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What Does Embryo Adoption Cost? [One Path to Parenthood]

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For many couples, IVF leaves them with more embryos than they need, and they choose to donate these embryos to others. This generous act allows individuals and couples — like you — who may need an alternative way to become a parent.

Embryo adoption is often a more cost-effective way to build your family, especially compared to creating new embryos or pursuing other fertility options.

In this article, we’ll break down embryo adoption costs and what factors into the final price. If you’re interested in learning more about reputable agencies or programs that offer embryo adoption, contact us today.

How Much Does Embryo Adoption Cost?

Embryo adoption involves receiving embryos from another family. It’s a streamlined process that eliminates several IVF steps, which helps keep costs lower. On average, embryo adoption costs between $7,500 and $19,500, depending on the program and services you choose.

Here’s what factors into the cost for embryo adoption:

  • Program Fees

    An embryo adoption agency or program will handle matching services and case management to ensure a smooth process. They can help match you with embryos that meet your preferences and provide additional support. Typically, program fees range from $2,500 to $10,000.

  • Medical Expenses

    Medical costs cover essential steps like pre-transfer assessments, the embryo transfer itself and any medications needed to prepare your or your surrogate’s body for pregnancy. These expenses usually fall between $3,500 and $8,000.

  • Legal Costs

    While embryo adoption doesn’t require the same legal procedures as traditional adoption, it’s essential to complete contracts and legal parentage paperwork to protect everyone involved. Legal fees generally range from $500 to $1,000.

  • Home Study Fees

    Though a home study isn’t legally required, some agencies or programs follow traditional adoption practices and include it in their process. If you work with one of these organizations, expect to pay between $1,500 and $3,500 for a home study.

    How Does the Cost of Embryo Adoption Compare to Traditional IVF?

    Although embryo adoption requires a financial commitment, it’s still less expensive than a typical round of IVF, which averages $21,600. With embryo adoption, you avoid steps like egg retrieval, fertilization and embryo development, saving you both time and money.

    It’s also more affordable than traditional adoption, where fees often start at $30,000. Plus, embryo adoption gives you the opportunity to experience pregnancy yourself. This isn’t possible with most adoption options.

    If carrying the pregnancy isn’t right for you, you can still transfer the embryo to a surrogate. Either way, embryo adoption is a more affordable way to grow your family compared to other routes.

    Discover more about the cost of freezing embryos through IVF to get a better idea how embryo adoption can ease the financial strain of your family-building journey.

    Embryo Adoption Costs vs. Embryo Donation Costs

    The terms “embryo adoption” and “embryo donation” both refer to the same basic process. However, their usage is slightly different.

    Those who use the term embryo adoption often see the process as honoring the life potential of the embryo. This terminology is more common with religious or faith-based agencies, which may emphasize the moral significance of placing embryos with families. Because they see embryos as potential children and require home studies, there may be a higher cost to adopt an embryo.

    In contrast, most fertility clinics and non-religious programs refer to the process as embryo donation. This term reflects a medical approach, treating the embryo transfer similarly to how other biological materials, like sperm or eggs, are donated. Generally, embryo donation will be more low-cost than embryo adoption.

    Regardless of the term used, both processes involve receiving an embryo and transferring it to either your uterus or your surrogate’s. The steps and costs are similar, so the terminology you use depends on personal or program preferences. In this article, we use “embryo adoption” to help people find answers to their questions.

    Does the Cost to Adopt an Embryo Affect Surrogacy?

    Yes! If you’re pursuing surrogacy, using a donated embryo can streamline the process and reduce your overall expenses. Since the embryos are already created, you can skip the lengthy steps involved in IVF. This can shorten your timeline.

    Adopting an embryo also lowers the total cost of surrogacy. Surrogacy with a fresh or frozen IVF cycle requires medical procedures to create embryos, which can push costs much higher. By using an already available embryo, you save thousands on egg retrieval, fertilization and lab fees. This can make surrogacy more affordable and accessible.

    Fill out our form to get an estimate of what your surrogacy journey will cost with donor embryos.

    Understanding Embryo Adoption Costs: What’s Next?

    If you’re ready to explore embryo adoption, we can help you find reputable agencies and programs that fit your needs and budget. Fill out our online form for more information about embryo adoption and surrogacy. We’re here to support you through every step of your fertility journey.

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