Embryo Adoption....getting started

Once you decide to begin researching embryo adoption/donation the next question is "Where do I start?". One of the most challenging aspects of EDA is that there is no central place to begin. No one place with a compilation of resources (that is not run by a program). I am working on starting a website just for this, but until now I will post this to help those beginning the journey.

First things first. You have to decide whether you want to do embryo adoption or embryo donation. This may give you pause because many do not realize that there is a difference. But there is. Most people use the term Embryo Adoption (EA) as it is easier to understand, but there is a difference between the two. EA is when you go through an agency and have a home study. Legally there is no such thing as 'adopting' an embryo, however the process is similar. EA can be an open, semi-open or closed/anonymous 'adoption'.  ED is when you either go through a clinic or find a match on your own (and even this one can be more EA than ED if a home study is required).  Rarely is ED through a clinic anything other than anonymous.

There are pros and cons to both routes. With EA you have the option of knowing the donor couple and having a relationship, however the process is longer and more expensive. With ED is only anonymous (with a few exceptions) and the wait can be longer, but it is typically less expensive.

Once you decide which route to go you can begin researching specific clinics and programs. If you choose EA the most popular programs are Snowflakes, NEDC, Embryos Alive, and Cedar Park. They all require a home study (Embryos Alive will accept a dossier or a home study). The NEDC requires you to travel to their clinic for the transfer, the others ship the embryos to your clinic. The fees for the home study, shipping, and transfer will vary, but average $6000-$8000.

If you choose ED through an anonymous clinic program you will need to find one that offers this service. This can be difficult to find but with a bit of work you can find many options. You can start by calling clinics near your. Also, there is a link at the top with a list of some of them. This site has a list as well: Clinics. No home study is required though some require a psych evaluation. The average wait time is about a year and the fees again vary greatly, with most in the $5000 range. Some can be as low as $3000 and other up to $9000. If you are willing to travel you can sometimes find programs with lower fees even with travel.

Another option is to find embryos yourself and either travel to the donor's clinic or have them shipped to you. Some spread the word on blogs, forums and other sites. Miracles Waiting is a great site to find a match. Recipients pay a one time $150 fee to join. By choosing this route you can save quite a bit of money and still have an open donation. However, your wait time can be much longer (but not always) and you have to do all of the work yourself (legal paperwork, shipping, etc).

And lastly, there is the option of double donor. California Conceptions uses donor sperm and donor eggs and their success rates are some of the highest out there. The offer up to 3 cycles for around $12,000. The downside is that if you get pregnant the first try it is quite expensive. But you are pregnant so that matters little if you can afford it. The upside is that if you don't get pregnant you get another try (or 2) for that price which is lower than you would pay for 3 tries at most other clinics. They do not offer a single transfer price either. I am not as familiar with this program but this site is a wealth of information: CC.

There are other programs and clinics available, but this is information will get you started.