Understanding Donor Embryos

WHAT ARE DONOR EMBRYOS?

When an individual or couple goes through IVF treatment, they may have extra embryos left over after completing their family. They can elect to donate these embryos to a donor embryo bank, where they are available to others looking to get pregnant either on their own via a frozen embryo transfer (FET) or with the help of a gestational carrier. 

WHAT IS THE SUCCESS RATE OF IVF WITH DONOR EMBRYOS?

The chance of conceiving using donor embryos depends on the source of the eggs and sperm used to create those embryos.  There are multiple factors which influence the likelihood of success with donor embryos, including the age of the person who provided the eggs used to create the embryos, sperm factors, infertility factors in the embryo donors, and whether or not the embryos have been screened for chromosomal abnormalities.  

In 2019, the CDC reported 44.4% of donated frozen embryo transfers resulted in live births compared to 48.8% of frozen transfers in which the embryos were not donated. 

WHAT IS THE SCREENING PROCESS FOR DONOR EMBRYO RECIPIENTS?

The intended parent or gestational carrier receiving the frozen embryo transfer procedure goes through the same fertility workup that other people undergoing IVF would, such as STI testing, and a pelvic exam.

Boston IVF will schedule intended parents of donor embryos as well as embryo donors for counseling to understand the emotional and legal factors involved. Considerations include disclosure or nondisclosure of donor information to any children and relationships that could develop between the embryo donor and any resulting children.

HOW IS IVF DIFFERENT USING A FROZEN DONOR EMBRYO?

Frozen embryo transfer is commonly practiced in IVF, with the same process being followed whether the embryos are donated or not. A frozen embryo transfer is more affordable than going through an entire IVF cycle with limited side effects, because the only required medications relate to preparing the uterus to receive the transferred embryo. These medications could include estradiol or progesterone.

Following the transfer of any embryos, you will wait several days to have a blood pregnancy test and learn if the embryo implanted successfully. 

WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF USING DONOR EMBRYOS?

The FDA has guidelines for human tissue donation, including embryos. Since the donated embryos were not originally created for donation, the donors of these embryos might not have been tested according to the FDA tissue donation guidelines. The lab at Boston IVF would review records of the embryo donor to assess what STI testing was done and may recommend additional testing according to FDA tissue donation guidelines, if possible.

Embryo donor recipients will need to sign a legal contract with the embryo donor, assisted by a reproductive attorney who has expertise in state laws around embryo donation.

HOW DO YOU DONATE EMBRYOS?

If an individual or couple produces more embryos than needed for an IVF cycle, they can choose to store them for later use. If they decide they do not want to use them, they have the option to donate them for other infertile patients to use.  Unlike egg and sperm donors, embryo donors do not receive compensation for their donation.

Donor embryos are a wonderful gift to people who cannot conceive biological children. Potential donors should receive counseling to understand the emotional decisions and psychosocial consequences of embryo donation. Embryo donors need to decide whether they would like their identities to be undisclosed or disclosed to any resulting children. Donors who choose disclosure should consider potential relationships between the donor, recipient, and child. Donors do not have any legal or parental rights for any children resulting from their embryo donation. 

Laws and policies in this realm are always changing, so donors and recipients should also understand that anonymity is not guaranteed. Donors who prefer to remain non-identified should consider the availability of genetic tests in the marketplace that can connect any resulting children to their genetic parents.