When GW says you can donate them to research, they mean THEIR in-house research. Their lab can use them to practice thawing, freezing or whatever. It is not the same as donating for scientific research.

Anonymous wrote:

PP here: Does GW really have an option to give to research? We were with Columbia and have not had any success with any inquiry into donating them to science. I wonder could someone at GW help us?

I believe so -it was in the huge packet of info, you check a box that if they don't hear from you about what you want to do with your embryos for 5 years (including you just want to store em), they'll donate them to science.

I am sure they can give you more specific info.

Also agree that many can't afford DE cycles, so embryo adoption would help a lot of people.

http://www.miracleswaiting.org/aboutus.html

You could post on miracleswaiting.org. I am sure a donee couple would pay the fees. I imagine SG doesn't want to be involved because it could cut into their profits.

We might be in need if things don't work out. If we're in that situation, maybe I should post here!

I have never gone through IVF, and have not (yet) been faced with considering adoption seriously. But, domestic adoption is sub a complex process without guarantees, and I know of many families who would be tremendously grateful for embryo adoption. I know it's not without its own ethical issues and challenges, but just wanted to encourage the PPs to consider it. If going through an RE's office doesn't work for you, there are also a number of embryo adoption agencies that might make more sense of the process, and I'm willing to be bet there are many wonderful families that would be so grateful for the blessing of donated/adopted embryos. So, just because a place like SG have you few (if any) options doesn't mean there might not be another clinic or agency (I think Dominion Fertility also has a program) that suits your needs and values. Either way, congratulations on completing your family, and onbehalf of others struggling with infertility, I am inspire by your generosity to think about embryo adoption.

jindc wrote:While I'm not in this situation yet, one of the things that keeps me feeling good about all the IVF stuff we'll be going through in a couple of months (wow, like 6 weeks at this point...oy vey!) is that if we are successful, I can donate the embryos to people in need - I'm not one to think of them as "life", per se (but again, that might change when I go through it all and I don't begrudge anyone for feeling they are life), I am hoping our cycle is successful so we can help others as well.

That, and GW has an option to donate to research, which is something my husband very much wants to do.

I hope you can help people regardless of how you choose, and congrats on your successful IVF outcomes!

PP here: Does GW really have an option to give to research? We were with Columbia and have not had any success with any inquiry into donating them to science. I wonder could someone at GW help us?

We keep paying for the storage of our 5 frozen embryos every year even though we already have four children. We cannot possibly give them all a chance, but at the same time I cannot destroy them. I do not feel comfortable donating them and giving them to science is impossible now,

jindc wrote:PP: Did you have any cycle successful at GW...?

No, we did not have any success. Our overall diagnosis was "Unexplained" if it matters. We are in our 30s and did IF treatments off and on from 2006 up until the present. We have now adopted one and are in the process of adopting a 2nd.

PP: Did you have any cycle successful at GW...?

I am currently at GW and starting an FET cycle to for our one last embryo. I agree it's hard but it was important for us to give them a try. I just finished a cycle where we put two in and they did not take. Now, we have one left. AFter we do this one, we'll be down to zero and I am glad I can walk away knowing there are no more left. Whew! Peace of mind - finally! And finally finished with this IF process! THAT is worth its weight in gold!

While I'm not in this situation yet, one of the things that keeps me feeling good about all the IVF stuff we'll be going through in a couple of months (wow, like 6 weeks at this point...oy vey!) is that if we are successful, I can donate the embryos to people in need - I'm not one to think of them as "life", per se (but again, that might change when I go through it all and I don't begrudge anyone for feeling they are life), I am hoping our cycle is successful so we can help others as well.

That, and GW has an option to donate to research, which is something my husband very much wants to do.

I hope you can help people regardless of how you choose, and congrats on your successful IVF outcomes!

If you have extra embryos and would be willing to adopt them out, please do so. It does require a little extra work on your part, but it will make a huge difference for someone out of other options. I am a member of PVED (Parents Via Egg Donation) and many people on that site post about running out of money for another fresh donor cycle before they find success. Most couples looking to adopt will cover your legal fees as well as theirs. You could contact Marna Gatlin through PVED and she can point you in the right direction as to the adoption process.

Anonymous wrote:How about giving the up for adoption?

NP here. We also had two frozen and asked about adoption. It's not easy. For example, Shady Grove will only do "adoptions" if you have identified a person to receive them. But you are entirely responsible for identifying that person, vetting them, handling any legal stuff (for example, that they would be the parents of the baby, if born), and all of that. It was overwhelming and costly.

How about giving the up for adoption?

Oh yeah there are a lot of us that are conflicted about excess embryos. We have three kids thanks to DE IVF but not sure what to do with 2 embies in the freezer.

Any couple out there regret freezing their extra embryos? We have 3 kid thanks to IVF but we are conflicted about out 2 frozen embies.