would you use donated frozen embryos?

[Anonymous]

We were blessed with 2 wonderful children after IVF, and we have 2 remaining frozen embryos that I am 99% certain we will never use. If/when we are 100% certain, I would like to donate them but want to know if people would actually "adopt" these embryos. Obviously, they are from a couple with infertility issues, and I was 39 at the time - do people want an older woman's embryos? I prefer donation to destroying them or using for science, if it will give another infertile couple a chance to have kids, since we know what it's like to want kids and have trouble conceiving. Any thoughts out there? Would someone use these emrbryos?

[Anonymous]

Yes--there are many couples & single moms out there looking for donated embryos. There are many websites that could hook you up with someone looking (Miracles Waiting, Snowflakes, etc...) Your RE might have a program, as well. GL with your decision!

[Anonymous]

Yes absolutely. There are waiting lists ay many
Clinics

[Anonymous]

Yes. Absolutely!!!

[Anonymous]

This is a very generous gesture. I am sure someone will feel blessed to receive your donation.

Just as an aside about the term "adopt". I am not sure if you know, but by using that term you are inferring that these embryos are actually children, and that could have far reaching consequences. For example, it could potentially mean the people you donate to would be subject to the same screening criteria that those parents that actually do adopt born children. It also could mean added scrutiny for everyone who does ivf, and for the doctors who perform ivf. It sounds crazy but there are personhood amendments under discussion in many states. Also, when you look at these embryo donation/adoption websites, you can tell the "philosophical" orientation of the organization by which term they use.

(Perhaps you know this already, in which case, just tell me to mind my own business!)

[Anonymous]

OP here - I didn't know about the adopt vs donate issue and the accompanying political debates, though of course that makes sense. I'll stick with the term donate. Thanks for the info. I'll check in with my RE first to see if they have waiting lists.

[Anonymous]

Definitely donate! I started looked into embryo adoption last fall and discovered that there are waiting lists for donated embryos. Meaning couples are waiting just to get a chance to see available embryos. With one agency I waited six months to start seeing profiles and in the three months I've been on the top of list, I have only seen 3-4 profiles.

Maternal age is certainly important to me but the fact you had two successful pregnancies from your eggs is a huge plus. Another important part for me is that the donors' physical appearance should somewhat match the combined appearance of myself and MH. Not every donor shares pictures of themselves and I have to admit that's a showstopper for me. I plan to be honest with my child about their conception, however, I would not share that information with anyone else. I want to fill confident my child's appearance will mesh close enough with us that no one would ever question it.

[Anonymous]

OP - I am in the same boat. We have 5 frozen from a donor egg cycle and trying to figure out how best to donate.