In 1997, Christian adoption center Nightlight launched the first-ever program aimed at encouraging embryo adoption. This week, its Embryo Adoption Awareness Center received a grant to fund its ongoing work.

“Couples who have received in vitro fertilization treatment frequently have more embryos created than they end up using for themselves. When they have completed their fertility treatments they may have remaining embryos in frozen storage.

They are faced with the difficult decision of what they should do with these remaining embryos. There are currently an estimated 500,000 embryos in frozen storage in the United States.” - Source: Business Wire

Through programs like Nightlight, couples are given the option of donating their remaining embryos to other couples. An embryo is implanted in the adoptive mother, and she carries the baby that she will adopt. It’s interesting legal ground, too, but laws are slowly changing to allow adoptions to be finalized sooner and more quickly – though the adoptive parents still have to wait until after the baby is born.

Labels: embryo_adoption

Posted By: Adoption Issues