What is embryo adoption?
Embryo adoption is the newest method of family-building, which combines assisted reproductive technology with adoption, so that instead of adopting a baby, infertile couples adopt an embryo. Where do these embryos come from?
When we perform IVF, young women often produce many eggs, and therefore, many embryos. The supernumerary embryos can be stored, and we do this by freezing them in liquid nitrogen at minus-196 degrees Celsius.
If the parents get pregnant, they often agree to donate their embryos to other infertile couples, to help them to start a family. What is the pregnancy rate with embryo adoption?
The pregnancy rate in our clinic, when we transfer 4 frozen-thawed embryos, is 45% per cycle. The reason for the high pregnancy rate is twofold. Firstly, these are often excellent quality embryos (it is usually because the parents have achieved a pregnancy with the fresh embryos, that they are willing to donate these frozen embryos to another couple).
Also, since we prepare the endometrium using hormones, the uterine receptivity to these embryos is usually very good. What is the procedure?
The procedure is identical to a frozen thaw embryo transfer ET cycle. For young women, we can transfer the embryos in a natural cycle, 2 days after ovulation. For older women, we need to downregulate with GnRH analog from Day 1, and then prepare the uterus to accept the embryo with exogenous estrogens and progesterone. The procedure is non-surgical, and there is no risk involved. What about confidentiality?
In our clinic, we handle embryo donation like a closed adoption. There is no contact between the donating couple and the recipients, who never see each other. The recipient couple does not even need to inform their obstetrician that they achieved their pregnancy through embryo adoption. Why is this called adoption?
Firstly, like traditional adoption, the couple who adopts the embryo has no genetic connection to it. In addition, embryo donation offers an altruistic use for surplus embryos, just like adoption meets the needs of both the adoptive family, and the unwanted child. How is this different from adopting a child?
Unlike traditional adoption, the couple does not have to go through a legal process to adopt , but through medical treatment. This means that the couple � biologically adopts � the embryo. There are many reasons why couples may prefer embryo adoption to adopting a child. For infertile couples, embryo adoption offers the unique opportunity to be pregnant, to bond with their child prior to birth, and to give birth. In addition, embryo adoption may be much more affordable than traditional adoption in the US. Embryo adoption also offers couples privacy and secrecy, so that they do not need to worry about societal acceptance of their adopted child. Also in India, certain groups such as Christians and Muslims cannot adopt. Embryo adoption can be an extremely attractive option for them Who are good candidates for embryo adoption?
Embryo adoption is an alternative for infertile couples who need egg or sperm donation. Also, families who cannot afford the huge fees needed for egg donation may prefer embryo adoption. Isn�t this just surrogacy?
No, this is not surrogacy! In surrogacy, a woman carries a pregnancy for the benefit of the infertile couple.
In embryo adoption, the child that the couple carries is the child that they will parent. What will the child look like?
The embryos for adoption in our clinic come from parents of Indian origin. These are healthy couples, who have utilized IVF to start their own families.
How much does embryo adoption cost?
An embryo adoption cycle in our clinic costs US $ 5000 only. This is all-inclusive and includes all medication costs as well. As an alternative, you can ship the embryos to an IVF clinic of your own choice, in a dry shipper. These embryos will need to be hand-carried.. Here is a sampling of some of the embryos available for adoption in our clinic. Embryos # 185 9 embryos. 4- cells and 2-cells
Husband 28 yr, 6 feet tall, fair, AB +, Indian, black eyes, black hair
Wife 26 yr, 5�6�, fair, O +, Indian, black eyes, black hair
Embryos # 186 12 embryos, 4-cells and 2-cells
Husband 38 yr, 5�l0 �, dark, O +, Indian, black eyes, black hair
Wife 27 yr, 5�3�, dark, AB +, Indian, black eyes, black hair
Embryos # 161 8 embryos, 2-cells
Husband 26 yr, 5�11�, A +, Indian, black eyes, black hair
Wife 28 yr, 5�5�, B +, Indian, black eyes, black hair
Embryos # 158
9 embryos, 4-cells
Husband 39 yr, 5�8�, fair, O +, Indian, black eyes, black hair
Wife 28 yr , 5�2�, fair, B +, Indian, black eyes, black hair
Embryos # 125
11 embryos, 2-cells Husband
35 yr, 5�10�, fair, B +, Indian, black eyes, black hair Wife
33 yr, 5�4�, fair, A +, Indian, black eyes, black hair
Embryos # 132 12 embryos, 2-cells and 4-cells
Husband 40 yr, 5�8�, fair, A +, Indian, black eyes, black hair
Wife 32 yr, 5�2�, fair, B +, Indian, black eyes, black hair.
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