Embryo Donation

As the success of IVF increased the situation had arisen where couples had completed their family but still had embryos frozen at the clinic. The option to destroy the embryos or donate them for medical research had always existed once embryo freezing was initiated in 1989. A further option of donating these embryos to other couples has been available since 1997.

Most couples coming through IVF either completely utilize their embryos for their own use or elect to have surviving embryos destroyed or donated for medical research. The numbers of embryos available for the embryo donation program remains small and the waiting list can be considerable. This program is restricted to couples who have completed an IVF cycle themselves within the Regional Fertility Program and are deemed by the medical staff that another IVF cycle attempt would be very unlikely to produce a successful pregnancy outcome for them.

In order for a couple to be eligible to donate their embryos within the clinic the female partner must have been 37 years of age or younger at the time of egg retrieval. Due to the possible genetic concerns surrounding the use of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) embryos cannot be donated if ICSI was used for fertilization apart from the indication of antisperm antibodies, prior vasectomy or prior IVF fertilization failure. Couples can direct the embryos to be given to another couple within the clinic, or be given anonymously. In the near future there may be opportunity for the couple to be involved in the process of choosing perspective parents for their embryos. The genetic parents must agree to complete a medical and genetic questionnaire and must undergo counselling by one of the psychologists at the clinic.

In order to qualify for the embryo donation program a couple must have attempted an IVF cycle in the clinic and it be determined that future cycles using their own eggs would not result in a successful pregnancy. The female partner must be 45 years of younger in order to qualify for donated embryos and there must be no children between the recipient couple whether this be biological children, adopted children or step children. This stipulation is present because of the very small number of donor embryos that are available. Testing needs to be undertaken to ensure that the recipient female has a uterus which would be receptive to implantation.

As this process represents a very early adoption procedure a home study is required as well as psychological counselling of the recipient couple. The recipient couple will then meet with a physician at the clinic and a match will be attempted with the embryos available to most closely match their ethnic background and physical characteristics.

This program is limited due to the small number of embryos available. It however has been successful in allowing couples who have struggled with their infertility to successfully have a family.