Embryo Adoption: How Long Does it Take & What Are the Success Rates?

What is Embryo Adoption? 

Embryo Adoption is a sophisticated option of having a baby using the embryos donated by the other couple. Adopting an embryo makes it possible to eliminate three IVF steps: Сontrolled Ovarian Stimulation, Egg Retrieval, and Embryo Generation.  

The recipient mother undergoes only preparation of the endometrium for embryo implantation by administrating orally fertility drugs or using Estradiol transdermal patches up until transfer (in some cases, injectable hormones can be used), a series of ultrasound assessments to detect endometrial receptivity and a few serum tests for measuring the hormonal levels. 

The work performed by the IVF lab is limited to Devitrification (thawing) of the embryo(s), evaluation of the embryo(s) before the transfer, and transfer of the embryo(s), thus, the cost of the Embryo Adoption cycle is less expensive compared to standard IVF. 

Who is it for? 

• Singles and couples desiring to have less expensive, less invasive, and less medicated Fertility Treatment.
• Singles and couples wishing to avoid Controlled Ovarian Stimulation, Egg Retrieval, and Sperm Retrieval. 
• Singles and couples with a history of recurrent implantation failures and/or recurrent miscarriages.
• Singles and couples with severe female and/or male factor infertility.
• Singles and couples with a history of genetic diseases or chromosomal abnormalities.

When to try it? 

• If you want to have less expensive, less medicated, and less invasive Fertility Treatment. 
• If you want to eliminate such stages of routine IVF as Controlled Ovarian Stimulation and Egg Retrieval. 
• If you have a history of Recurrent Implantation Failures (RIF) or recurrent pregnancy loss. 
• If you have severe female or/and male factor infertility. 
• If you have a history of genetic disease(s) or chromosomal abnormalities and don’t want to transmit it to the child. 

What options are there? 

• It is possible to adopt a cleavage stage embryo or a Blastocyst. 
• It is possible to adopt one embryo and have an elective Single Embryo Transfer (eSET). 
• It is possible to adopt two embryos in one cycle. 
• It is possible to adopt a male or female embryo (if PGT has been done before Vitrification and donation).
• It is possible to do Preimplantation Genetic Testing before adopting an embryo. 
• It is possible to do Gender Selection (PGD) before adopting an embryo. 

How long does Embryo Adoption take?

On average, a single cycle of Embryo Adoption can take about 4 to 8 weeks. However, the Embryo Adoption timeline can take longer in some cases, depending on the Treatment Protocol, endometrial receptivity of the mother, using the donated embryo stored in the clinic or shipping an embryo from abroad (shipping can take 1–2 months), and the other cycle–related conditions. 

Embryo Adoption Success Rates

Statistically, the chances of getting pregnant after adopting an embryo are around 56 to 70% per cycle depending on the case. In the best–case scenarios, success rates can range from 60 to 90% chance of pregnancy for a few consecutive Embryo Adoption cycles.