Embryo donation vs embryo adoption – success rates, legal aspects and emotional impact
What is embryo donation and embryo adoption?
If you are looking into embryo donation or embryo adoption, you will quickly realise that the terms are quite confusing. This is because there is no official or standard definition, either in Europe or internationally. Clinics, agencies and even patients use these terms in very different ways, depending on local laws, marketing strategies or personal beliefs.
Understanding the differences between embryo donation vs embryo adoption is crucial for potential recipients.
In some countries, the term embryo donation refers to embryos that were created during a reproductive treatment cycle and are now donated by couples who no longer need them. This means that the embryos are donated and the recipient couple are adopting an embryo. There is no legal adoption process in the traditional sense, but the term “adoption” is often used for emotional reasons – especially when referring to embryos that already exist.
Why terminology varies and there is no standard definition
This inconsistency can be confusing, especially for people comparing clinics in different countries. In Europe, embryo adoption usually refers to embryos that were conceived by infertile couples, resulted in successful pregnancies, and whose remaining embryos are given up for anonymous adoption. These embryos are offered to other individuals or couples, often one at a time, and are usually not of the highest quality – as the best embryos were already used during the original treatment.
Double donation, by contrast, involves two donors – one for the egg and one for the sperm – who are selected specifically for the recipient. In some countries this can be open or anonymous, depending on the law. However, the problem is that many clinics advertise double donation, but what they actually offer are pre-produced embryos that are distributed to several patients. These embryos are not unique to one couple and may be shared with other recipients around the world.
What’s the difference between embryo adoption and embryo donation?
When considering embryo donation vs embryo adoption, it is important to recognise the terminology and practices involved.
This inconsistency can be confusing, especially for people comparing clinics in different countries. In Europe, embryo adoption usually refers to embryos that were conceived by infertile couples, resulted in successful pregnancies, and whose remaining embryos are given up for anonymous adoption. These embryos are offered to other individuals or couples, often one at a time, and are usually not of the highest quality – as the best embryos were already used during the original treatment.
Double donation, by contrast, involves two donors – one for the egg and one for the sperm – who are selected specifically for the recipient. In some countries this can be open or anonymous, depending on the law. However, the problem is that many clinics advertise double donation, but what they actually offer are pre-produced embryos that are distributed to several patients. These embryos are not unique to one couple and may be shared with other recipients around the world.
Why it matters to ask the right questions
It is therefore very important to ask exactly what a clinic means when it offers embryo donation or embryo adoption. Where do the embryos come from? Were they created for someone else? Are they leftovers from IVF treatment? Or were they created in advance using anonymous donors? Can I choose the donors myself – either openly or anonymously? Have the donors been tested? How many embryos will I receive? Will they be exclusively mine?
These are essential questions – and we’ve included a list at the end of this blog to help guide you through them.
Understanding these differences is the first step in making an informed decision – and protecting yourself from misleading or incomplete information.
What embryo adoption treatment really means
Where donated embryos come from – and what to expect
Embryo adoption typically refers to embryos that were originally created during an in vitro fertilization treatment by couples who struggled with infertility. After a successful pregnancy, some of these couples decide not to continue with further transfers of embryos and choose to donate their embryos anonymously.
These embryos are offered through clinics or programmes, and there is very little transparency about how many embryos are made available, or how they are assigned. In some cases, only one embryo is offered to the recipient; in others, the entire group of remaining embryos may be included. This depends entirely on the clinic’s internal policies – and is rarely explained in detail.
Since these embryos were not created for donation, you usually cannot select based on personal criteria, and the donors remain anonymous. Medical records may be incomplete, and the embryo quality can vary depending on the age and fertility history of the couple who originally went through IVF.
Embryo adoption treatment is always anonymous in Europe. There is no contact between donors and recipients, and most programmes do not offer any updates or follow-up options. This is standard practice and not negotiable in most countries.
Why embryo adoption usually means low-cost, single embryos
Embryo adoption is often presented as a compassionate, low-cost alternative – and that’s part of what makes it attractive. Some clinics offer this option for as little as 1,800 euros per embryo. But the low price doesn’t necessarily reflect a full medical programme – and it doesn’t guarantee quality or availability.
In some cases, it’s not even clear whether these are actual embryo adoptions, or pre-produced embryos that are being sold under a different label. Using the term adoption can make the offer sound more ethical or emotionally appealing. But in reality, what’s being provided may be a single, anonymous embryo that was created using donor egg and sperm and offered to multiple patients.
There is nothing wrong with choosing this option – as long as you know what it includes, and what it doesn’t. The most important thing is to understand how the embryos were created, how many are available, and whether they are truly being donated – or sold as part of a marketing strategy.
What double donation should mean – and what to watch out for
Exclusive double donation and higher success rates
Double donation refers to a treatment where both the egg and the sperm come from donors. In the ideal case, these donors are selected specifically for you – based on medical criteria, phenotype, and other preferences. The resulting embryos belong exclusively to you, and you are the only person receiving them.
This is how double donation is understood in most European programmes. It is often more expensive than other treatment types, but the quality of the embryos is generally higher – especially if the donors are young, healthy, and properly screened. Clinics that work this way usually guarantee two or three high-quality blastocysts, giving you a real chance at to achieve pregnancy and even the option for a sibling later on.
Because everything is created for your treatment, you have more transparency: you know when and how the embryos were made, and you have access to clear medical documentation. In some countries, it is also possible to choose known donors or to receive extended donor information – depending on what the law allows and what feels right for you.
When dual donation means reused donor embryos
Unfortunately, not all clinics define double donation in the same way. Some offer embryos that were created using donor egg and sperm – but not just for you. These embryos are produced in larger batches and sold individually to multiple recipients, sometimes under the label of embryo adoption or dual donation. There is no way to know how many others may receive embryos from the same donor combination.
This practice is hard to detect from the outside. Everything may look professional, and the pricing may seem attractive. But in reality, you may be getting just one pre-produced embryo, with no guarantee of exclusivity, and little or no information about how the donors were selected or how many times they have donated.
In these cases, double donation becomes more of a commercial offer than a personalised treatment. Success rates may be lower, especially if donor selection is less strict or if the same donors are used repeatedly across different clinics. And for future children, this lack of transparency may lead to questions you cannot answer – including the possibility of having unknown genetic siblings in many countries.
“When it comes to embryo donation or adoption, the terminology can be misleading. What matters is not what it’s called – but where the embryos come from, how the donors were chosen, and whether the offer truly respects your journey.”
Nathalie Wiederkehr
What influences the success rate of your treatment
How embryo quality and egg donor selection affect outcomes
Not all embryos are the same. Their potential to result in a pregnancy depends on many factors – especially the quality of the eggs. The younger and healthier the egg donor, the better the chances that the embryo will develop normally and implant successfully. This is one of the main reasons why or frozen embryo usually lead to higher success rates than embryo adoption.
In some countries, egg donors are carefully selected from university programmes or based on strict health screenings. In others, the legal requirements may be lower – for example, only accepting women who have already had children, which often means older donors. That doesn’t mean these donations can’t work, but statistically, the success rates tend to be lower.
This is why it’s so important to ask about the donor’s age, medical history and how the selection process works. The way the embryo develops – from fertilisation to the blastocyst stage – is also a strong indicator of quality. Clinics that provide multiple high-quality embryos from the same cycle offer more flexibility and increase your chances of a live birth.
Why egg or sperm origin and IVF protocols also play a role
The sperm used to create the embryo also matters. Just like with egg donation, quality and screening vary. In well-regulated clinics, sperm donors are tested for genetic conditions, infections, and fertility parameters. But not all clinics follow the same standards. If the sperm donor has lower fertility markers, this can impact embryo development and reduce implantation potential.
Equally important are the IVF protocols. How the embryos are handled in the lab, how they are frozen (if applicable), and how the embryo transfer is timed – all these steps influence your chances of success. Some clinics transfer on day 3, others wait for the blastocyst stage. Some offer preimplantation testing, others don’t.
Choosing a clinic that pays attention to these details – and is transparent about their IVF treatment approach – can make a significant difference. That’s why statistics alone aren’t enough. You also need to understand how the clinic works behind the scenes.
Embryo donation or adoption – what suits your personal values?
The ethical and emotional advantages of embryo adoption
Some people are drawn to embryo adoption not because of medical need, but because it aligns with their values. The idea of using embryos that already exist – and might otherwise be discarded – can feel more ethical than creating new ones. For some, this is a way of giving life and meaning to what another couple has left behind. It can feel more like accepting a gift than starting a clinical process.
This emotional motivation can be very strong. The thought of carrying a child created by another family and continuing that embryo’s journey can bring a sense of connection and purpose. That’s why embryo adoption often feels different from other assisted reproduction treatment options. However, it’s important to remember that this route involves less control and lower success rates – and it’s rarely available in countries with strict regulations.
Choosing donation or adoption based on your priorities
When deciding between embryo adoption vs double donation, it helps to think about what matters most to you. Is it the chance of success? Then a high-quality donation with selected egg and sperm donors may be the better path. Is it cost? Then embryo adoption – if legally available – might seem attractive, even if the chances are lower.
Or do you care most about knowing the story behind the embryo, or avoiding the creation of new embryos? Then adoption may match your beliefs more closely. There is no right or wrong answer. But it’s essential to understand what each option really involves – and to ask the right questions before choosing a clinic.
Questions to ask when using a donor
What to ask about egg donation and embryo donation or sperm donor selection
When you’re planning IVF using a donor, the most important step is to ask the right questions. Even in so-called anonymous programs, there are often options to express preferences – for example, about the donor’s appearance, profession or interests. Some clinics offer semi-anonymous profiles where you can see a photo as a child or receive extended background details. It’s also possible to combine anonymous egg donation with an open sperm donor, or to bring your own known donor.
Ask the clinic exactly what kind of information you’ll receive. Have the donors been psychologically evaluated? Were they tested for infectious diseases, genetic risks and fertility indicators? In the case of embryo donation, were the embryos genetically screened? Can you find out how many embryos you’ll receive – and whether they all belong to you?
If you are being offered a double donation, ask if you’ll get guaranteed blastocysts, or whether the embryos are pre-produced and simply assigned without further options. And don’t forget to check the success rates – not just of the clinic, but of the specific treatment you’re considering.
How clinics recruit, screen and assign donors
Each country – and each clinic – handles donor recruitment differently. In some regions, donors are carefully selected, registered and followed up. In others, there’s little regulation, and it’s difficult to know how often a person has donated before. Some donors travel between clinics or even across borders, donating multiple times without proper oversight.
Ask whether the clinic limits the number of donations per person. Is there a national registry? How do they avoid too many children from the same donor? What screening protocols are used – and do they apply the same rules for egg donors and sperm donors?
If you are considering embryo adoption, find out how many embryos are available and whether they belong to you alone. Ask if they were frozen as blastocysts, whether they were created from young, healthy donors, and whether the embryos were tested or screened. Also check how much information you’ll get about the donors – and whether that includes previous pregnancy success rates.
These questions won’t guarantee everything goes perfectly – but they give you a much better sense of what you’re really signing up for.
Final reflections and support
Why I do not recommend mass-produced donor embryos
If there’s one thing that still worries me, it’s how some clinics use the word embryo adoption to sell mass-produced donor embryos. On the surface, it sounds ethical – as if these embryos were lovingly created and now need a family. In reality, many of these embryos were never part of anyone’s IVF journey. They were created from anonymous donor eggs and sperm, frozen in bulk, and then offered as low-cost packages to multiple recipients.
The embryos are not assigned to a single patient. You don’t know how many siblings might exist in other countries. And you often can’t check how carefully the donors were screened or selected. Some donors might even give their embryos to several clinics – or move from one country to another, which makes proper follow-up almost impossible.
There’s also the emotional side. For couples who have undergone infertility treatments themselves, the idea of embryo adoption can feel meaningful – but only if the donation process involves trust, transparency, and a clear selection process. Without these safeguards, it’s hard to know whether the embryos came from one family to another, or whether they were created for commercial reasons.
This is not the kind of treatment I can stand behind. Clinics that offer such packages for marketing or price reasons do not meet the standards I believe in – and they are not on my list.
Get guidance and find clinics that follow ethical standards
If you are thinking about embryo donation, adoption or double donation, you deserve to know exactly what you’re getting. The terminology may vary, but the questions you need to ask are the same: who are the donors? Were they selected with care? Were the embryos donated by couples who completed their family and wish to adopt their remaining embryos to others? Or were they generated through anonymous oocyte donation, without legal process or insight into their origin?
The country you choose also matters. Some countries have no national registry, which means you won’t know how many times a donor has donated. Others may require a legal process that defines who becomes the adoptive parent. And only a few clinics can tell you whether the embryo comes from one or several donations – or whether it has been placed for adoption multiple times.
In my private guidance sessions, I explain which clinics follow responsible recruitment practices, test their donors properly, and help you select an appropriate treatment with good success chances. You’ll also learn whether you can expect a single embryo or several embryos, how the transfer is prepared, and whether you can carry a pregnancy with realistic expectations.
If you want clarity and honest answers, download the IVF Guide that explains which countries allow open, anonymous or known egg and sperm donation – including example prices and success rates from Northern Cyprus.
Or book a private consultation if you’d like support comparing your options.
Let’s make sure your treatment reflects your values – and gives you the best chance to start a family with confidence.
