Can You Donate Spare Embryos?

Sadly, some couples will still be unsuccessful after many years of infertility even after undertaking many stimulated cycles with hormone treatment, operations and treatment with IVF or GIFT.

However, with the help of donated embryos a couple could have the opportunity of having a child and achieving their lifelong goal. The gift of life would bring untold joy to a couple who could truly appreciate a child in their life especially after usually waiting many years.

Indeed, for many couples, receiving donated embryos or donor eggs or sperm may be the only way they will achieve a pregnancy especially as very few children are available for adoption locally or even overseas which can be very expensive. It is also too late usually for a woman after she is 36 if her partner is say 38 since there is normally a waiting list of several years, and a BABY from birth cannot be adopted after either the man or woman is 41.

Embryo donation can normally be made in two ways: by donating anonymously to the clinic or donating to a known couple. If you donate your embryos anonymously then the clinic will choose a couple to match from the waiting list, though in practice it may just be the first couple at the top of the list when so few donated embryos are available. Embryos can also be donated to a couple you know who have been unsuccessful in their treatment. You may know or hear of another couple who could be interested through friends, AISG or other support groups. This may be your preferred option if you would like to know where your embryos are going.

Advantages in Donating

	Helping another infertile couple have a child and bringing joy to their life.
	Allowing a child/children the opportunity of life and love in a much wanted home.
	Not discarding the spare embryos that you do not wish to use which have the highest resource value having the potential for creating life.
	Not continuing to pay for clinic storage costs which can be expensive over several years.
	Donating makes it possible for a couple to have children when other expensive options as overseas adoption or more IVF treatment after six cycles are not possible.

Some Possible Questions

Have you completed your family?
Usually it is suggested that perhaps two years is needed before this can be determined and you feel your children have reached a safe age.

Feelings of what happened to the embryos and did they go to a good home.
This can be overcome with known donation and choosing a couple. Alternatively perhaps you can ask the clinic whether some non-identifying information about the recipients is available.

Will the resulting child contact us?
This is a possibility which cannot be denied even with anonymous donation as the state of Victoria allows children from donors to find out identifying information about the donors. Such legislation may come to pass in other states, with similarities to adoption rights and law. Some clinics, if you are agreeable to contact, will pass on a letter from you to the recipient and from the recipient to the donors so identifying details can be arranged.

Cosanguantity - the risk of your children having a relationship with children of the recipient couple(s).
This is an extremely small risk, which can be overcome by known donation. It can perhaps be overcome too by the clinic agreeing to pass on the dates of birth of your children and first names, parent's first names and dates of birth and vice versa etc, or you passing on identifying information to the couple via the clinic.

Will the resulting child feel they were given up as in adoption?
Perhaps a letter could be left to the child which can be passed on to the couple by the clinic or left on the couple's file explaining why you decided to donate. This could help the child understand that you wanted to help an infertile couple and that you wanted to give him/her the opportunity of a life that they would otherwise not have.

If you donate embryos to the clinic how many recipient couples will share your embryos and can you determine this or make your donation to only one couple?
Remember you can make enquiries at several clinics and shop around.

If you would like to discuss any of the above topics further, or anything else related to donating embryos, please email Diana.

This article was researched and written by Anne Ozscot.