What Are Snowflake Embryos?

“Snowflake embryos” are embryos that have been frozen and donated by families who have undergone fertility treatments.

This article will share the origins of “snowflake” embryo adoption, how embryo adoption works, and what you need to know if you are considering embryo adoption to grow your family.

Choosing “snowflake” embryo adoption and surrogacy means that you can fulfill your dreams of family even if you have low chances of pregnancy and few or no embryos. When you have embryos ready, you can get connected to a surrogate in as little as 1 - 6 months.

Connect to a fertility clinic with embryo donation when you get help from a surrogacy professional.

What is “Snowflake” Embryo Adoption?

The term “snowflake embryo adoption” originates from the snowflakes embryo adoption program that was started by Nightlight Christian Adoptions.

The term refers to frozen embryos that have been donated by families who have undergone fertility journeys and had embryos left over after they completed their family. These embryos can be used by other families who are also undergoing fertility treatment.

While the term “snowflake embryo” or “snowflake babies” has become common, frozen embryos are not unique to the snowflake embryo adoption program, and many families use frozen embryos to start their families through IVF or surrogacy.

Learn more about embryo donation for surrogacy here.

Embryo Adoption vs. Embryo Donation

The terms “embryo adoption” and “embryo donation” are both used to describe the process of one family getting embryos from another family to get pregnant. However, the legal process of adoption can only occur after a child has been born, so embryo donation is the more accurate term.

Things to Know When Adopting “Snowflake” Embryos

If you are considering adopting frozen embryos, here are some of the most important things to keep in mind:

Benefits

• Embryo donation can allow you to achieve pregnancy if you have few or no good quality embryos
• Embryo donation is often used for families who don’t want to go through another round of embryo creation or want to avoid passing down a genetic condition

Cost

• Embryo donation can cost between $5000-$15,000

Timeline

• Embryo adoption can take anywhere between a few months up to a year. There are many donated embryos available, but the process of finding an agency, completing screening, completing the legal process, and shipping can make the process longer.

Legal Considerations

• Laws about embryo adoption vary widely from state to state, so if you are seeking embryo adoption, you will need to get legal help from a local professional. This can mean completing paperwork before you can get the embryos, and in some cases legal proceedings may be required after birth

Can I Do Snowflake Embryo Adoption and Surrogacy?

Yes, you can adopt an embryo and pursue surrogacy. If you choose snowflake embryo adoption and surrogacy, you can have the family you dream of even if you are unable to carry a pregnancy.

You can find a surrogate in as little as 1 - 6 months when you work with a great surrogacy agency. View available surrogates here, or contact a surrogacy professional to get connected to a surrogate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you adopt abandoned embryos?

Yes, in some cases, you can get abandoned or unused embryos from couples who have completed IVF and are no longer using the embryos.

Is embryo adoption against the Catholic Church?

The Catholic Church does not have a single clear answer about embryo adoption, but there have been various discussions about the topic.

Does insurance cover embryo adoption?

Some fertility-specific insurance like Progyny may cover costs associated with embryo adoption; however, most insurance does not cover embryo adoption itself. Traditional insurance companies will sometimes cover the cost of IVF or frozen embryo transfer.

Who was the first snowflake baby?

The first baby born through embryo adoption was Hannah Strege.