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Embryo Adoption

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Throughout our 120 years of experience in adoption many lessons have been learned about best practices, how to provide the highest level of support, and what questions and issues can arise lifelong for all members of the adoption triad.

 

With that knowledge and experience, we have launched embryo adoption services to serve those who are looking to adopt embryos and carry them through pregnancy.

This new avenue of adoption has grown in popularity in fertility clinics and agencies around the country as an option for families who have struggled achieving pregnancy but are able to safely carry a child to term.  For those who have participated in assisted reproductive technologies, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), there are decisions to be made if there are additional embryos once the couple has finished growing their family.  Some couples choose to cryopreserve their embryos and may not realize there is another option available through adoption.

You may be exploring options for growing or creating your family and embryo adoption may be the right fit for you. Currently, embryo adoption is available in a select few agency settings around the country or through fertility clinics.  Our desire in offering these services is to bring our historical adoption knowledge and provide a high level of support to all involved throughout the process.

We offer comprehensive adoption services including pre-placement training, home study services, mediation of openness, and post-adoption support that encompasses ongoing events, counseling, and resources.  Open adoption may be a new concept for families exploring adoption and we want to help families understand the why and the how of openness in the context of embryo adoption.  We also recognize families often have questions and concerns about the financial risk of adoption.

Our staff are ready to help you process all of these questions and more and walk with you as you look to create or grow your family through adoption.

Contact us today to schedule a free agency orientation.  If you are ready to apply, click the link below for access to our required application documents.

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Process

We know the adoption process can be daunting and you’ll have many questions.  Check out our step-by-step guide below.  We are happy to offer a free agency orientation as well to help you understand the steps of the process.

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  • Application: Complete application documents and receive medical clearance to participate.
  • Training: Once approved, attend required pre-placement training.
  • Home Study: Complete home study paperwork, background checks, and interviews.
  • Waiting Begins: Become a waiting family.
  • Chosen: Be chosen by a donor family and matched for legal transfer.
  • Legal Process: Legal transfer of embryo(s) will be completed with the court.
  • Embryo Transfer: Work with a fertility clinic to have embryo(s) transferred and implanted.
  • Pregnancy: When transfer is successful, pregnancy can occur.
  • Post-Placement: DPA provides ongoing support throughout first year of life and beyond.

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Meet our Embryo Program Coordinator
Catherine Howe, CCLS

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Frequently Asked Questions

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  • Married, man and wife, for a minimum of two years if it is the first marriage for both and for five years if either has been married previously
  • Minimum 21 years of age and no older than 45 at the time of application
  • Meet medical criteria for embryo transfer
  • All prospective adoptive parents must be actively involved in a Christ-centered church of their choosing

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This is a difficult question to answer in some respects. The beginning part of the process takes 3-6 months to complete including application, medical clearance to carry a baby to term, training, and home study.  From there, the timeframe is more unknown as families may wait a variable amount of time to be chosen by a donor family.  Additionally, there are varying success levels of pregnancy after the embryo is transferred so it may take families multiple rounds of transfers to achieve pregnancy.  Once the baby is born, DPA will provide post-placement visits at one month and one year to support the family in the transition.

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The total cost for an embryo adoption may vary slightly as you will pay fees directly to the fertility clinic for the medical side of the process as well as the costs of pregnancy and delivery through your insurance. DPA fees will total $9,000 and include all legal fees and agency services.  The average cost for the fertility clinic services are approximately $6,000 though DPA has no control over the amount of these fees.  Fees are billed throughout the process and are not due in one lump sum.  Please see the Embryo Adoption Fee Agreement in the application documents for a breakdown of fees.

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Yes! We are licensed in every state.  Out-of-state families must be willing to come to Oklahoma for pre-placement training.  In addition, an approved home study and post-placement provider will need to be found in your home state.  Travel to the fertility clinic for transfer may also be needed.

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We do not allow gender preference of embryos.

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You are able to state the number of embryos you are interested in adopting as well as their racial background. You may also preference whether you are open to severe mental illness or specific genetic issues in the family history.  Please see the Information on Embryo You Wish to Adopt page in the application documents for more information on what preferences adoptive parents state.

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We love this question! Open adoption means that there is some form of contact or relationship between the donor and adoptive family after placement.  Adoptions can range from closed to semi-open to fully open.

We believe openness is in the best interest of all parties as it gives children access to information about their heritage and donor family and allows for more people that love the child to be part of their lives.  It is not co-parenting and does not mean that the donor family has daily contact.  How the child views their biological heritage and family will impact their view of who they are and openness allows for a more holistic view of that.  It also allows for ongoing connection between biological siblings.  Significant research has been done showing the positive impact of openness on all involved.

Below is a brief description of the range of options available.
 

  • A closed or confidential adoption means there is no exchange of identifying information and you do not meet the donor family. Closed adoptions are very rare and are facilitated at the request of the donor family only.
  • A semi-open adoption means you stay connected with your donor family with the agency as a mediator. This arrangement involves the exchange of pictures, emails or letters, and often involves visits.
  • A fully open adoption involves ongoing contact and visits with the donor family without the agency as a mediator. This type of relationship usually evolves over time, typically beginning as a semi-open adoption.

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