As more families explore the option of embryo adoption and donation, many are surprised to discover most programs encourage an open knowledge model. Initially, some families may worry that openness means sharing parental responsibilities, but that could not be further from the truth.
The potential downsides of closed adoptions or anonymous donations were recently highlighted in a story via USA Today, where a woman, Jaclyn, discovered she was conceived via anonymous sperm donation after taking a 23&Me DNA test and has at least two hundred half-siblings. She was upset to learn that her mother had burned all the donor’s paperwork to keep the truth hidden. Today, Jaclyn deals with a brain-fluid-filled cyst in her spine that causes full-body tremors and threatens paralysis, as well as anxiety, depression, supraventricular tachycardia, and ADHD, among other problems. Because of the secrecy, Jaclyn never learned crucial information about her genetic history, including medical details that may affect her current health.
In most U.S. states, frozen embryos created via IVF are classified as property rather than persons. This means that embryo donation and adoption are legally handled through contract law, like the exchange of property. Some embryo adoption programs, however, believe that families with remaining embryos should have the right to choose who receives their embryos.
All parties—children, embryo donors, and adoptive families—benefit from this process, which incorporates the best practices from traditional adoption.
Encouraging open knowledge and communication allows programs to maintain permanent records of all matches and children born. As illustrated by the 23&Me case, this approach helps ensure that everyone involved has access to vital medical and genetic information. It also offers children a deeper connection to their heritage, the chance to learn about biological siblings, and helps avoid the identity struggles often faced by children of closed or anonymous donations.
Open adoption encourages transparency about a child’s origins, removing the secrecy often associated with adoption.
Embryo adoption programs offer flexibility, allowing embryo donors and adoptive families to determine the level of openness that works best for them. Some families may choose to keep communication through a third-party mediation service, exchanging updates and photos. Others might stay in touch through email or private social media groups. In some cases, families even form close friendships and vacation together. Whatever the arrangement, the openness avoids the roadblocks many donor-conceived children face globally. Anonymous donations may prioritize adult convenience, but open adoption prioritizes the long-term well-being of the child.
Jaclyn has since connected with some of her half-siblings, and she learned most of them currently or have at one point experienced the same medical struggles she is experiencing, including brain cysts. None of these health conditions are listed on their sperm donor’s profile, and none seem to be prevalent on their biological mother’s side of the family.
Millions of other adoptees and donor-conceived individuals find themselves in Jaclyn’s shoes. Hopefully, Jaclyn’s story and others like hers will inspire other fertility clinics and embryo adoption and donation programs to start following an open model for the ultimate benefit of the children, donors, and adoptive parents.
To learn more about embryo adoption, visit EmbryoAdoption.org.
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