1. If we donate our embryos, is there any cost to us?

No. You will not incur any expenses if you decide to donate your embryos. In fact, you will no longer be responsible for embryo cryopreservation fees.

2. Do we have a say as to who will receive our embryos?

Yes. The donating parents can decide to stipulate general characteristics as to whom they would like their embryos to be received by. Furthermore, the donating parents may stipulate characteristics of whom they do not want their embryos to go. Please understand, the more strict the stipulations, the less likely the embryos will find a qualified recipient couple. Stipulations such as race, religion, and sexual preference are the most common stipulations. Please refer to the embryo donation stipulation agreement.

3. If we ask for our embryos to be donated, are they automatically accepted into the embryo donation program?

No. With respect and sensitivity to all parties, ARHC/CIVF reserves the right to accept or refuse embryos into the embryo donation program. Commonly, embryos with the following characteristics are not accepted:

• If embryos come from an older woman, the likelihood of successful pregnancy is reduced.



• If the number of embryos is 2 or fewer, it is likely that the embryos will not be chosen.



• If there is a family history of genetic disorders, it is likely the embryos will not be chosen.



• Poor quality of embryos will not be accepted.



• Other medical or genetic disorders may disqualify your embryos.

4. Will we be paid for our embryos?

No. For ethical and legal reasons, you will not be paid for embryos. We do not wish to entice couples to donate their embryos. We strive to provide a legal and ethical vehicle by which those couples who wish to donate their embryos may do so.

5. What are success rates?

Since this technology is new, little has been published in terms of success rates. We expect success rates to be somewhere in the range of standard In Vitro Fertilization and egg donor success rates.

6. If we decide to donate our embryos, do we have to undergo further testing?

When you decide to donate your embryos, you will be asked to fill out a medical and family history questionnaire. Only in the event that your embryos are chosen will you be asked to undergo an additional blood test (hepatitis, HIV, and related studies). There will be no charge to you. The embryo recipient will be responsible to pay for these fees.

7. If our embryos are chosen, will we have legal responsibility for offspring?

According to current law, embryo donors are not legally responsible for offspring from their embryos. You have the option of consulting with an attorney (at an additional cost to you). Please be aware that third party reproduction law is a legal specialty, not all attorneys are well versed in this area. Our staff or the American Bar Association can provide names of attorneys specializing in this area of law.

8. What if the children from embryo donation accidentally reproduce with their siblings (consanguineous reproduction)?

This is a common question asked by embryo, sperm, and egg donors. According to published guidelines and basic statistics, if one couple donates cryopreserved embryos, the chance of accidentally meeting and mating with a sibling is extremely unlikely. For further information regarding this topic, please contact our staff or The American Society of Reproductive Medicine.

9. Will the needy couple receive all of our embryos?

We will follow standard In Vitro Fertilization guidelines for embryo transfer number. In general, two to three high-quality embryos are transferred during the first embryo transfer. Should embryos remain, ARHC/CIVF reserves the right (but not obligation) to allocate remaining embryos to additional needy families. Ultimately, your generosity will help as many needy families as possible.

10. Why does an infertile couple choose to adopt embryos?

Other options such as additional fertility treatments, childless living, or a child adoption are often expensive and cumbersome or the couple has exhausted their other options. Embryo adoption tends to be less expensive than the other choices and typically embryo adoption is quicker. Ultimately, the couple choosing to adopt an embryo is able to select the basic genetic traits, social and religious backgrounds that they value.

11. When we decide to donate our embryos, are we ever able to get them back?

The choice is yours. If you decide to donate your embryos, you will be given the option to donate permanently or to donate for a five-year period. If you choose the latter option, ARHC/CIVF will notify you upon the five-year anniversary. At this point, you will be given several choices for embryo disposition, one of which is an additional five years of embryo donation. During your five-year embryo donation period, you will no longer be responsible for cryopreservation fees.

12. Can children born from embryo donation ever find their biological parents?

Embryo donation is an anonymous process. Separate anonymously numbered charts are kept for donor and recipient. Should such a request come to us, appropriate legal means would be utilized in order to protect all parties.

13. How long can human embryos stay frozen?

Animal research has documented that frozen embryos may be thawed and result in successful pregnancies several decades following cryopreservation. Human embryo cryopreservation is a newer process and long-term data is not available.

14. Have there been any reported psychological problems with children born through this method?

Embryo donation is a new technology. Associated issues and concerns have yet to be raised, and certainly no long-term studies are available. One might assume that similar psychological issues associated with child adoption would arise from embryo adoption. Considering all emotional and psychological variables, some couples will prefer to have their embryos adopted by a needy couple as opposed to having them destroyed.

15. If we choose to donate our embryos, what is the next step?

• Simply call our office so that you may receive the complete Embryo Donation Packet.



• If you would like to move to the next step, please call and make an appointment or telephone conference with our embryo donation coordinator. Our embryo donation coordinator will guide you through the program and refer you, if you would like, to competent legal experts in this area.



• You will then complete and sign the embryo donation, stipulation, and consent forms. Your information regarding donated embryos will be offered to needy couples.