Options After Creating Embryos

No matter where you are on your path to parenthood, you have options after creating embryos.

You could be at the start of the process, researching your infertility options or you have leftover embryos after failed in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and are looking into what you can do. Whatever your reason is, you can still have the family you’ve always envisioned.

If IVF hasn’t been successful for you, surrogacy is still an option. And if you still have embryos from the IVF cycle(s) you’ve tried, you can use those for surrogacy.  Get in touch with us online to explore your options with our team.  

This article will break down your options after creating embryos whether that’s using, saving, donating or disposing them. 

What Are the Options for Embryos After Creation? [3 Choices]

Knowing what the options are for embryos once you’ve had them created is half the battle.

From there, you can choose the option that’s best for your circumstances as no two paths to parenthood will look exactly alike.

Gestational Surrogacy

Surrogacy is your third option after creating embryos and whether you have leftover embryos after failed IVF cycles or can’t carry a pregnancy to term yourself, it still offers you the chance to become a parent.  

Since you are looking into what the options are for embryos you have already created, know that you are that much closer to starting life with your new family as you have to them before you can take the next steps in the journey.

You can quickly be matched with a surrogate, with some professionals having average wait times as short as 1-6 months.

Working with a reputable professional means:

• Vetted Surrogates: Surrogates with industry professionals like surrogacy agencies usually have to meet certain requirements such as being medically screened and having successfully given birth before to show they are capable of becoming pregnant.
• Biological Connection: Having a genetic relationship to your child is important to some intended parents. This is one of the primary benefits of surrogacy as it will be related to you or your partner if your egg or their sperm is used.
• Being Involved: Choosing surrogacy puts you in the driver’s seat. You’ll be part of the process from the very beginning.  

Being a parent could be something you’ve been thinking about for years.

No matter how long you have been waiting to experience parenthood, surrogacy gives you the chance to have the family you’ve always pictured. Find out more about how surrogacy can make your dreams come true by contacting us online.

IVF

Embryos are created through IVF, a form of assisted reproductive technology (ART) that fertilizes the egg and sperm in a lab. That embryo is then transferred to a uterus where, if it implants, a pregnancy will occur.

IVF is an option to grow your family if:

• You and/or your partner are having infertility issues
• Other fertility methods have failed
• You and your partner are a same-sex couple
• There are genetic diseases or disorders you don’t want to pass on
• Unexplained infertility affects you or your partner

IVF gives you the opportunity to experience pregnancy, childbirth and welcoming a new family member into the world. It’s one of the most effective options for infertile couples with high success rates that have led to more than 8 million babies born as a result of IVF since 1978.

When considering any family building option, it’s important to think about what could make it more difficult for your circumstances.

The physical and emotional toll and cost are two of the primary reasons why it may not be right for you.

IVF consists of a series of procedures that can be physically and emotionally taxing. Your pain tolerance and sensitivity may play a part in deciding if it’s right for you.

Depending on your budget, IVF can be costly too as it typically takes more than one IVF cycle for a pregnancy to occur.

Cryopreservation

This option after you’ve created embryos gives you the opportunity to save them for later use.

Cryopreservation could be right for you if:

• Undergoing chemotherapy
• Age is a factor in your journey
• There’s a risk of injury due to a medical condition

Whether the timing isn’t right for growing your family or you just want to have options down the road, freezing your embryos gives you the ability to use them when it’s right for you.

Once frozen, embryos can be stored with professionals like fertility clinics or embryos banks but be aware of the costs and legal status if you are considering this option. 

Although they can be stored indefinitely, there are annual costs for storing them at facilities and depending on where you live, the legal status of those embryos could complicate your situation.

What Are My Options After Creating Embryos That I Won’t Use?

If none of the options for infertile couples or individuals above suit your needs or you just don’t intend to use them, you have to decide what to do with the remaining embryos.

Three potential options include:

Donation

Embryo donation gives other intended parents the opportunity to live out their dreams of experiencing parenthood. You can also donate them to science, helping further the field via research on those embryos.

Fertility clinics and embryo donation banks typically have programs that allow you to relinquish the extra embryos you have. If that’s something that piques your interest, know that you will need to meet certain requirements.

Indefinite Storage

If you don’t intend to use the extra embryos you have, another option after creating embryos is to store them indefinitely. Be aware of the annual costs with storing them, but this is a good option if you think you may want to try for another pregnancy in the coming years.

Disposal

If you are done growing your family, you could choose to dispose of your extra embryos.

You can do this through the facility that is storing them but be aware of the laws where you live. IVF laws in different states carry different weight.

Louisiana, for example, is the only state that views and addresses embryos from IVF as a person. You can’t intentionally dispose of IVF embryos there.

In Alabama, there’s more ambiguity, as embryos from IVF are considered unborn children with legal rights. Because of the legal precedent set in Louisiana, most fertility clinics in Alabama are shipping their embryos out of state.

Get in touch with us today whether you’re considering surrogacy, you need a fertility clinic with a storage program or an embryo donation bank that can handle your leftover embryos. If you’re considering surrogacy, you can browse available surrogate situations.  We’re here for you when you need us.