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Embryo Donation: Medical Aspects

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Third-Party Reproduction

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Abstract

It is estimated that over 400,000 embryos remain in storage in the United States. These surplus embryos are the by-products of modern-day assisted reproductive techniques. Couples who have completed childbearing often struggle with decisions regarding the disposition of these embryos. Options include embryo disposal, donation to research, or donation to other infertile couples. Use of these surplus embryos would potentially benefit infertile couples at lower costs compared to fresh in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles, with costs approaching those of frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles. Limited data show pregnancy success rates to be comparable to fresh IVF and autologous FET cycles. Eligible donors and recipients should ideally comply with and meet all criteria established by the American Society of Reproductive Medicine prior to embryo donation. While embryo donation has numerous inherent medical and legal challenges, it may be an ideal option for couples who do not find embryo disposal acceptable and wish to help other infertile couples in their efforts to conceive.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, 11100 Euclid Avenue, MAC 7007, Cleveland, OH, 44106-5034, USA

    Bonnie G. Patel M.D.

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Case Western Reserve School of Medicine, 1000 Auburn Dr., Suite 310, Beachwood, OH, 44122, USA

    Brooke V. Rossi M.D.

Authors
  1. Bonnie G. Patel M.D.
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  2. Brooke V. Rossi M.D.
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Correspondence to Bonnie G. Patel M.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University Hospitals of Cleveland Case Western Reserve University, Director of Fertility Services and In Vitro Fertilization, Cleveland, Ohio, USA

    James M. Goldfarb

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Patel, B.G., Rossi, B.V. (2014). Embryo Donation: Medical Aspects. In: Goldfarb, J. (eds) Third-Party Reproduction. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-7169-1_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-7169-1_9

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  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-7168-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-7169-1

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