As the number of people using in vitro fertilization (IVF) to grow their families continues to rise, so does the number of frozen embryos being stored.
Many IVF patients have embryos in storage that they will not use, while there are other families who wish to adopt these embryos—for the opportunity to give birth to their child while also giving embryos the chance to be born. Embryo adoption provides a solution for both of these parties!
If you are considering adopting embryos or placing embryos for adoption this year, below are some important points to consider.
Fertility Clinics Play a Critical Role
If you have embryos you wish to place with an adopting family, they may be stored at an off-site storage facility or (most often) at the fertility clinic where they were created.
There are several factors related to clinics that affect patients who desire to place embryos:
1. In the U.S., the length of time clinics are required to keep medical records varies by state. In some instances, the requirement may be as little as two years. Patients who wait several years before attempting to place their embryos for adoption are sometimes disappointed to learn that the necessary embryology records no longer exist, which makes it impossible to match the embryos with an adoptive family. For this reason, it is important to make a decision regarding your embryos as soon as possible to give them every chance to be born.
2. While many programs, such as Snowflakes®, do not charge any program fees to clients who are placing embryos for adoption, clinics may have fees that they assess. Increasingly, clinics are adding fees for such services as helping coordinate the release of embryos from their facility, often called “transfer out” fees.
3. Fertility clinics make the ultimate decision on which third-party embryos they will accept into their facilities. Embryos that have been frozen for longer periods, using a now outdated freezing method, are less likely to be accepted at many clinics. This is another reason that placing families should make decisions about embryo disposition sooner rather than later.
4. Fertility clinics may be hesitant to continue storing embryos for patients who have decided they will not be doing further FETs with them. It is recommended that placing families consider transferring their embryos to an off-site storage facility when considering embryo donation. Not only will this make the eventual shipping process run more smoothly, but it is generally much less expensive to store embryos at one of these facilities than at a clinic.
For those who are adopting embryos, fertility clinics again play a major role. Some factors to be aware of:
1. The fertility clinic you choose to perform your frozen embryo transfer (FET) may not accept the embryos you match with. Their reasons may be related to age, freeze method, age of egg donor, or other factors. Many embryo adoption programs work with a network of fertility clinics throughout the U.S., so they are aware of each clinic’s requirements for embryos and consider that when matching families. However, if you self-match or use another matching program that requires you to find your own fertility clinic, it is important to be aware of their requirements for accepting embryos, and if they even accept third-party embryos.
2. While embryo adoption or matching programs assess fees for their services, they do not control what fees fertility clinics charge and the amount of those fees. It is important to ask for this information from your clinic at the outset of your embryo adoption journey to avoid any unpleasant surprises.
Eligibility
Embryo-matching programs have specific eligibility criteria for adopting parents. For example, couples may be required to be under a certain age or have been married a specific length of time. Many times, families assume that they must be able to carry a pregnancy; however, it is important to note that it may be permissible through some programs to use a gestational carrier.
People are Waiting Longer to Have Children
The CDC recently reported that women are waiting longer to have their first child. Since 1970, when the average first-time mother was just over 21 years old, the age has steadily increased. While there are likely many factors contributing to this trend, it has had an impact on fertility and adoption. It is important for placing parents to recognize that many adopting parents may already be in their forties when they begin their pursuit of embryo adoption. Being willing to match with what may have previously been considered an “older” adoptive parent or couple will result in a decreased wait time to receive a match.
As embryo adoption continues to provide a meaningful path for both placing and adopting families, thoughtful and timely decision-making has never been more important.
Whether you are planning for the future of your remaining embryos or hoping to welcome a child through embryo adoption, understanding the role of fertility clinics, eligibility requirements, and shifting family-building trends will help you navigate the process with clarity. By acting proactively and remaining open to the wide range of families seeking to grow through embryo adoption, you can ensure the best possible chance for these embryos to be given the opportunity to be born—and for hopeful parents to experience the profound gift of parenthood.
To learn more about embryo adoption and donation, visit EmbryoAdoption.org.
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