Third Party Reproduction
The three components needed to achieve pregnancy are an egg, sperm, and a uterus. For couples that don't have all of these components, there are options. Donors for both eggs and sperm can be found through different agencies and banks around the world. Many of the donor agencies also help find surrogates for couples. There are adoption agencies that specialize in the adoption of embryos that have been frozen and are ready for transfer.
Some patients choose to use known donors instead of going thru an agency. Either way, there are very specific requirements to deem a donor eligible and a lawyer will need to be consulted to ensure the custody of the child is in accordance with the laws set forth by the state where the delivery takes place. Our IVF patient coordinator, Marnee, will help guide you through the process of third party reproduction with ease and will let you know what to look for when choosing an agency and a donor.
Some patients choose to use known donors instead of going thru an agency. Either way, there are very specific requirements to deem a donor eligible and a lawyer will need to be consulted to ensure the custody of the child is in accordance with the laws set forth by the state where the delivery takes place. Our IVF patient coordinator, Marnee, will help guide you through the process of third party reproduction with ease and will let you know what to look for when choosing an agency and a donor.
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DONOR EGG
Donor eggs may be utilized in ART in combination with your partner’s sperm for fertilization, embryo development and then transfer into your body. This option is often used by women who are older, respond poorly to ovulation medication, or are anovulatory. Success rates for IVF using young donor egg is generally very high. |
DONOR SPERM
Donor sperm is obtained as frozen specimens from a licensed, reputable, commercial “sperm bank”. In addition, much more information is made available about the donor, allowing you to choose a donor based on not only physical attributes and medical history, but also personality profiles, level of education, and even a sampling of childhood photos. |
DONOR EMBRYO
Donor embryos may be utilized in IVF. Frozen embryos are currently available for ‘snowflake adoption’ through various agencies. Virtually all of these embryos were created by IVF and donated by couples who no longer wish to use their frozen embryos and want to help other couples grow their families. |
SURROGACY
Surrogacy is sometimes called a “gestational carrier.” This is when another woman carries a couple's biological embryos, donor embryos or the patient's eggs fertilized with donor sperm. A surrogate carries the resulting pregnancy to term and gives the baby to the biological parents after birth. This practice is not protected in all states and the use of an established agency that has experience with this legal minefield is highly recommended.
Surrogacy is sometimes called a “gestational carrier.” This is when another woman carries a couple's biological embryos, donor embryos or the patient's eggs fertilized with donor sperm. A surrogate carries the resulting pregnancy to term and gives the baby to the biological parents after birth. This practice is not protected in all states and the use of an established agency that has experience with this legal minefield is highly recommended.