for you but maintains no genetic link. The eggs can be provided by either the intended mother, or the parents can used donated eggs or donated embryos.
Traditional Surrogacy
The intended father provides sperm and the surrogate mother uses her egg. The surrogate mother carries the embryo and has a genetic link to the child. The intended parents then petition the court to change the birth certificate to the intended parents.
If you are interested in learning more about our surrogacy program, contact us to receive more information from our agency.