Requirements

Requirements for Donating Families
We evaluate each family according to your needs, and the requirements of the FDA. There are also some FDA guidelines that have to be followed for each set of embryos depending on the date created, and whether or not there were donors involved, (sperm donor or egg donor). We can help you to evaluate the embryos that you have for donation. It is rare, that an embryo would not be eligible to be donated for adoption. Please contact us and we will assist you with your embryo evaluation.  We are happy to discuss this with you, and you are under no obligation to donate.

Requirements for Adopting Families
These are our program requirements for couples wishing to adopt embryos:

  1. Marriage Requirements. Couples should be married three years or longer.
  2. Home Study. Couples are required to complete a home study by a licensed social worker or adoption agency from the state the adopting couple resides. Home studies include back ground checks, financial stability verification, some basic counseling (regarding raising adopted children), a home visit by the social worker, and letters of recommendation, and additional information that may be required to complete your home study.
  3. Adoption Classes. Couples are required to attend classes on raising adopted children. These classes are put on by adoption agencies, possibly the same one that will do your home study.
  4. Counseling Sessions.We request that couples seek two or more visits with a licensed counselor prior to having a home study, in order to discuss embryo adoption, and the different issues it presents. Issues, such as the kind of contact the couple would like to have with their donating/placing family, are big decisions.Deciding what kind of contact one would like to have with their donating/placing family is a central issue with options including:
    • “Anonymous” or no contact.
    • Contact through Embryo Adoption Services of Cedar Park: letters, pictures, first names only.
    • Phone contact, email contact, family is known to you: first and last names.
    • Totally open adoption. You may socialize as families at times, etc.

    * This is an important step. It will affect the life of the child for the rest of his or her life. The decision can evolve and change, but obviously has to be agreed upon by both families. Your position on this vital step will determine the families that you will have the potential to be matched with.

  5. Letter from Doctor. The woman will need a letter from her OBGYN or fertility doctor stating that there are no contraindications to pregnancy, and that her health would support pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting. We do not necessarily have strict age limits, but health is a very important factor, and needs to be verified by a letter from the woman’s doctor.
  6. Number of Embryos to Transfer. We believe every embryo is a human life. When thawing and transferring embryos, we ask that no more embryos be transferred than what the woman would be willing to carry. (We will have more information for you and your doctor to discuss regarding thawing and transferring of embryos.)