The Donor’s Perspective: Why I Chose Embryo Donation
Embryo donation is a relatively new concept in the world of fertility treatments. It involves the donation of unused embryos from one couple to another, giving the recipient couple the opportunity to have a child they may not have been able to conceive on their own. As someone who has gone through the embryo donation process, I want to share my perspective on why I chose this path and the impact it has had on my life.
When my husband and I first started our fertility journey, we never imagined that embryo donation would be an option for us. We had always assumed that if we needed help conceiving, we would use traditional methods such as IVF or IUI. However, after multiple failed attempts at IVF and a devastating diagnosis of diminished ovarian reserve, we were faced with the reality that we may never have biological children of our own.
That’s when our doctor brought up the idea of embryo donation. At first, we were hesitant. The idea of using another couple’s embryos to have a child felt foreign and even a little uncomfortable. But as we learned more about the process and the potential for success, we began to see it as a viable option for us.
One of the main reasons we ultimately chose embryo donation was the success rates. While traditional IVF has a success rate of around 30%, embryo donation has a success rate of 60-70%. This was a significant factor for us, as we had already experienced the heartache of failed fertility treatments and wanted to increase our chances of success as much as possible.
The Donor's Perspective: Why I Chose Embryo Donation
Another factor that played a role in our decision was the cost. As anyone who has gone through fertility treatments knows, they can be incredibly expensive. With embryo donation, the costs are significantly lower than traditional IVF, making it a more financially feasible option for us.
But the most significant factor in our decision was the opportunity to give life to embryos that may otherwise have been discarded. As someone who has struggled with infertility, I know firsthand the pain of wanting a child and not being able to have one. The thought of these embryos, which have the potential to become a life, being destroyed was heartbreaking to me. By choosing embryo donation, we were not only giving ourselves the chance to have a child, but we were also giving these embryos a chance at life.
The embryo donation process itself was relatively simple for us. We had to go through some medical and psychological evaluations, but overall, it was a smooth and straightforward process. We were matched with a donor couple, and after the legal paperwork was completed, we were able to begin the transfer process.
The transfer itself was an emotional experience. We were filled with hope and anticipation, but also nervousness and fear. However, when our doctor told us that the transfer was successful and we were pregnant, we couldn’t believe it. After years of disappointment and heartache, we were finally going to be parents.
Our daughter is now two years old, and we couldn’t be happier. She is the light of our lives, and we are eternally grateful to the donor couple who gave us the opportunity to become parents. We have an open relationship with them, and our daughter will grow up knowing her story and the love that went into her creation.
In summary, the decision to choose embryo donation was not an easy one, but it was the best decision we ever made. From the increased chances of success to the lower costs and the chance to give life to embryos, it was the perfect choice for us. Our daughter is living proof of the amazing gift that embryo donation can be, and we will forever be grateful for this opportunity.