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EMBRYO DONATION
A couple’s infertility problem may also be due to a combination
of physical factors that affect both the man and the woman. If
standard IVF treatments (even using ICSI) fail or offer too small
a chance of success, the transfer of a donor embryo into the
woman’s womb may be the solution.
NOT GENETICALLY RELATED,
BUT DEFINITELY YOUR BIRTH CHILD
Although neither the sperm nor the eggs used in this type of
donation belong to the couple, and some people like to compare
it with adoption, there is a fundamental difference between the
two concepts.
The embryo is donated by a couple who have had successful
infertility treatment themselves. They donate an embryo and not
a fully developed child.
In contrast to adoption, the recipient couple go through the entire
pregnancy process together in that the woman carries the donor
embryo to full term. If everything goes well, she gives birth to a
baby after nine months, during which period the ‘adopted’ embryo
becomes her own child.
This is every bit as true from the child’s point of view. From the
very start of his or her existence, his or her entire life history is
intimately interwoven with that of his or her parents, and there
is no question of moving from one social, geographical or racial
environment to another.
89| The embryo bank
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DONATION
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