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Embryo Donation vs. Embryo Adoption

Choosing the Right Path for Your Family

If you’re exploring family-building options, you may have come across the term’s embryo donation or adoption. These concepts both involve couples who have embryos remaining from in vitro fertilization transferring them to hopeful families.

If you’re unable to use your own embryos and want to discuss your options with a professional, contact us online now.

While the terms are often used interchangeably, important differences in how each is managed and understood may impact your journey.

We’re here to clarify these terms, explain how each path differs and help you understand which might be best for your family-building goals.

What is the Difference Between Embryo Donation and Embryo Adoption?

Embryo Donation

Embryo donation is a process where couples donate unused embryos to other families for reproductive purposes. Because embryos are considered property under the law in most states, the transfer is managed through property law, not traditional adoption laws.

This procedural approach treats embryo donation similarly to egg or sperm donation, where ownership is transferred but a familial or legal relationship is not established with the resulting child.

The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) considers embryo donation the technically accurate term. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates embryo donation and establishes guidelines to protect recipients and donors. It is typically a straightforward process involving legal contracts and FDA guidelines to ensure safe transfer, storage, and use of embryos.

Embryo Adoption

The difference between embryo donation and embryo adoption is embryo adoption is often managed similarly to traditional child adoption. The term “embryo adoption” was first popularized by a Christian adoption agency to frame the embryo transfer in the context of adoption, leading to the perception that the embryos are adopted rather than donated.

While this framing resonates with some families, embryo adoption remains a misnomer since traditional adoption laws, which apply to living children, do not apply to embryos.

Embryo adoption is often facilitated by agencies that focus on embryo matching and ask prospective parents to go through steps similar to child adoption—such as home studies and counseling.

Embryo Adoption vs. Donation [Which is Right for Me?]

While Embryo donation is governed by property law, some courts will allow you to complete an adoption hearing is it’s something you’re interested in. Embryo adoption is a term used by certain agencies that create adoption-like steps. This difference may affect the legal framework, expectations and requirements.

Embryo adoption often involves additional costs because many agencies require intended parents to complete a home study, even though it’s not legally necessary for embryo transfers. These fees, along with the cost of the home study itself, can create legally unnecessary expenses, making the process more expensive than it needs to be.

The terminology and process that resonates with each family may differ based on personal beliefs, cultural or religious views, and how they feel about the term “adoption” as it applies to embryos.

ASRM’s Stance on Embryo Donation vs. Embryo Adoption

According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), embryo donation is the recommended term because of how accurately it represents the legal and medical realities of transferring embryos.

ASRM suggests that while the term embryo adoption can be appealing for its familiar structure, it can create confusion and does not accurately represent the nature of the legal transfer.

Is Embryo Donation or Adoption Right for You?

Ultimately, whether you choose the route of embryo donation or adoption, both offer a unique path to family building and an opportunity to give life to embryos that may otherwise remain unused.

If you’re still uncertain about which path aligns best with your family goals, reach out to professional now to explore your family-building options.

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