Embryo Adoptions
By Dana Sanders

For many couples desperately trying to bear children, infertility is a reality. Usually, a couple with fertility problems attempts many chances at having a biological family—including in vitro fertilizations. Many couples wish to experience the joy of carrying and giving birth to a child, but physically cannot produce a viable embryo. After trying all viable options, many couples give up hope. However, there is an option that has given infertile couples the ability to have children, even if they are not biologically their own. If a woman is capable of carrying a child to term, this option may be the light at the end of the infertility tunnel. Embryo adoption allows an adoptive couple who cannot conceive on their own the ability to carry and give birth to that life, creating a family of their own.

When a couple tries in vitro fertilization, egg and sperm are combined in a laboratory setting to create embryos. These embryos are then frozen using a cryogenic process to keep the embryo alive. Only one of these embryos is implanted, leaving the rest sitting in the preservation freezer waiting for the couple to make a decision. If the couple does not want more children, they can donate the embryos to be used by an infertile couple. Several organizations deal especially in embryo adoption and accept embryo donation from generous couples. One such organization, The National Embryo Donation Center (NEDC) was created to provide options for the couples facing the problem of what to do with these embryos. Another organization, Snowflakes Embryo Adoption, is part of the organization Nightlight Christian Adoptions. Nightlight specializes in assisting all potential adoptive parents with traditional adoptions or embryo adoptions. Before embryo adoption, couples were forced to either destroy the embryos or donate them as research subjects.

Embryo donations can be either open or anonymous adoptions. Upon donation of the embryos, the donating couple can choose to reveal their personal information to those who become parents and carry the embryo. Similarly, couples interested in adoption can request the adoption to be conducted anonymously. Since adoption can only take place after the child has been born, using the term "adoption" for this process is somewhat of a misnomer. Embryo adoption is a legal proceeding that involves specific documentation. Unlike adoption, when the child is born, the names of the adoptive parents will appear on the birth certificate. Once the legally-binding donation contract has been signed, the donating couple cannot place any claim on the child, especially after the child’s birth.

Just like in vitro fertilization, embryo adoption is not guaranteed to result in a pregnancy or a child. Unfortunately, only about two-third of the embryos survive the thawing process. There is only a 20 to 25 percent chance embryo implantation will successfully result in a pregnancy. However, if a couple desires to carry and give birth to a child, these chances may be their best bet.

Economically speaking, embryo adoption runs about a third the amount of standard in vitro fertilization. For many couples, the economic aspect of infertility treatments result in closing many doors. In addition to these costs, travel expenses must be included since many organizations require you visit their location for initial screening and the actual implantation process. If the first embryo implantation does not result in pregnancy, the couple usually has a couple of additional chances. The embryo adoption process at NEDC provides couples with three chances of implantation of the adoptive embryos. Much like in vitro fertilization, the more chances necessary for embryo adoption increases the cost. Granted this is a small price for the joy of giving birth to a child and creating a family, it is outside of the means of some infertile couples. Before embarking on the embryo adoption experience, all decisions need to be made to ensure this process is an option.

Embryo adoption gives couples with the inability to have biological children but have the desire and love to start a family a second chance. To decide if embryo adoption may be an option for your and to learn more about the process, consult the Snowflakes website at www.nightlight.org/snowflakeslanding.asp or the National Embryo Donation Center at www.embryodonation.org.

Copyright 2005 by Dana Sanders. All rights reserved.

Looking for information about adoption? Go to http://www.aaadoption.com All About Adoption is an Adoption and Infertility Information Directory and Resource Site which provides a consolidated listing of the best Adoption and Infertility sites in one easy to navigate location.

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Tags: Adoption General Information, Embryo Adoption

Today in the United States and Canada people who wish to adopt children will have to wait years and years. Sometimes people decide that it is not worth the hassle and they give up trying to adopt a child. This is a shame as there are children in the world today that deserve to have a loving family and they never get it. They are left in foster homes and orphanages until they are eighteen when they can go out on their own. In some cases the foster homes are good but there are some that are bad.

As a result of the long list of people waiting for an adoption to go through they start looking for other options. Today more and more people are opting for international adoption. International adoption is different from adoption in the United States or Canada. This form of adoption is an essentially a private matter between an individual or couple and a foreign courts which operates under that country's law and regulations. If you wish to take this route to adopt a child the United States authorities cannot intervene on the behalf of the adoptive parents.

For those people who are interesting in international adoptions they can obtain information from the Department of State. This could be information on the adoption process in various countries as each country may have different rules and regulations when dealing with international adoptions. You can also get information that deals specifically with the United States legal requirements to bring a child in the United States from a foreign country. There are also websites that can visit to obtain such information. These sites can explain the adoption process to you and you can even submit questions about anything that you want to know. The information is available twenty-four hours a day.

While there are certain things that the State Department can do for you to help in any way there are things that it cannot do. The State Department cannot become directly involved in the adoption process in another country. Nor can they act as legal counsel or representation of the prospective adoptive parents. They are also unable to order that an adoption take place or that a visa be issued. While the State Department cannot help they can put you in contact with someone that can.

About the Author

James Hunt has spent 15 years as a professional writer and researcher covering stories that cover a whole spectrum of interest. Read more at www.guide-to-adoption.info

Tags: adoption agency, Adoption Announcement, Adoption by Country, Adoption by State, Adoption General Information, international adoption

International adoption is a very positive alternative for couples who've endured disappointing fertility results and failed domestic adoption attempts. International adoption differs from domestic adoption because of the sheer number of orphans available for adoption from around the world.

The availability of orphans means that you generally get to exert more control over the process of adoption. Things also happen much quicker, and tend to be more final once a decision has been made. With international adoption you also have more choice in terms of selecting a child based on your specific preference of age, gender, race, and health.

In many cases, children have already been abandoned by their birthparents, which means that international adoption procedures usually have minimal input from the birthparents. In most cases, this will be a plus. As an adoptive parent you really want to get on with your life and your new child with as little interference as possible. But in some cases, you'll want to make contact with the birthparents even if for information, and it won't be available.

With international adoption, you need to be deemed a qualified parent, which simply means that you will need to meet the requirements of the foreign government. Your privacy is always protected in such cases, but international adoption is never something to be taken lightly.

Some of the difficulties you will meet when deciding on international adoption are based on the difficulty of communication and the scarcity of information, which you will need to make decisions about the health and developmental status of your child. Do always consult an expert for advice on international adoption agencies and orphanages. Locate an expert pediatrician who has experience in international adoption. Many of these experts have screened international adoption organizations and can help you stay informed of risks and other dangers.

By staying informed you keep your options open. By staying informed, your international adoption experience will result in a positive addition to your home and family life.

Tags: Adoption by Country, Adoption General Information, international adoption

If you are contemplating adopting a child, you probably already know that this is one of the most important actions you'll ever take in your life. People chose to adopt a child for many reasons. Most commonly, a couple may be experiencing some kind of fertility problems, which make it difficult for them to conceive a child on their own. Some people want to provide a loving home for children that have been removed from their home, family or even their native country.

These are all commendable reasons to proceed with the adoption, but you still need to be aware of some of the decisions and the alternatives you will be required to make throughout the application process.

If you live in the United States you must first decide whether to adopt from within the country or from another nation altogether. Different laws apply to both situations and you will have to study them. In the case of international adoption, US Immigration laws will come into play. It is critical that you know what laws apply in your situation.

Another important factor is what agency, if any, you would like to assist you in the adoption process. There are private agencies and public agencies. If you are adopting internationally you may want to contact an aid organization. Private adoptions are also possible, but again, you need to check carefully into laws before you go ahead.

Age is a big consideration when it comes to children. Since most people want to adopt babies, it may take a long time before one is available to you. The advantages of a baby in most people's minds is that they can instill their morals and values from the very beginning. By the same token if you adopt an older child, it can soon seem as if you had always been together. There is a lot of anecdotal evidence supporting this position. If you decide on an older child, remember that he or she has already formed a personality and behaviors. If you take the child home and then decide it won't work after all, you can cause a great deal of harm to the child's self- esteem.

Adoption is a wonderful choice for people who are biologically unable to have children, or for those who want to invite another child into their family. Be sure to know the laws in your area surrounding adoption, this will help you to quickly find the little person that will become your son or daughter.

About the Author

Susan Kennedy is the chief editor for Adoptions Network, the web's premier resource for information about Adoption, For more articles on Adoption visit: http://www.adoptionsnet.com/articlesYou can get a unique content version of this article.

Tags: Adoption by Country, Adoption by State, adoption costs

International Adoption - Is It for You?
By Dylan Miles

International adoption is a very positive alternative for couples who've endured disappointing fertility results and failed domestic adoption attempts. International adoption differs from domestic adoption because of the sheer number of orphans available for adoption from around the world.

The availability of orphans means that you generally get to exert more control over the process of adoption. Things also happen much quicker, and tend to be more final once a decision has been made. With international adoption you also have more choice in terms of selecting a child based on your specific preference of age, gender, race, and health.

In many cases, children have already been abandoned by their birthparents, which means that international adoption procedures usually have minimal input from the birthparents. In most cases, this will be a plus. As an adoptive parent you really want to get on with your life and your new child with as little interference as possible. But in some cases, you'll want to make contact with the birthparents even if for information, and it won't be available.

With international adoption, you need to be deemed a qualified parent, which simply means that you will need to meet the requirements of the foreign government. Your privacy is always protected in such cases, but international adoption is never something to be taken lightly.

Some of the difficulties you will meet when deciding on international adoption are based on the difficulty of communication and the scarcity of information, which you will need to make decisions about the health and developmental status of your child. Do always consult an expert for advice on international adoption agencies and orphanages. Locate an expert pediatrician who has experience in international adoption. Many of these experts have screened international adoption organizations and can help you stay informed of risks and other dangers.

By staying informed you keep your options open. By staying informed, your international adoption experience will result in a positive addition to your home and family life.

Dylan Miles, journalist, and website builder, lives in Texas. He is the owner and co-editor of http://www.babyandbeyond.info on which you will find a longer, more detailed version of this article.

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http://EzineArticles.com/?International-Adoption—Is-It-for-You?&id=106229

Tags: Adoption General Information, Ethiopia Adoption