Adopting embryos can be an enormous undertaking. In addition to stress, excitement, and the unknown—there’s also paperwork (A LOT of it), many doctor clinics, shipping logistics, and financial obligations.
The financial component of an embryo adoption can take people by surprise.
You may be surprised that adopting embryos does indeed have a cost. Or you may be pleasantly surprised doesn’t cost tens of thousands of dollars.
Whether you are working with a private agency, a clinic donation program, or you’re self-matching, there will be costs associated with your embryo adoption. The good news is that there are ways to prepare for the cost of embryo adoption.
First, you should get a thorough estimate of a cost breakdown.
This means contacting the agency or clinic you are thinking you are working with and getting the lowdown on the fees. Make sure you are getting an estimate with all fees involved and not just the base prices. Naturally, getting a more accurate breakdown is more easily done when you’re working with an agency or donation clinic. The Snowflakes Embryo Adoption Program has a helpful and thorough cost breakdown available on their website!
If you’re self-matching, you may have to do a bit more research.
Second, budgeting is key!
Once you have a clear understanding of the costs, you can create a budget that can help you begin saving toward adoption fees. Perhaps you won’t be saving all the money this way, but cutting out your $5 latte twice a week will put an extra $40 towards the adoption each month!
Third, research available grants and scholarships.
As embryo adoption is becoming more popular, there are more loans and grants that will help cover embryo adoption. Each grant and scholarship will have its own applicant requirements, as well as restrictions on what they cover. Here’s a tip: do your research fertility grants, too. They will not cover the adoption costs, but they can cover the fees incurred for your frozen embryo transfers!
Next, ask your employer.
A lesser-known way to cover adoption expenses is through an employee benefit program. Some employers (like Procter and Gamble) will cover a portion of the embryo adoption fees. Contact your human resources department and see if you have an adoption benefit and see if they would extend that to embryo adoption.
Last (but not least!), don’t forget fundraising opportunities.
Look for ways to fundraise embryo adoption costs. There are many different ways to fundraise so find one that is easy and doable for you: ask family/friends to donate to a garage sale, sell T-Shirts, crowdfund, set up a craft fair, host painting parties… The options are endless!
To learn more about embryo donation and adoption, visit EmbryoAdoption.org.
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