Now, embryo donation catching up

Chennai: Childless after 10 years of marriage, Krishna (name changed) of Anna Nagar and his wife jumped at the option of embryo donation that was put forth before them by a friend.

The couple visited Nova IVI Fertility Centre where they were educated about the method, its requirements and the expense. After giving their consent to accept the donation of two strangers (egg and sperm), the wife became pregnant and gave birth to twin boys.

Embryo donation or embryo adoption is an assisted reproduction technique slowly gaining acceptance as a new method of child adoption. It is a method where a developed embryo is transferred into the prospective adoptee’s uterus.   

“This method is very simple as it requires the use of only tablets that are given to the recipient to increase receptability of the uterus for the embryo,” said Dr J. Krithika Devi, fertility consultant, Nova IVI Fertility Centre.

“The recipient should be below 50 years of age and the donor below 30,” she added. This method requires both the donors as well as the recipient to be psychologically and financially counseled. Once mentally prepared, the method can be carried out.

“We are very careful through the entire procedure, conducting screenings on a regular basis and ensuring that the donors and recipient may have some similarities,” said Dr Devi.

The method that allows the recipient to deliver the child like any other mother permits the recipient and her husband to become legal parents of the child. They will have no knowledge of the donors and vice versa. She also pointed out that the procedure is not as expensive or challenging as other adoption methods.