For many, having their own family by biological means is simply not possible.
There is an increasing number of options available to those people, from adoption to surrogacy or egg or sperm donation.
In the US and other countries, the topic of ’embryo adoption’ or donation is coming up more and more.
But what does it mean, can you get it here, and what are the benefits of this procedure?
What is embryo ‘adoption’ or donation – can you do it in the UK?
Widely referred to as embryo donation – but sometimes ‘adoption’ – this refers to the process of donating, or being a recipient, of an embryo.
Although it’s sometimes referred to as adoption, this is not a legal or technical term as adoption refers to a live child after birth.
However, some people who have gone through the process refer to it as such, with the US National Embryo Donation Center saying that ‘many parents describe it as giving birth to your adopted child.’
As a result, the phrase has slipped into common parlance.
However, the term is contested in the States – where it is more common – with many scientists saying it should be seen as a medical procedure rather than a form of child adoption.
Experts in the UK resist using the term too, with some claiming it is ‘misleading’ because the child in question would be carried by their so-called adoptive mother, who would also assume all legal responsibility for them.
Therefore, ‘donation’ is the more accurate term.
Fiona MacCallum, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Warwick University, previously wrote in Bio News: ‘Children conceived through embryo donation do resemble adopted children in that they are reared by two parents with whom they have no genetic link.
‘Significantly though, the situations differ in that the recipient mother in embryo donation is also the gestational mother.
‘Due to this biological link, embryo donation and adoption differ from each other legally and psychologically.’
A spokesperson for the Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority (HFEA), the UK fertility regulator in the UK told Metro.co.uk: ‘We generally don’t use the term ‘embryo adoption’ in the UK.
‘If someone donates their leftover embryos to someone else’s treatment we’d refer to this as embryo donation in the UK, whereas in the US its commonly referred to as ‘embryo adoption.’
Embryo donation is available in the UK at licensed clinics.
How does embryo donation work?
Embryo donation is when another couple’s embryo is implanted in your womb during IVF.
People may decide to donate their embryos if they have frozen embryos after fertility treatments that they decided not to use themselves.
Donating them to give another family a chance is a route many take, rather than discarding them, or donating them to research.
The procedure allows the woman to experience pregnancy herself – something which wouldn’t be available with options such as adoption.
Embryo donation follows the same principles as egg or sperm donation. If the embryos are donated through a licensed fertility clinic, the donor won’t have any legal responsibility for any children born as a result.
However, under law, donors can not remain anonymous and when they turn 18, anyone conceived with a donor is entitled to ask for their name, date of birth, and last known address.
According to HFEA: ‘In the UK, any patient who has undergone treatment and has embryos left that they don’t want to discard, can consider donating them to someone else’s treatment, fertility research or training.
‘We encourage anyone who chooses donation to use a licensed clinic. Clinics are required to screen and test any donation, including donated embryos, for a wide range of infectious diseases and genetic illnesses which offers protection to health of the recipient and future children who may be born. Clinics also ensure that the legal parenthood implications are understood and consented to by donors and recipients.’
You can search for clinics that offer embryo donation on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA)’s website.
MORE: Can you put yourself up for adoption?
MORE: What could go against you in the adoption process?
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Adoption Month
Adoption Month is a month-long series covering all aspects of adoption.
For the next four weeks, which includes National Adoption Week from October 14-19, we will be speaking to people who have been affected by adoption in some way, from those who chose to welcome someone else’s child into their family to others who were that child.
We’ll also be talking to experts in the field and answering as many questions as possible associated with adoption, as well as offering invaluable advice along the way.
If you have a story to tell or want to share any of your own advice please do get in touch at adoptionstories@metro.co.uk.
Here is a selection of the stories from Adoption Month so far:
