An International Perspective on Embryo Adoption – Australia

A year from a now a single woman or couple in the Land Down Under may cradle a child that bears a striking resemblance to Emily*. This child’s genetic parents, David* and Judith* may never discover if such a child has been born, however, as they generously determined to anonymously donate their one remaining embryo to the family in greatest need.

Judith is unworried she may never know what came to be of this embryo. Judith and her husband ‘are trusting the embryo to the wind’ (The Sidney Morning Herald).

Infertility is a major health problem in Australia, according to Profesor Jenni Millbank who conducted a study of the attitudes of 349 people in Australia who have stored embryos. Over 100,000 embryos are believed to be in storage in Australia and most are still being used for family building for those for whom they were created (The Sidney Morning Herald). Less than 10 percent of those embryos are in long-term storage and most of those are discarded or used for scientific research (The Sidney Morning Herald). According to Millbank’s study, 27 percent of those with embryos in frozen storage would donate an embryo, and 31 percent would consider donating (The Sidney Morning Herald).

Snow in July

Part 3

By Dr. Becky Sanez, Edited by Embryo Adoption Awareness Center

The following is Part 3 of Drs. Becky and Joe Saenz’s Embryo Adoption story. Their story is revealed in a four part series on the EAAC blog. Parts 1-2 are posted on earlier EAAC blogs.

Despite the uncertainties, I found peace and felt that we had indeed, done the right thing.

The remaining four embryos were from the other couple, and were therefore all siblings, fertilized at the same time, in the same petri dish. When I returned to the infertility specialist to begin the second attempt, he re-evaluated everything and said, “I don’t know what happened last time, but it wasn’t anything wrong with you.” Healing words. So we proceeded with the process.

Talking with Your Child about Embryo Adoption

Part 3: The Beauty of Books!

Today's blog is the finale of a 3 part series. Read part 1 or 2 in earlier EAAC posts. 


By: Kris Probasco and Megan Fabian

Read books that introduce the ways that kids join families. 

Todd Parr has written several books about families and the love they share. The websites hopeandwill.com and XYandMe.com have wonderful stories about donor conceptions—and remind your child that this is how he joined your family.

Create a lifebook for your child, and read it often. 

Sections should include the following: pictures of parents wanting a baby, thoughts on your decision-making, the family or donors that gave their genetics for the child’s life, thoughts on their decision-making, the clinic where you received assistance, the doctor’s office, waiting for a positive pregnancy test, pictures taken throughout the pregnancy and birth, and pictures of the child coming home. The message is clear—we wanted to have children in our family, we worked hard for our children to arrive, and we accepted and celebrated the help of many people.

Snow in July

Part 2

By Dr. Becky Sanez, Edited by Amy Strayer


The following is Part 2 of Drs. Becky and Joe Saenz’s Embryo Adoption story. Their story is revealed in a four part series on the EAAC blog. Part 1 is posted on an earlier EAAC blog.

Ultimately, we were matched with the donated embryos from two different couples – two from one couple and four from another. Statistically, half of frozen embryos die during the thawing process for reasons not fully understood. Only one in three embryos transferred to a prospective mother’s uterus will actually implant. So statistically, any given set of five or six embryos will yield one viable pregnancy.

We were sent detailed medical and family histories of each of the genetic parents, in case there might be anything about which we were uncomfortable. After giving our OK, arrangements were made to ship the embryos to our local infertility clinic, which was named “temporary guardians” of our six embryonic children. I made an appointment for the initial visit to begin the hormonal process of preparing for a controlled cycle transfer.

Talking with Your Child about Embryo Adoption

Today's blog is a continuation of a three part series.


Part 2: Don’t Be Shy


By: Kris Probasco and Megan Fabian

Bring up the story from time to time. Look for opportunities to reinforce your messages. For example, this is a fire station, where firefighters help people when they are in an emergency. This is where we went, when we needed help for you to come into our family. This is the hospital where you were born. Showing your child these places provides concrete images and facts.

Use the correct words to tell the story. Inaccurate words and euphemisms are confusing. If your child asks how embryos are made, you might say, “It takes a part from a man, called a sperm, and a part from a woman, called an ovum, to make an embryo. The embryo grows in a uterus, or a womb.” A young child won’t fully understand the words right away. She just needs to begin to understand that there are other people to whom she is connected in a significant way.