Embryo Adoption

[Anonymous]

NP here. Thanks to the posters who posted on this thread. Now that our twins are preschoolers, we're finally ready to pass on our frozen embryos to another family. I spent some time reviewing the suggestions on this site and decided on a program that fit our needs and we will be working on donating our embryos to another family through one of the programs listed here. As a lurker, I appreciated reading the suggestions forwarded to OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have one we'd love to give away for free at least on our part. It's been frozen for several years though. We just haven't had the time to go through any of these organizations nor did the fertility place give us any information to help us find an adoption site. It's locally held I believe. One of our children was conceived through this same cycle with one extra embryo. I was having complications physically so we just decided to use one of them. We have two healthy children now and just would like to donate the embryo to a couple instead of for research. Would anyone be interested?

Oh wow, you are so generous! We are Shady Grove patients and just got our 3rd IVF negative last week after 4 Failed IUIs. Is your embryo still available? We would be interested in discussing this possibility.

Yes it is.

[Anonymous]

NP - We've exhausted our financial resources on IVF and desperately want a child; I'm hoping we can adopt an embryo soon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have one we'd love to give away for free at least on our part. It's been frozen for several years though. We just haven't had the time to go through any of these organizations nor did the fertility place give us any information to help us find an adoption site. It's locally held I believe. One of our children was conceived through this same cycle with one extra embryo. I was having complications physically so we just decided to use one of them. We have two healthy children now and just would like to donate the embryo to a couple instead of for research. Would anyone be interested?

Oh wow, you are so generous! We are Shady Grove patients and just got our 3rd IVF negative last week after 4 Failed IUIs. Is your embryo still available? We would be interested in discussing this possibility.

Yes it is.

Thank you for responding. Please email me at. Jrzygrrl at verizon dot net so we can discuss this. We really appreciate it!

[Anonymous]

Snowflakes does not make any religious requirements of either party involved in an embryo adoption. This is b/c they act as "matchmaker" between the parents/owners of the embryo(s) and the potential recipients. Snowflakes' religious perspective is that they want to maximize the # of "snowflake" babies gestated--even if an embryo doesn't make it to birth, that's okay b/c God got the chance to decide if it would be born or not (I think). Since people usually want their embryo(s) adopted by people with similar values, Snowflakes actually wants to recruit adoptive clients who are NOT conservative Christians in order to make more matches between families.

Snowflakes does require a full home study with a specific reference to embryo adoption. This is pricey, of course, unless you already have one or are doing one. This was our situation, and Adoptions Together was fine with adding that section to our home study. As I recall, Snowflakes' fees were a lot less than we would have paid to be "in the pool" at a second adoption agency.

We were just about to get into the match process with Snowflakes when we got a match through AT for an infant adoption, so that was as far as we got with Snowflakes.

However before this happened we had already lined up a doctor to do the embryo transfer, and I can recommend working with GWU Hospital's fertility dept. They were unfamiliar with donor-directed embryo donation, but open to the concept. Also, as part of a big hospital they don't have the pressure to keep their success stats high which stand-alone clinics have.

[Anonymous]

Just wanted to say that my Nurse mentioned that SGF is planning on starting a Embryo Donation program. I don't know the timeline, but just throwing it out there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just wanted to say that my Nurse mentioned that SGF is planning on starting a Embryo Donation program. I don't know the timeline, but just throwing it out there.

They just started using embryo options...dont know much about how it works or the costs though.

[Anonymous]

Question for those on here who want to be donors......

Tell us your thoughts/emotions about open vs closed embryo adoption. Do you feel that you could donate these embryos without knowing the outcome? Would you want your current children (presumably successful IVFs from the same batch) to know of their biological sibling?

My husband and I will likely have to move on to embryo adoption and I'm interested in all the dynamics. Thank you.

Also, Yes, SG is starting an embryo adoption system.

[Anonymous]

Is there a difference between embryo adoption and donation? In cost or other legal differences or requirements? I am just talking about the cost of the embryo alone, not the meds/procedures. Which is shady grove doing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Question for those on here who want to be donors......

Tell us your thoughts/emotions about open vs closed embryo adoption. Do you feel that you could donate these embryos without knowing the outcome? Would you want your current children (presumably successful IVFs from the same batch) to know of their biological sibling?

My husband and I will likely have to move on to embryo adoption and I'm interested in all the dynamics. Thank you.

Also, Yes, SG is starting an embryo adoption system.

We are about to have #1 and will have an extra embryo leftover. I'm pretty sure that we are One and Done. DH and I have just started talking about Embryo Donation. He's okay with Closed donation. I think I want at least Semi-open or Open. Our child won't have any cousins or siblings, so I'd like him to have the option to have a relationship with his embryo sibling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Question for those on here who want to be donors......

Tell us your thoughts/emotions about open vs closed embryo adoption. Do you feel that you could donate these embryos without knowing the outcome? Would you want your current children (presumably successful IVFs from the same batch) to know of their biological sibling?

My husband and I will likely have to move on to embryo adoption and I'm interested in all the dynamics. Thank you.

Also, Yes, SG is starting an embryo adoption system.

We are about to have #1 and will have an extra embryo leftover. I'm pretty sure that we are One and Done. DH and I have just started talking about Embryo Donation. He's okay with Closed donation. I think I want at least Semi-open or Open. Our child won't have any cousins or siblings, so I'd like him to have the option to have a relationship with his embryo sibling.

How do you plan on going about donating your embryo?

[Anonymous]

I sense this is something we'll have to contemplate soon. We have two kids, one through IVF and one naturally. The IVF cycle that produced our daughter resulted in nine extra embryos. Realistically, we'd only want to have one more, if that. I would in theory love to donate, but my DH would be iffy about having his biological children at large in the world. I also don't think the world is chomping at the bits for the embryos produced by two forty-somethings..

[Anonymous]

I'm currently 30 weeks pregnant and have three frozen embryos that I would love to donate as I am "one and done". I too have been lurking on this site for the best method to do so. While I have a large group of same age cousins for my upcoming little girl, I would love for her to have a biological sibling. I am very excited that SG will have a program soon and I plan on donating. I can't imagine destroying the embryos and I also couldn't imagine not knowing a child if it were connected to me and my daughter. Therefore, I would want a semi or open embryo adoption.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Question for those on here who want to be donors......

Tell us your thoughts/emotions about open vs closed embryo adoption. Do you feel that you could donate these embryos without knowing the outcome? Would you want your current children (presumably successful IVFs from the same batch) to know of their biological sibling?

My husband and I will likely have to move on to embryo adoption and I'm interested in all the dynamics. Thank you.

Also, Yes, SG is starting an embryo adoption system.

We are about to have #1 and will have an extra embryo leftover. I'm pretty sure that we are One and Done. DH and I have just started talking about Embryo Donation. He's okay with Closed donation. I think I want at least Semi-open or Open. Our child won't have any cousins or siblings, so I'd like him to have the option to have a relationship with his embryo sibling.

How do you plan on going about donating your embryo?

We are at least 1-2 years away from making our final decision. Want to have out kid first and see how things go before we 100% close that door. If we decide to donate, we will most likely use SGF. We've done everything else there. But we have to see what their program is like. I'd like a place that has no issues with Gay/Lesbian couples and no religious requirements. I think I would like the family to live around the DC area in case we want the siblings to have a relationship.

[Anonymous]

FYI, I just logged on to my SG Embryo Options account, and there is all kinds of information about donating your embryos. Not sure if this is brand new or not, as this is the first time I've logged on to the site, but I thought it would be of interest to both potential donors and recipients. Here is the summary of the donation options:

Embryo Options has developed a unique Embryo Donation website that will allow its members three different options for donating their embryos in order to help other Shady Grove Fertility patients achieve the birth of a child.

The first option simply allows members to anonymously donate their embryos to Shady Grove Fertility for the purpose of trying to help another couple achieve a pregnancy.

The second two options allow donor and recipient couples to match with each other based on demographics, medical history, personal stories, and special conditions. During the matching process, both donors and recipients stay strictly anonymous, and can agree to stay anonymous, or agree to know each other on some level, after a match has been made.

Recipient couples cannot gain access to the Embryo Donation website unless they have been authorized to do so by their Shady Grove Fertility medical team, therefore donors can feel comfortable knowing they are truly matching with another Shady Grove Fertility couple who has been diagnosed with infertility.

And more:

Embryo Donation Matching Process

Anonymous IVF Center Embryo Donation

Closed Embryo Donation

Open Embryo Donation

Anonymous IVF Center Embryo Donation
Anonymous IVF Center Donation - donors agree to anonymously donate their embryos to Shady Grove Fertility to aid another infertile couple in achieving a pregnancy.

The embryo donation matching process for Anonymous IVF Center Embryo Donations allows potential recipients struggling with infertility to find others who have anonymously donated their frozen embryos to their IVF center. In the Anonymous IVF Center Embryo Donation process the donor relinquishes ownership of their embryos to the donor's IVF program, granting that program dispositional authority to offer the donor's embryos to another couple. Donors wishing to donate under this conditional agreement will simply build an Anonymous IVF Center Embryo Donation profile that highlights the donor's physical characteristics, basic demographic information, and medical history, including information about the donated embryos.

Potential recipients, who discover an Anonymous IVF Center Embryo Donation profile that looks like it would be a good match for them, should initially reserve the embryos by clicking the "Reserve Embryos" button in the Anonymous IVF Center Embryo Donation profile. After the embryos are reserved, the potential recipients should schedule an appointment with the IVF clinic holding the embryos to discuss their eligibility to receive the embryos. Recipients should "print" a summary of the anonymous IVF center embryo donation profile, and bring that document with them to the appointment. It should be noted that in an anonymous IVF center embryo donation, the physician or fertility center holding the embryos reserve the right to approve the donation, and these embryos may not be shipped to another IVF center.


Closed Embryo Donation
Closed Embryo Donation – donors and recipients do not desire to know the identity of each other, and will always remain anonymous.

The matching process for closed donations allows those struggling with infertility to connect with others willing to donate their frozen embryos. The connection process begins by Closed Donors and Recipients building anonymous profiles. After profiles have been completed, they will be inserted into Embryo Options' online matching site database, where they will be made discoverable by other members.

The following matching tools can be used by both donors and recipients to help facilitate a match:

Search Engine - members will have access to a search engine to find compatible profiles based on a member's IVF center, geographical location by state, ethnicity, religion, education, and various physical characteristics. Once potential match profiles are discovered, other important information will be viewable in the profile including any embryo donation conditions, member medical/embryo information, and personal stories.

Request To Share Photos - since closed profile members choose to remain anonymous, pictures of children born from ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology) may be considered. This function is only allowed if a member chooses to upload photos into their profile, and agrees to share photos if requested to do so by another member.

Request A Match Process

During the process of building a closed donor profile, donors will be contacted by the Shady Grove Fertility Donor Embryo Coordinator

If a Request A Match is accepted by either a closed donor or recipient, Shady Grove Fertility Donor Embryo Coordinator will be notified

Recipients are then instructed to contact their Shady Grove Fertility Donor Embryo Coordinator to understand next steps in potentially completing the embryo donation.

For a closed donor and recipient match it is imperative that both parties have separate legal representation to establish a mutually agreed upon embryo donation contract. It should be noted that recipients customarily pay for donor legal fees based on conditions set forth by the donor.

Matching Rule
Closed Donors and Recipients will only be allowed to match with each other. For example, if a Closed Recipient tries to match with an Open Donor, the Request A Match will not be sent. Instead the Closed Recipient will be informed that they are trying to match with an Open Donor and to proceed with sending the match request, they will need to update their profile to reflect an Open Recipient status.


Open Embryo Donation
Open Embryo Donation – donors and recipients desire to know the identity of each other, but will remain anonymous throughout the screening and matching process.

The matching process for Open donations allows those struggling with infertility to connect with others willing to donate their frozen embryos. The connection process begins by Open Donors and Recipients building anonymous profiles. After profiles have been completed, they will be inserted into Embryo Options' online matching site database, where they will be made discoverable by other members.

The following matching tools can be used by both donors and recipients to help facilitate a match:

Search Engine - members will have access to a search engine to find compatible profiles based on a member's IVF center, geographical location by state, ethnicity, religion, education, and various physical characteristics. Once potential match profiles are discovered, other important information will be viewable in the profile including any embryo donation special conditions, member medical/embryo information, and personal stories.

Request To Share Photos - this function is only allowed if a member uploads photos and agrees to share photos if requested to do so by another member.

Request A Match Process

During the process of building an open donor profile, donors will be made aware of their Shady Grove Fertility Donor Embryo Coordinator.

If a Request A Match is accepted by either an open donor or recipient, the matching recipient will be contacted by the Shady Grove Fertility Donor Embryo Coordinator.

Recipients are then instructed to contact the Shady Grove Fertility Donor Embryo Coordinator to understand next steps in potentially completing the embryo donation.

For an open donor and recipient match it is imperative that both parties have separate legal representation to establish a mutually agreed upon embryo donation contract. It should be noted that recipients customarily pay for donor legal fees based on conditions set forth by the donor.

Matching Rule
Open donors and recipients will only be allowed to match with each other. For example, if an Open Recipient tries to match with a Closed Donor, the Request A Match will not be sent. Instead the Open Recipient will be informed that they are trying to match with a Closed Donor, and to proceed with sending the Match Request, they will need to update their profile to reflect a Closed Recipient status.