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April 30, 2025 58 mins

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Have you thought about adopting a baby, but long for the experience of being pregnant, or want to control the intrauterine environment? Join us for this fascinating discussion about embryo donation/adoption with Dr. Craig Sweet with Embryo Donation International, Mark Mellinger with the National Embryo Donation Center, and Beth Button with the Snowflakes Embryo Adoption Program.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • The IVF process.
  • Remaining embryos.
  • Donating to another person.
  • How to find embryos available for donation?
  • What is the medical process of embryo donation/embryo adoption?
  • What is the success rate of having a baby through a donated embryo? What factors influence the success rate?
  • What percentage of donated embryos are created via donor egg or sperm?
  • What information is available about the embryos and the donors?
  • Can you have twins via embryo donation if that is your preference?
  • Does it matter how long they’ve been frozen?
  • Are pregnancies conceived through donated embryos considered high-risk?
  • Are there long-term health risks for children conceived via frozen embryos?
  • What is the legal process for embryo donation/embryo adoption? 
  • Is there a matching process? Do you have a choice regarding what embryos you receive?
  • Do the people who donate the embryo continue to have a legal connection to the child? Do they have legal rights to see the child, contact the child, or take the child back?
  • Openness after the birth? What is the relationship between the embryo donor and the person who receives the embryo and the child conceived? 
  • Is the contact information shared between both parties?
  • How much does embryo donation/embryo adoption cost?
  • What factors influence the cost?
  • Can you use your local infertility clinic to perform the transfer?
  • LGBTQ+ and single parents
  • What should you consider when choosing a clinic or organization to facilitate embryo donation/ adoption?
  • How to talk with children conceived through embryo donation/embryo adoption about their conception?

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Please leave us a rating or review. This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them.

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