What You Need to Know About Embryo Adoption in California
Embryo adoption allows an adoptive mother to give birth to her adoptive child. Here are the basics of embryo adoption in California.
Embryo adoption allows a family with remaining embryos to select a recipient family for their embryo gift. The adopting family can use the donated embryos to achieve pregnancy and give birth to their adoptive child.
What Is Embryo Adoption?
When embryos are no longer needed, they may be kept frozen, discarded, used for scientific research, or be donated for adoption. When they are donated for adoption, they allow the adopting woman to carry her own child.
Related: Assisted Reproduction Laws in California
Typically, prospective parents might choose embryo adoption because:
- They might have a problem with sperm or eggs, which leads to infertility,
- Their attempts at In vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments have failed,
- One or both of the parents have a genetic disorder, which they could pass onto their offspring,
- The parents might want to bypass sperm or egg donors, or
- The couple wants to adopt a child and experience pregnancy.
Once a couple decides on embryo adoption, they must complete an application with an embryo adoption clinic/organization, match with a donor, and legally adopt the embryo. Once the match and adoption are complete, the donor embryo is implanted into the adopted mother’s uterus.
Adoption is defined as the placement of a live child after birth, but it is a term that most people can relate to when discussing receiving donated embryos for reproduction. When a woman gives birth to their donor embryo-conceived child, she will be listed as the child’s parent in the birth certificate. Therefore, embryo adoption is often described as giving birth to an adopted child.
Cost of Embryo Adoptions
For families considering their options, it is common to have worries. One issue most couples have is the cost. There are a few choices couples usually examine. Many choose In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)—an option that combines a man’s sperm and a woman’s egg outside the womb to create embryos. The average cost of IVF can cost anywhere between $12,000 to $17,000 (excluding medication). With medication, it could cost around $25,000.
Embryo adoption is an entirely different route couples try to take. It allows women to give birth to their adoptive child. On average, it costs around $10,000 to $18,000. It is one of the least expensive forms of adoption available.
Process for Embryo Adoption
Some embryo adoption agencies require home studies. Home studies typically take two to six months, and they are usually 20% evaluation and 80% education for the parents. The evaluation determines the readiness of a mother, or couple, to parent through adoption. This helps the donating family know that they are making the best decision of who to donate to. Involved families will be screened of any criminal and child abuse issues. They may also receive a health exam to see if there are any issues that would make it more difficult to care for and raise a child.
Most of the home study is education, where a family will be prepared to care for the needs of a child who is not genetically related to them. They will learn parenting skills, and how to prepare to share a child’s genetic origins story with them.
After a home study, there is typically a matching process where the adoptive family will choose the family to adopt embryos from and move forward with the adoption.
Related: How to Adopt a Child in California
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If you are considering embryo adoption in California, contact us. Get your free consultation with one of our experienced Adoption Attorneys today!