On July 25, 1978, in a sleepy suburb of Manchester, England named Oldham, a baby girl given the name Louise was born.
What was so special about Louise Brown? She was the first baby born who was conceived outside of the body. Here we are in July 2023, and over eight million babies have been born using in vitro fertilization [IVF]. In 2019, it was estimated that 2.5+ million IVF cycles are performed annually resulting in a whopping half-million babies.
In the United States alone, there are more than 1.5 million embryos in frozen storage. In 1997, when the first embryo adoption program was establishes there were less than 400,000 embryos in frozen storage. Four-hundred thousand embryos remaining embryos from IVF was the impetus behind the creation of the Snowflakes Embryo Adoption Program. It was established to help families who had embryos that they were not planning to use for their own family building choose a family who would adopt those embryos and give birth to them.
These embryos in storage created for IVF cycles were intended to become babies.
Now, in addition to the Snowflakes Program, many organizations have established ways for remaining embryos to be used for reproduction.
Fertility clinics have internal embryo donation programs that allow patients of that clinic to donate embryos anonymously to waiting patients of that same clinic.
There are other non-profit organizations that provide websites that allow donors and adopters to self-match.
Other non-agency programs have devised different schemes for attracting embryo donors and matching them to embryo recipients.
The Snowflakes Program is a division of an adoption agency that has state licensure and is accredited by the Council on Accreditation. It is the only embryo adoption program with this level of oversite.
Embryo donation and adoption has been proven to provide a positive, life-giving solution for remaining embryos.
Do you have embryos in frozen storage? Consider donating them to another family who will joyfully give them an opportunity to be born.
Have you had multiple unsuccessful IVF transfers? Many adopting families have found success building their family through embryo adoption.
Learn more about your options for embryo adoption and donation at EmbryoAdoption.org.
Recent Comments