Embryo adoption gives couples who cannot conceive with their own eggs or sperm a genuine path to pregnancy and parenthood. It uses healthy frozen embryos that another couple created during their own IVF treatment and chose to donate. Below are the questions couples ask us most often, answered in plain language. If your question is not here, message us on WhatsApp or use the enquiry form and we will answer personally.
What is embryo adoption?
Embryo adoption is when you receive an embryo donated by another couple who created it during their own IVF treatment, and you carry the pregnancy and raise the child. Neither you nor your partner is genetically related to the child, but you go through the pregnancy and give birth yourself. The embryos are healthy ones left over after another family completed their own treatment, donated so they can give a child to a couple who needs one.
Why is it called adoption?
Like traditional adoption, the couple who receives the embryo has no genetic link to the child they carry and raise. The difference is that you experience the pregnancy and birth yourself. Embryo adoption also gives a purpose to embryos that would otherwise remain frozen. Couples who complete their own families through IVF often have good quality embryos left over, and many prefer to donate them so another family can have a child rather than let them stay in storage. In that sense it meets two needs at once: yours to become parents, and theirs to see their surplus embryos used with care.
Who is a good candidate for embryo adoption?
Embryo adoption suits couples who would otherwise need both egg and sperm donation. If neither partner can contribute healthy eggs or sperm, adopting an embryo lets you carry the pregnancy without arranging two separate donors. It is also a practical choice for couples who cannot manage the high cost of egg donation, because adopting a donated embryo is usually the most affordable route to pregnancy. Women who have had repeated IVF failures with their own eggs, early menopause, or a genetic condition they do not want to pass on often consider it too. A short consultation tells you whether your uterus and general health make you a good candidate. Not sure where you stand? Take our one-minute self-check.
What is the pregnancy rate with embryo adoption?
In our clinic the pregnancy rate is about 45 percent per cycle when we transfer four frozen and thawed embryos. Two things drive this. First, these are often excellent quality embryos, because the couple who donated them had already achieved a pregnancy from the same batch, which tells us the embryos have strong potential. Second, we prepare the lining of the uterus with hormones before the transfer, so it is at its most receptive when the embryos are placed. Every couple is different, and age and uterine health still matter, but embryo adoption offers one of the better chances per cycle among donor options.
Is embryo adoption the same as surrogacy?
No. In surrogacy, another woman carries the pregnancy for you and gives birth to your child. In embryo adoption, you carry the pregnancy and give birth yourself. The child you carry is the child you will parent. If you are weighing your options, see how embryo adoption compares to donor eggs, surrogacy and child adoption. For many couples this is the heart of the choice: they want to experience the pregnancy, feel the baby grow, and be there from the very first moment, even though the child does not share their genes.
What will the child look like?
The embryos we work with come from healthy couples of Indian origin who used IVF to build their own families. Where it helps, we take account of physical features such as height, complexion, and build so that the child fits naturally within your family. We are glad to talk through what is known about the donors and what is kept confidential, so you can make the decision with a clear picture.
How does the process work?
The steps are straightforward. After an initial consultation and a few basic tests, we prepare the lining of your uterus with hormone tablets over two to three weeks. When the lining is ready, we thaw the donated embryos and transfer them in a short, painless procedure that needs no anaesthesia. A pregnancy test follows about two weeks later. If the cycle does not succeed the first time, we review what happened and plan the next step with you. Throughout, you deal with one clinical team, so there is always someone who knows your history. For a week-by-week walk-through, see what to expect during a frozen embryo transfer.
How much does embryo adoption cost?
Embryo adoption is usually the most affordable of the donor options, because you are not paying the high fees that egg donation involves. Costs depend on the tests and medicines you need and on your individual treatment plan, so the fairest thing we can do is give you an exact figure for your situation rather than a misleading headline number. Tell us a little about your history and we will send you a clear, itemised estimate with no obligation. Message us on WhatsApp, call +91 98674 41589, or fill in the enquiry form and ask for the cost details.
Talk to us
Deciding on embryo adoption is a big step, and you should not have to weigh it alone. We are happy to answer your questions honestly, with no pressure. Message us on WhatsApp, call +91 98674 41589, or send an enquiry through our contact form.
Stay in touch
Want honest, plain guidance on embryo adoption as we publish it? Leave your email and we will send occasional, useful updates. No spam.