Embryo Adoption: costs, experiences? Please advise.?

Question

Due to cetain medical issues, my DH and I are not able to conceive, would like to know more about Embry Adoption from those close to the issue. What are the Costs, waiting period? success rate? Thank you.

Answer 1

I recommend you contact your local fertility clinic to inquire about any embryo adoption program they may have.

I have never done embryo adoption, but during our infertility treatment, we used an egg donor twice (anonymous donor eggs fertilized with my husband's sperm).  I believe embryo adoption is treated more like an adoption of a child.  There is one online embryo adoption program that requires a homestudy by the state.

Costs associated with adopting embryos can be quite high.  There will be an adoption fee, plus the charge by the fertility clinic to transfer the embryos after hormone medications.  My frozen embryo transfer were approximately $4,000 each (which includes the medications).

The success rate depends on the quality of the embryos (they're graded) and your age, cause of infertility, etc.  Again, that is something you would need to discuss with a reproductive endocrinologist.

Many people choose egg, sperm, or embryo adoption because they do not want to disclose to anyone, including any child born from such procedures, how they were conceived.  Ethically, I think this is wrong and it is something you may need to discuss with a counselor before adopting embryos.  It's my belief that every child born from assisted reproduction deserves to know about their conception and every child placed for adoption deserves to know the circumstances surrounding their placement.

I wish you the best and I hope someday soon you are blessed with a child.

Answer 2

I have to disagree with the first answer.  In embryo transfer, you become the parent of a child who is not biologically yours.  That is adoption!

That said, it's less costly than adoption of a born child, but the success rate is only around 20%.  See the sites for more info.

Answer 3

As both a veteran of fertility treatments who considered donating embryos (had I had any to donate), and a mom via adoption, I have to say I don't consider embryo "adoption" anything like regular adoption and don't think the two should be equated.

Frozen Donor Embryo Transfer is the more correct term, and again, in my opinion only, it is something you should do through your fertility specialist (reproductive endocrinologist) and not through private embryo "adoption agencies".

FDET is usually less expensive than a full IVF cycle. I suggest consulting with several fertility clinics and ask about their donor embryo programs.

Best of luck to you!

ETA: With donor eggs you also become a parent to a child not genetically related to you and nobody says you are adopting eggs. And since you carry (sharing nutrients and hormones), give birth to, and can breastfeed the child there is the biological connection of gestation. It is not the same as adopting a child.

Answer 4

I agree with the PP that you shouldn't go through an adoption agency to adopt embyos.  Most fertility clinics have donated embryos that you can use that don't require going through the adoption process.