10 things you may not know about Embryo Donation and Adoption

Jun 6, 2011

While Embryo Donation and Adoption is becoming more and more common, there are still several lesser-known aspects to the process.  Here are ten facts you might not have known about this unique adoption and fertility alternative:

1. Embryo adoption and donation is generally less expensive than domestic or international adoption.

2. Couples with a single frozen embryo remaining after IVF can still donate the embryo for adoption.

3. The age of a frozen embryo doesn’t affect its ability to be donated. Embryos created and frozen in 1989 are just as welcome as embryos from 2010.

4. There is typically no cost to donate frozen embryos for adoption. 

5. Embryo donation and adoption allows adopting mothers to experience the joy of pregnancy. 

6. Several agencies (listed on EmbryoAdoption.org) handle all of the logistics of embryo adoption and donation including donor/adopter matching, shipment of frozen embryos and legal contracts.

7. Most experts advise to transfer no more than three frozen embryos in a single embryo transfer (FET) cycle.

8. Unused embryos that were thawed for an embryo transfer can be refrozen. Children have been born from embryos which have been frozen and thawed more than once.

9. Women who use their own frozen embryos from IVF will have a 32% chance of achieving pregnancy, whereas women using adopted frozen embryos will have a 35% chance [Fertility and Sterility, September 2007].

10. Some couples who have completed their embryo adoption in court have applied for and received the adoption tax credit.

You can read more about all of these facts at www.embryoadoption.org. 

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