You have made the decision to adopt embryos. You are embarking on a miraculous and life changing journey. Now comes the next big decision; where do I start?
There are so many options when it comes to adopting embryos that it can be overwhelming, or even daunting. Should I self-match with someone through a Facebook group? On the other hand, should I go through an embryo adoption program?
The most common options that hopeful parents select are going with an embryo adoption program or a clinic donation program.
While they may seem relatively similar, there are actually some significant differences. If you are deciding which route will be best for your family, here are three major differences between embryo adoption agencies and clinic donation programs that you need to know.
1. Anonymity is the standard practice in clinic donation programs
Families often choose open adoptions or directed donations because studies indicate these options best serve everyone involved. Maintaining a genetic connection can be essential for adoptees and a valuable resource for adoptive parents. However, anonymity remains common in clinic donation programs. If you go through a clinic program, you may know very little information about the family who provided the embryos. These programs typically involve patients who created embryos to grow their family and chose to donate them without wanting to know the resulting children or their parents. Clinics often treat this as a medical procedure, while embryo adoption agencies approach it as an adoption. Agencies collect health histories from the placing families, establish contracts, and work with families who genuinely wish to know if any children are born from their embryos.
2. Clinic donation programs split embryos between multiple patients
Many families pursue embryo adoption, often after facing infertility and dream of having multiple children. Clinic donation programs can make this wish more complex; they often divide a set of embryos among several patients. For example, if one family donates six embryos, the clinic might split them by giving two embryos to each of three families, or even one embryo to six different families. This can be concerning for prospective adoptive parents, as these families are often in the same geographic area, increasing the risk of genetic siblings unknowingly interacting—or even dating.
In contrast, embryo adoption programs, such as Snowflakes Embryo Adoption, ship embryos across the United States to the adoptive family’s clinic, ensuring that all embryos from one family stay together. This approach not only reduces the chance of unknown interactions between genetic siblings but also allows the adoptive family to expand their family with multiple children who are biologically related to each other. Additionally, it provides more transfer opportunities if the first attempt isn’t successful, avoiding the need for additional fees for individual embryos as with some clinic programs.
3. Knowledge and communication is available through embryo adoption programs
In clinic donation programs, the adoptive family has no contact with the embryo donors, which can limit access to important genetic information. If a child born later wants to connect with their genetic family, they won’t have direct avenues to do so. While DNA testing may help them find genetic relatives, there is no guarantee they’ll be able to establish contact. This can also concern adoptive parents; for instance, if the child has an allergic reaction and needs information on family medical history, this resource would not be available.
Embryo adoption programs, however, build communication into their agreements. Adoptive and embryo donors work together to establish a communication plan that meets both families’ comfort levels. These agreements often allow for contact until the child reaches eighteen, after which the child can choose to continue the relationship if they wish.
Giving embryos a chance at life is a unique and meaningful opportunity. With various options available, it’s important to research them carefully to make the best choice for you. If you prefer an open adoption, hope to welcome multiple children, and want the possibility of staying in contact with the placing family, embryo adoption may be the ideal fit. Although it may require some extra effort compared to a clinic donation, the benefits of these connections can make it well worth pursuing.
To learn more about embryo donation and adoption, visit EmbryoAdoption.org.
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