Donor Embryo

The embryo donation process

Many people consider donating their unused embryos to another infertile couple. 

It can be an emotionally complex decision for a person or couple to make, but it does help many people to consider that donating unused embryos shares the blessing of children with others who can provide a loving and stable environment. At RSC, we provide guidance, counseling, and expert advice that may help you decide what’s right for you. 

Not all frozen embryos are eligible for donation, so it is very important for a family exploring donating embryos to check with their physician to see if their embryos would be accepted for donation. 

Receive embryos

If you are interested in receiving embryos, either through a known source or an unknown donor, talk with your physician about the options available. In anonymous embryo donations, you will not know the identity of your embryo donor. In a directed (known) embryo donation, you will receive the embryos through someone you know, such as a family member, friend, or acquaintance. 

As an embryo donor-recipient, you may learn the following about your anonymous embryo donors: medical history, physical characteristics, and information about their family, including their children and their health history. You may also see pictures of both donors as children. 

If you are interested in receiving donor embryos, talk with your physician at RSC. 

Legal considerations

Any embryo donation, including between family members, requires guidance from skilled legal experts who are experienced in this topic. Our team is happy to connect you with reproductive law attorneys in the Bay Area who can provide more information and help guide you.