Embryo Adoptions
Dana Sanders
For many couples desperately trying to bear children,
infertility is a reality. Usually, a couple with fertility
problems attempts many chances at having a biological
family—including in vitro fertilizations. Many couples wish to
experience the joy of carrying and giving birth to a child, but
physically cannot produce a viable embryo. After trying all
viable options, many couples give up hope. However, there is an
option that has given infertile couples the ability to have
children, even if they are not biologically their own. If a
woman is capable of carrying a child to term, this option may
be the light at the end of the infertility tunnel. Embryo
adoption allows an adoptive couple who cannot conceive on their
own the ability to carry and give birth to that life, creating a
family of their own.
When a couple tries in vitro fertilization, egg and sperm are
combined in a laboratory setting to create embryos. These
embryos are then frozen using a cryogenic process to keep the
embryo alive. Only one of these embryos is implanted, leaving
the rest sitting in the preservation freezer waiting for the
couple to make a decision. If the couple does not want more
children, they can donate the embryos to be used by an
infertile couple. Several organizations deal especially in
embryo adoption and accept embryo donation from generous
couples. One such organization, The National Embryo Donation
Center (NEDC) was created to provide options for the couples
facing the problem of what to do with these embryos. Another
organization, Snowflakes Embryo Adoption, is part of the
organization Nightlight Christian Adoptions. Nightlight
specializes in assisting all potential adoptive parents with
traditional adoptions or embryo adoptions. Before embryo
adoption, couples were forced to either destroy the embryos or
donate them as research subjects.
Embryo donations can be either open or anonymous adoptions.
Upon donation of the embryos, the donating couple can choose to
reveal their personal information to those who become parents
and carry the embryo. Similarly, couples interested in adoption
can request the adoption to be conducted anonymously. Since
adoption can only take place after the child has been born,
using the term "adoption" for this process is somewhat of a
misnomer. Embryo adoption is a legal proceeding that involves
specific documentation. Unlike adoption, when the child is
born, the names of the adoptive parents will appear on the
birth certificate. Once the legally-binding donation contract
has been signed, the donating couple cannot place any claim on
the child, especially after the child’s birth.
Just like in vitro fertilization, embryo adoption is not
guaranteed to result in a pregnancy or a child. Unfortunately,
only about two-third of the embryos survive the thawing
process. There is only a 20 to 25 percent chance embryo
implantation will successfully result in a pregnancy. However,
if a couple desires to carry and give birth to a child, these
chances may be their best bet.
Economically speaking, embryo adoption runs about a third the
amount of standard in vitro fertilization. For many couples,
the economic aspect of infertility treatments result in closing
many doors. In addition to these costs, travel expenses must be
included since many organizations require you visit their
location for initial screening and the actual implantation
process. If the first embryo implantation does not result in
pregnancy, the couple usually has a couple of additional
chances. The embryo adoption process at NEDC provides couples
with three chances of implantation of the adoptive embryos.
Much like in vitro fertilization, the more chances necessary
for embryo adoption increases the cost. Granted this is a small
price for the joy of giving birth to a child and creating a
family, it is outside of the means of some infertile couples.
Before embarking on the embryo adoption experience, all
decisions need to be made to ensure this process is an option.
Embryo adoption gives couples with the inability to have
biological children but have the desire and love to start a
family a second chance. To decide if embryo adoption may be an
option for your and to learn more about the process, consult
the Snowflakes website at
www.nightlight.org/snowflakeslanding.asp or the National Embryo
Donation Center at www.embryodonation.org.
Copyright 2005 by Dana Sanders. All rights reserved.
About The Author: Looking for information about adoption? Go to
http://www.aaadoption.com All
About Adoption is an Adoption and
Infertility Information Directory and Resource Site which
provides a consolidated listing of the best Adoption and
Infertility sites in one easy to navigate location.
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