Donating remaining Embryos- How to decide what to do??

Many of the clients that CFC works with are using Donor eggs, or Donor sperm to create their families. Often nd up with many extra embryos, once they have built, or added to their families through our program.  Clients will often ask us "What should we do with our left over frozen embryos?"

Below are questions that we suggest clients ask themselves, their fertility clinic, as well as potential recipients, if they are considering donating remaining embryos to another Intended parent/Patient of their clinic.

*Have you spoken to the counselor at the Fertility clinic to be certain you/partner agree on donating your embryos to someone else?

 *Does your clinic require a legal agreement between you and the recipients of the embryos, or do they simply have you sign a consent releasing the embryos to the other party?

*Is it possible to change your mind? Possible to donate only some/not all of your embryos?If so, at what point in the process?

 *Have you determined how much personal information you are willing to have shared with the recipient?

*How does the clinic “match” donors and recipients?

 *Would you prefer to know the recipients if that were an option to you?

*Is your clinic willing to provide information about the recipients, in order for you to make an informed decision regarding donating your embryos to them?

*Are you willing to be contacted by the recipients in the case of medical issues relating to the child, in future?

*What, if any, information do you want to be told regarding the recipient’s pregnancy or birth resulting from your donated embryos?

*Do you want your children to have any contact with a child born from your donated embryos?

*What will be done with any embryos that are not used by the recipient?

*Will you, or the clinic receive any financial benefit from your donated embryos?

*Are you and your partner required to undergo testing for communicable or genetic illnesses?

*Who will pay for any required legal agreements, retesting or counseling that the clinic requires?

When going to speak to your Fertility clinic about donating your embryos, please consider taking this list with you, as it is a great resource that many of our clients have found very helpful.

For further information on Embryo donation, or CFC's various fertility programs, please check out our website www.fertilityconsultants.ca or by calling us at 613 439 8701.