Embryo adoption, also known as embryo donation, is a fertility treatment in which a cryopreserved embryo donated by another couple is transferred into the uterus of the recipient woman with the aim of achieving pregnancy.
Embryo adoption allows the adoption of high-quality embryos donated by other people who have already fulfilled their desire to form a family.
As a result, this treatment has become an effective reproductive solution for patients who wish to access quality embryos without undergoing ovarian stimulation. It also speeds up treatment times and avoids adding to the emotional and financial strain.
Embryo adoption in Spain is a safe and regulated fertility treatment carried out under strict medical and legal guidelines.
Thanks to advances in reproductive medicine, it is now possible to devitrify embryos with a survival rate of almost 100%.
PROCEDURE
The patient prepares her endometrium for 15-20 days by administering oestrogen and progesterone to achieve an adequate endometrial thickness to help implantation to take place.
The embryos are stored in our cryopreservation tank. In order to choose the most suitable one for each family, we follow guidelines of ethnic origin, such as skin colour, etc.
The embryo transfer is one of the most special moments for patients, as they will come into contact with the embryo for the first time.
It is a quick and painless process in which the embryo is placed into the mother's uterus using a cannula. The doctor performs the transfer with an ultrasound scan, so that the procedure can be monitored at all times.
The medical team and the patient will decide how many embryos to transfer.
Although the Spanish Fertility Society limits the maximum number of embryos per transfer to three, thanks to our technology, we recommend transferring just one embryo. This enables us to guarantee the viability of the pregnancy.
12 to 14 days after the embryo transfer, a blood test will be carried out to measure the beta-hCG hormone, the levels of which will indicate whether the patient is pregnant.
A follow-up ultrasound scan will be performed to check that the pregnancy is progressing correctly approximately two weeks after the positive pregnancy test result.
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Couples who wish to donate their embryos must meet a series of requirements to guarantee the success and safety of the treatment. Women must be under 35 years of age when the eggs have been fertilized. In addition, they must not have infectious or genetic diseases or hereditary problems in the family.
To assign an embryo to a patient or a couple, phenotypic aspects of both the couple or woman who donates them and the woman or couple who adopts the embryos are taken into account.
Since these embryos are donated, it largely depends on the number of embryos the donors have donated.
Donated embryos come from couples who have already undergone IVF treatment and, for various reasons (either because they have already achieved pregnancy or do not wish to continue with the process), no longer need them.
It is a relatively simple procedure that does not require anesthesia. The process is similar to a gynecological exam and is performed by inserting a thin, flexible catheter through the cervix.
Embryo transfer is generally considered a low-risk procedure, but no medical treatment is completely free of risk. Donated embryos are handled according to applicable clinical, laboratory and legal requirements, and the medical team assesses the recipient before transfer.
Yes. Embryo donation is legal in Spain and is subject to strict medical and legal regulation. The donation is anonymous and is carried out in accordance with the applicable provisions of Spanish legislation on assisted reproduction.
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