As a gay couple, you can use embryo donation as part of your family-building journey. By choosing this path, you can move closer to achieving your dream of parenthood with the help of donated embryos and a surrogate. We are here to guide you through the process — helping you find the right embryo donors and supporting you in every step of your journey to build the family you’ve always envisioned. As you read on, you'll learn more about the embryo donation process, including the costs, legal and medical screenings and success rates. If you want or need someone to help you carry the pregnancy, reach out today. We can provide you with personalized guidance and support regarding gestational surrogacy with donated embryos.
What Is Embryo Donation for Gay Couples?
Embryo donation is an option for gay couples who are pursuing parenthood through in vitro fertilization (IVF) and gestational surrogacy. It involves receiving embryos that were created by another couple who completed their own IVF process but no longer need the remaining embryos.
Instead of letting the embryos go unused, they’re donated to individuals or couples, like you, who are looking to start or grow their families.
Embryo donation to gay couples provides you with a chance to build your family if you're not able to use your own sperm or eggs. It's also a viable solution if you want to avoid the lengthy and expensive process of working with an egg donor. Once you have donor embryos, you can transfer them to one partner’s uterus or a gestational surrogate’s.
The donor embryo cost is typically $5,000 to $15,000. Depending on your fertility clinic, this covers various aspects of the process, such as matching, screening, shipping and legal fees. While this option can be less expensive than IVF with donor eggs, it's still important to consider the financial implications. Embryo donation is just one part of the equation. If you or your partner plans to carry the pregnancy, you may need to budget for IVF treatments, which can range from $15,000 to $30,000 per cycle. If you use a surrogate, costs can exceed $169,900. The exact total depends on factors such as surrogate compensation, medical procedures and legal fees.How Much Does Embryo Donation Cost?
How Much Does IVF Cost LGBTQ Couples?
FDA Screening for Embryo Donation
When you receive donated embryos, they must meet specific health and safety standards set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA requires that embryo donors undergo thorough infectious disease screenings to ensure the safety of the recipients and the viability of the embryos.
In addition to FDA requirements, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine recommends further steps to ensure the emotional and legal aspects of embryo donation are fully addressed. These include:
Psychological counseling for both donors and recipients Medical and genetic history reviews Legal consultations to clarify parental rights and responsibilities
These protocols are in place to protect everyone involved: the embryo donors, intended parents, embryo recipient and future child.
Donor embryos typically have higher success rates compared to embryos created from your own egg or sperm. Research shows that implantation rates for donor embryos are above 25% for all ages. This is because donated embryos have already undergone testing to ensure their genetic health, which increases their likelihood of successful implantation and pregnancy. By choosing donor embryos, you start the process with embryos that are considered more viable. This could mean a higher chance of a successful pregnancy and the joy of welcoming a baby into your family.Donor Embryo Success Rates
Emotional Consideration of LGBTQ Embryo Donation
As with any family-building decision, embryo donation comes with emotional considerations. Here are three things to consider:
1. Decide Between a Directed or Non-Identified Embryo Donation
In a directed embryo donation, you know the donors’ identities. This can be a close friend, relative or someone open to future communication. If you opt for this route, there may be additional legal and emotional factors to navigate.
In a non-identified donation, you don’t know the donors, which can bring its own set of emotional and legal questions. It’s important to consider how you’ll address the possibility of your child wanting to learn about or meet their donors in the future.
2. Think About How You’ll Feel During the Pregnancy
The family-building process is emotional, and it's natural to feel a mix of excitement and anxiety. As a gay couple, you may have feelings about the lack of a genetic connection to your child. Whether you, your partner or your surrogate carries the pregnancy, it’s important to acknowledge and give yourself time to work through these emotions.
3. Determine How You’ll Answer Your Child’s Origin Questions
As your child grows, they may ask about where they came from. Preparing yourself to answer their questions about donor conception and the role of embryo donors will help you foster openness and trust with your child. Providing age-appropriate explanations can help them feel secure in their identity.
If you plan to use a surrogate after embryo donation, we can help you find the right gestational carrier. On average, you can be matched with a surrogate in one to six months. For more information, fill out our contact form or give us a call at 1-800-875-BABY. One of our experienced surrogacy specialists can help you get started on your journey to parenthood.Surrogacy With Embryo Donation