What Happens to Donor Embryos After You’ve Been Matched with an Adopting Family

Families who donate their remaining frozen embryos for adoption are eager for the day they match an adopting family. Donor families experience many feelings when that day arrives; they may experience feelings of sadness and grief along with joy and excitement that they are helping another couple become parents. One thing many couples wonder about, though, is what happens once their remaining embryos have been matched with a family for a frozen embryo adoption?

If you are working with an adoption agency, adopting parents will need to complete a home study, though some adopting families may have already completed this step in anticipation of the adoption. Next, the agency will ensure that the adopting family is working with a fertility clinic who can assist in the transfer of the frozen embryos. If they don’t have one, they’ll help them find one that is experienced and knowledgeable in the process. They’ll then complete any testing and preparation that’s required, and then the transfer will take place.

For the donating family, there will be little required of you, aside from signing the legal paperwork to transfer ownership of your embryos to the adopting family. If you are participating in an open adoption, you’ll be able to look forward to hearing if the transfer was successful, and nine months later, about the birth of their adopted child. The adopting agency or clinic you work with will help to keep you informed and give you the information you need every step of the way. If you’d like to learn more about donating your remaining frozen embryos, visit www.embryoadoption.org today.