Embryo Recipient General Info

Anonymous Embryo Donation

The most common form of embryo donation is done anonymously and often referred to simply as "embryo donation". In this form of embryo donation, the donors and recipients never meet.

All potential embryo donors complete an on-line application which details information about the donors and embryos themselves. While not always requested, embryo donors are able to stipulate as to the characteristics of recipients such as race, religion and marital status. EDI reviews the donor application and investigates as to the quality of the embryos. If we feel that the embryos are likely to be chosen and that they have an excellent chance of creating a family, we then have the embryos shipped to EDI at no charge to any of the participants.

Once we receive the embryos, information about the donors and the embryos is then made available on our Embryo Search page. Potential recipients are free to review the database at any time. If interested, the potential recipient applies via the on-line application. Some recipients will be able to find the embryos immediately while others will have to be placed on a waiting list. Once embryos are chosen, EDI carefully reviews the recipient's information making certain that the donor stipulations and recipient characteristics match wherein the embryos are placed on reserve. The recipient completes the medical evaluation and the embryos are eventually transferred.

This is the most common form of embryo donation. It is perfect for the embryo donors who are wanting to provide a wonderful gift while desiring closure and privacy in donating their embryos. It is also ideal for the embryo recipient who wants the least expensive option in obtaining embryos. The decision to accept the embryo recipient into the program is the responsibility of EDI's clinicians who have over a quarter century of combined experience in the infertility field. EDI is completely committed to help match healthy cryopreserved embryos with healthy embryo recipients.

Approved Embryo Donation

Approved Embryo Donation maintains anonymity while providing the donor with a increased level of screening of the recipients. The potential recipients undergo an interview with a qualified Mental Health Professional (MHP). The results of the interview, absent any identifying information, is sent to the donors for their approval. The donors and recipients still never meet.

The initial process is the same as with Anonymous Embryo Donation with applications and paperwork completed. The donors specifically request this form of donation. The potential embryo recipients indicate that they will accept this extra level of evaluation via their on-line application.

If potential recipients are interested in these embryos, a Mental Health Professional (MHP) is found by the EDI staff close to where the recipients live. EDI may, however, request that the evaluation be done here in Fort Myers if qualified individuals cannot be found.

After the MHP evaluates the potential embryo recipient, a summary letter is generated without any identifying information regarding the recipients as well as the individual who performed the evaluation. This summary is reviewed by the EDI staff for completeness and then forwarded to the embryo donors for review. Upon acceptance by the embryo donors, the embryos are placed on reserve, the medical evaluation of the recipients completed and the embryo transfer performed here at EDI.

Costs for the MHP evaluation are paid for by the embryo recipients. If the donors reject three or more potential embryo recipients, EDI reserves the right to request that the embryos be transferred to another facility. The costs for transferring the embryos to the location of the donor's choice will be equally divided between the donor and EDI. This assures that EDI will not store embryos indefinitely and encourages the donors to be reasonable in approving potential embryo recipients.

This is the second most common form of embryo donation. It is suited for the embryo donors who want additional information about the potential recipients. It is ideal for the potential embryo recipients who are willing to participate in the MHP interview process while still maintaining anonymity. EDI still ultimately decides which embryo recipients are physically ready to accept donated embryos gathering on their vast experience in the field of embryo donation.

Open Embryo Donation

Open Embryo Donation contains some of the steps commonly reserved for adoption of a live child. Embryo donors must indicate that this is the only method they will accept in donating their embryos. Potential embryo recipients also have to be willing to undergo this more involved and expensive process.

The initial procedure is the same as with any Embryo Donation with applications and paperwork completed. The donors must specifically request this form of donation. Potential embryo recipients must also indicate that they will accept the extra level of evaluation and interaction via their on-line application.

This option is more complex than the Anonymous or Approved Embryo Donation procedures with the general process outlined below:

• Embryo donors complete the on-line application indicating that they will only use an Open Embryo Donation process.
• Embryo Recipients apply on-line and show an interest in these same embryos.
• Basic information regarding potential embryo recipients is sent to donors absent identifying information.
• Preliminary acceptance by embryo donors follows. If not already sent, the donated embryos will be transported to EDI.
• Consents are signed to break confidentiality and the two parties contact one another.
• If both parties desire to move forward, following will occur:
  • Legal representation is required of both the parties and the contracts signed.
  • Mental Health Professional evaluates the Embryo Recipients with the report sent to the Embryo Donors.
  • A different Mental Health Professional evaluates Embryo Donors with the report sent to Recipients.
  • Home study with criminal background check is performed on the Recipients with report sent to Embryo Donors.
  • The necessary blood work on the Embryo Donors will be requested.
  • Embryo Recipients undergo the usual medical evaluation making sure they are good candidates to receive embryos.

All extra fees involved are paid for by the Embryo Recipients.

If the donors reject three or more potential embryo recipients, EDI reserves the right to request that the embryos be transferred to another facility. The costs for transferring the embryos to the location of the donor's choice will be equally divided between the donor and EDI. This assures that EDI will not store embryos indefinitely and encourages the donors to be reasonable in approving embryo recipients.

This is the least common form of embryo donation. It requires a greater level of participation for both donors and recipients. This is the most expensive form of embryo donation. The donors and recipients will clearly know each other. It is up to the participants themselves as to the relationship they will have after the embryos are transferred. It is uncertain if the Florida state statutes will protect all participants, so legal representation is required and contracts will need to be signed.