Embryo Adoption

Embryo Adoption (or Embryo Donation) is an Assisted Reproduction technique that consists of transferring to a woman the embryos that were left unallocated after an IVF cycle. They therefore carry the genetic load of other people.

These embryos come from healthy couples, under 35 years of age, who do not want to have any more children after having successfully completed their treatment.

In addition, a large percentage of these embryos come from egg and/or sperm donation cycles and, therefore, have a high implantation potential. This treatment gives them a new chance at life.

Our Embryo Adoption Programme

In 2004, Institut Marquès decided to allocate to an Adoption Programme all those embryos that had been donated or that had been left at the disposal of the centre. This programme, pioneer in the international field, quickly became known all over the world. From the beginning, the response has had a great social acceptance. Several groups have shown their support and numerous people with different profiles have requested undergoing this treatment with enthusiasm.

For whom?

Embryo Adoption is an alternative for those who need egg and sperm donation to have a child.

The choice of this treatment often also responds to an ethical or moral interest of people who want to build a family by giving life to embryos that have been donated and are kept in our laboratories. It is undoubtedly a beautiful love story.

Success Rates

The success rate by Embryo Adoption transfer at our centre is 57,1%.

Pregnancy Rate

per Embryo Transfer

What is the process like?

Embryo Adoption is an Assisted Reproduction treatment, a simple process that is carried out without the need for hospital admission and includes the following phases:

First medical visit:The woman’s health is checked to ensure that she is healthy enough to carry the pregnancy, an ultrasound scan is performed (you can also get one from your own gynaecologist) and a painless test of the catheter with which the embryos will be transferred through the cervix is carried out. Once the treatment plan has been established, the embryos are assigned, and the date of thawing and embryo transfer can be chosen at the same time. While in gamete donation treatments, the selection of donors is carried out in a personalised way to achieve the maximum similarity in terms of physical traits and personality, in embryo adoption this type of “matching” is not applied and only the race is taken into account when assigning the embryos.
Endometrial preparation: The uterus is prepared to receive the embryos. To optimally prepare the endometrium and thus improve the chances of pregnancy prior to embryo transfer, medication in the form of transdermal tablets or patches (estradiol valerianate) and vaginal suppositories (progesterone) is prescribed for approximately 15 days.
Embryo transfer: when the uterus is ready, after a few days, the embryo is thawed and the embryo transfer is carried out.