Berkeley Parents Network: Embryo Adoption

Berkeley Parents Network

Embryo Adoption

The Parents Network > Advice > Adoption > Embryo Adoption

Looking to place my frozen embryos with an adoptive family

Looking to place my frozen embryos with an adoptive family

September 2006

Has anyone in this community successfully placed their frozen embryos with an adoptive family? I've done some research online and all the agencies I was able to locate are Christian and seem to screen prospective families based on religious criteria. We're not Christian, and we're put off by the anti-stem-cell research agenda that these agencies promote. What I'm hoping to find is a secular, non-profit group that helps families decide what to do with their excess embryos once they've chosen not to pursue any more pregnancies of their own.

Hi. I don't have any specific answers for you, but have encountered the same frustrations when exploring embryo adoption. In my case, however, my husband and I are interested in looking into the idea of adopting an embryo ourselves. When I did some preliminary research, I also found that the whole concept is fraught with political, religious and moral overtones that really don't play any part in my motives at all. We have one daughter by a successful IVF, but we simply don't have the resources to try again for a second child. When I spoke with my infertility doctor about this, she said that individual offices (like hers) do embryo adoption procedures, but it's usually a matter of matching a couple in her practice, who have no hope of using their own genetic ''material'', with another successful ex-patient who has indicated their interest in donating their extra embryos. So you might want to just call around to a few IVF clinics to see if they accept donated embryos and facilitate the process. Have you already talked to the clinic that is storing your frozen embryos? anon

I have an aquantance who adopted her embryos through Pacific Fertility Clinic. I don't have a lot of info but they were all clients I believe. I would check with your clinic. Liz

Gee, I could have written your post! I don't really know where to send you to find the answer, but I wanted to say that I am in the same boat. I would think that your RE could help you. You might try wherever you have your embryos stored and ask them for advice about where to donate. And stay away from those snowflakes people! Annie

If a secular, nonprofit organization exists that facilitates embryo donation, I'd love to hear about it. We're in the same situation as you (and many others; there are currently upwards of 600,000 frozen embryos in storage nationally). We're currently working with Diane Michelson, an adoption attorney in the Bay Area who also works with embryo donation, but have only just started the process. You can find her online. I'm not currently a member, but I think that www.resolve.org will also have information on embryo donation, and possibly can connect you to people who've already donated anon

Hi -- didn't see the original post, but think I got the gist of it from the responses. I recently found a website, called miracleswaiting, that allows people who have embryos and people who want embryos, to post messages. It remains anonymous unless you want to connect with someone and they want to connect with you. We have embryos, and after the posting, I received a large number of responses from very nice people who were having an even harder time conceiving than I did! There's no ''snowflake'' edge to the site itself, although some of the responses I got were maybe slightly ''snowflakey''! We are now close to a contract with a couple who actually live 10 minutes from our house, but who I doubt I would have met otherwise. Hope this helps -- good luck.
glad I found the website

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