Understanding Common Terms in Embryo Adoption

Beginning the embryo adoption journey can feel overwhelming at times—especially when you encounter unfamiliar terms and phrases along the way. At Snowflakes, we believe education and clarity are important parts of helping families feel confident and supported throughout the process.

Here are a few commonly used terms in embryo adoption, what they mean, and how they differ from one another.

Embryo Donation vs. Embryo Adoption

These two terms are often used interchangeably, but there are important differences between them.

Embryo Donation

Embryo donation typically refers to the transfer of embryos from one family to another through a fertility clinic or anonymous donation program. In many embryo donation arrangements, the donating family and receiving family remain anonymous, and the embryos are assigned through the clinic without a relational matching process.

Embryo Adoption

Embryo adoption includes the same medical process of transferring embryos to another family, but it approaches the journey through an adoption framework. At Snowflakes, placing families have the opportunity to personally choose the adoptive family for their embryos, much like in traditional adoption.

Adoptive families complete a home study and create a family profile that shares more about their lives, values, and hopes for the future. Placing families can review profiles and select a family they feel connected to and comfortable with.

Many Snowflakes families also choose to build an ongoing relationship through open communication agreements, allowing children to grow up with access to their story and connection to both families involved in their journey.

Embryo Transfer vs. Implantation

These terms describe two different stages in the medical process.

Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET)

A Frozen Embryo Transfer, often called an FET, is the procedure in which a frozen embryo is thawed and transferred into the adoptive mother’s uterus by a reproductive endocrinologist.

While an embryo transfer is an exciting milestone, it does not automatically result in pregnancy.

Implantation

Implantation occurs after the transfer if the embryo successfully attaches to the uterine lining. This is the beginning of pregnancy.

Because implantation depends on many medical and biological factors, families often experience a range of emotions throughout this stage of the process.

Gestational Carrier vs. Traditional Surrogate

Some families pursuing embryo adoption may work with a gestational carrier if the intended mother is unable to carry a pregnancy herself.

Gestational Carrier

A gestational carrier carries a pregnancy but is not genetically related to the child. In embryo adoption, the embryo created through IVF is transferred to the gestational carrier, who carries and delivers the baby on behalf of the intended parents. Snowflakes does permit adoptive families to secure the services of a gestational carrier for their embryo adoption journey if the adoptive mother is not able to carry a pregnancy to term safely.

Traditional Surrogate

A traditional surrogate is genetically related to the child because her own egg is used to achieve pregnancy, usually through intrauterine insemination (IUI). This differs significantly from gestational surrogacy and is less commonly used today.

Positive Adoption Language of Embryo Adoption

Like we mentioned earlier, it is completely normal to feel unfamiliar with the terminology surrounding embryo adoption at first. Many families entering this journey encounter language commonly used in embryo donation circles that may carry deeper meaning within the context of adoption. We encourage thoughtful consideration of the words we use, recognizing that embryos are human life and deserve to be spoken of with care and reverence.

Below we list some terms and a suggested alternate:

At Snowflakes, our goal is to walk beside both placing and adoptive families with education, compassion, and support, helping you feel informed and cared for throughout each step of the process. To learn more about embryo adoption, visit Snowflakes.org.

By the Snowflakes Team