After patiently waiting, Ellen and Tim are finally matched with four embryos! They are now working on finishing up the contract portion of their adoption. The Snowflakes Embryo Adoption Program matched the couple with a family via a mutual matching process, which takes both families’ preferences into account before the match. However, not every adoption agency or clinic donation program follows this matching method. There are a few different processes programs or agencies use:
Adopter-driven – This matching model is handled mainly by the adopting family. The National Embryo Donation Center uses this model. The adopting family has their preferences at hand, and receives a list of all the donor families they can potentially match with. Once the adopting family picks a match, the NEDC handles the legal work between the families.
Donor-driven – This matching model is managed primarily by the donors. The National Registry for Adoption uses this process. Through the website, adopting families contact a donating family, letting them know their interest in receiving embryos. The donor families then can look through the different profiles of the families who contact them, and choose the family they would like to match with. The NRFA does not help with the legal contracts between the families, instead letting the families handle that on their own time.
Mutual Matching – This matching model takes into account both the donor and the adoptive families’ preferences when considering a potential match. As stated above, the Snowflakes Embryo Adoption Program uses this model. The agency examines both families’ preferences, and when one is found the donor family is sent the match first. If the donors agree, the adopting family is notified, and gets to agree or disagree to the match. If both parties agree, the Snowflakes handles the contract and legal work between the two families
Self-Matching – This model is commonly used when the donor and adopters personally know each other. The families need to handle the legal, clinic, and shipping logistics on their own. It is common for the adopting family to cover past storage bills for donor families, and all legal expenses incurred by both families. But any transfer of payment should go directly to a clinic or attorney and never directly to the donor family. It is illegal in the United States to buy and sell embryos.
We wish Ellen and Tim the best as they wait for their embryos to ship and the medical preparation. You can watch Tim and Ellen’s vlog on being matched and their contract process here. To learn more about embryo adoption agencies and clinic donation programs, visit EmbryoAdoption.org.
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