Is donation the same as adoption of embryos?

Embryo adoption or embryo adoption is the reproductive treatment by which a couple seeks pregnancy through the transfer of surplus embryos from the in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment of another couple, who has decided to donate them anonymously and altruistically. For this reason, this technique is also known as embryo donation or embryo donation, as one partner donates them and another adopts them.

In this way, we talk about:

• Embryo donation, from the point of view of the person or couple that donates their surplus embryos to help other couples.
• Adoption of embryos, from the point of view of the person or couple who receives embryos from other patients in order to achieve pregnancy.

Below you have an index with all the points that we will discuss in this article.

Index

Is donation the same as adoption of embryos?

• 1. Surplus embryos from IVF treatment
• 2. Advantages of adopting embryos
• 3. Percentage of success
• 4. Price
• 5. Frequently asked questions
• 5.1. In the donation of embryos, do you look at the physical characteristics?
• 5.2. Can embryos be adopted in a natural cycle?
• 5.3. Could the adoption of embryos be carried out freshly or are frozen embryos always donated?
• 5.4. I had my ovary removed a few years ago. Could I be a single mother by adoption of embryos?
• 5.5 Does pregnancy by embryo donation have any peculiarities?

Embryos left over from IVF treatment

When a couple undergoes in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment, the woman receives a hormonal treatment aimed at promoting the production of the ovary. In this way, the highest possible number of quality ovules is obtained, thereby increasing the chances of pregnancy.

Of all the embryos obtained, those of higher quality will be selected for the transfer to the uterus of the future mother, in the hope of achieving pregnancy.

Donate leftover embryos to other couples

The common thing is to transfer between 1 and 2 embryos, although the law allows the transfer of up to 3 embryos. The rest of embryos that present good quality, the so-called leftover embryos, will be cryopreserved through the freezing process known as vitrification.

The couple must choose what to do with the cryopreserved embryos left over from their treatment. The possible destinations allowed in the legislation are the following:

• Cryopreservation for own treatments in the future.
• Donation for reproductive purposes, that is, the embryo donation or donation of surplus embryos for the reproductive treatment of other couples.
• Embryo donation for research
• Destruction. This option can only be carried out when the reproductive life of the woman has been completed.

Generally, the first decision is to cryopreserve them for future treatments. However, when the couple decides that they no longer want to have children, the option of donating frozen embryos to other people who want to have children is an alternative.

In that case, the embryos will be devitrified and transferred to the uterus of the recipient.

Advantages of adopting embryos

The donation of embryos for reproductive purposes is an assisted reproduction treatment that more and more patients are turning to.

For a couple with problems to conceive and after several unsuccessful attempts of other assisted reproduction techniques such as artificial insemination (AI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF), the possibility of adopting embryos is a great option, due to its numerous advantages.

• There is no waiting list: access to treatment is quite direct, although it is necessary for the embryo to share a series of characteristics with the future parents: blood type, RH, phenotype traits ...
• Endometrial preparation: the woman does not need an ovarian stimulation as in the case of IVF. Simply it is required to prepare the endometrium to favor the implantation of the transferred embryos. The way to administer the medication (estrogen and progesterone) is simple: patches, oral medication or vaginal tablets. The evolution of the endometrium is controlled by ultrasound.
• Visits to the clinic: the preparation of the endometrium is simpler than the ovarian stimulation for IVF. In addition, fewer visits are required.
• Cost: the cost of this embryo donation treatment is much lower than others who need more time in the laboratory. In addition, the amount of medication is also reduced, which also means a reduction in the price.
• Time: in the same year the patient can perform all the treatment and have her baby. Once the transfer is programmed, depending on the state of the endometrium of the recipient, the devitrification of the embryos and the transfer of them is done in one day and after two weeks of waiting, the woman already performs the pregnancy test.

If you want more information about embryo donation, I recommend you check this link: Embryo adoption.

Success percentage

The success rate of the adoption treatment of embryos donated by another couple depends to a large extent on the quality of the same. In this case, although they also influence, the characteristics of the recipient woman are not essential.

The thawing of the embryos has very good survival rates, since the vitrification allows the recovery of the embryos in approximately 90% of cases. In spite of this, it is important to highlight that the embryos used when this assisted reproduction treatment is chosen come from couples with fertility problems and, therefore, the probability of pregnancy is not very high. It is around 20-30%.

We must bear in mind that there is a possibility that the embryos adopted come from patients who have used donor eggs and / or sperm for their treatment of IVF. In this case, the quality of the embryos will be higher and, therefore, the probability of pregnancy may be increased.

On the other hand, before accepting this type of treatment, the couple must be sure that they do not care that the baby does not have their genes, in addition to understanding all the bioethical and moral aspects that this process can suppose.

Price

As we have said, embryo donation is an option to reduce the cost of assisted reproduction treatment.

The average price is between 1700 and 3000 ?, depending on factors such as fertility clinic, the necessary tests for the process, the situation of each patient or partner, etc.

Normally, hormone medication for the preparation of the endometrium is not included in the total cost of treatment. This usually costs between 200 and 300 ?.

Assisted Reproduction ORG has reached an agreement with Spanish reproductive centers through which you can access all the services you need in a cheaper way and with the first free visit.

In the discounts section you can find all this and other special prices like the ones you will find here: Discounts on embryo donation.

Frequent questions

In the donation of embryos, do you look at the physical characteristics?

Yes, in cases of donation of gametes (ovules and sperm) and in cases of embryo donation, the allocation of donors and recipients takes into account the similarity in terms of physical qualities.

Can embryos be adopted in a natural cycle?

Yes, it can be done but it is not common. Generally the woman receives hormonal treatment to favor the endometrial growth and thus increase the probability of implantation and therefore of pregnancy.

Could the adoption of embryos be carried out freshly or are frozen embryos always donated?

Technically it could be carried out, because it would simply have to synchronize the menstrual cycles of the donor and the recipient.

The recipient woman would receive hormonal treatment to prepare the endometrium, while the donor of the ovules would receive the complete IVF treatment, that is, ovarian stimulation puncture and preparation for the transfer.

However, although it is possible, it is practically never done, because the donor woman does not usually want to donate part of their embryos before knowing if the treatment has allowed or not the pregnancy.

The usual thing is to keep the embryos for their own use for a while and if they do not want more offspring, the donation is already proposed to help other couples with reproductive problems.

I had my ovary removed a few years ago. Could I be a single mother by adoption of embryos?

Yes, the adoption of embryos is one of the reproductive options in cases like yours. You can opt for the double donation of gametes, that is, the donation of ovules and sperm, or for the donation of embryos.

Although both ways would allow you to get pregnant, each of them has its advantages and disadvantages so you should assess it carefully before making the decision. Medical advice is important.

Does pregnancy by embryo donation have any peculiarities?

No, once the pregnancy is achieved, it does not develop in a different way than in the case of natural pregnancy or pregnancy by other techniques such as IVF or artificial insemination.