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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 $ 3000 only. 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..
| 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 |
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| 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 |
| |
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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 |
| |
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Embryos # 125
|
11 embryos, 2-cells |
|
Husband
|
35 yr, 5’10”, fair, B +, Indian,
black eyes, black hair |
|
Wife
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33 yr, 5’4”, fair, A +, Indian,
black eyes, black hair |
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| 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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