There are an estimated 120,000 embryos on ice across Australia right this second.
Some of these embryos will be implanted, but many may not be.
In the IVF world, couples with unused embryos are usually given three options. Most often, they are either destroyed or donated to science, but a third option of embryo donation does exist. And it could be the right fit for you.
Embryo donation is the giving of unused embryos, which remain after one couple’s IVF process to another couple – without payment.
For David and Marieke McPhail, their experience with infertility lead them to identify an untapped market – a matching service for donors and recipients.
Read more: Modern dilemma: Sofia Vergara’s ex is suing her to get access to her embryos.
Top Comments
As my previous comment stated:
In regards to the comments by Jennifer Hunt may I say that the 'outing' of the embryo donor has caused a lot of heartache for some extended family. As it isn't 'right' for everyone to agree to donation as an option to have had it disclosed to family via THE PROJECT was poor judgement on behalf of the donors, recipients and programme, which begs the questions of what else has been poor judgement. It also has had the potential to put the child at risk. In this particular case the donor Jennifer Hunt has already expressed desire to receive more than yearly photos and would like to see visits and perhaps friendships develop between siblings. The reasoning she has given is that she would like to not be left wondering about her offspring and about sibling 'hooking up' ( yes, crude). The red flags here are that she shouldn't be wondering. The recipient mother isn't a surrogate, the child isn't just being raised by another family to slip in and out of the Hunt family. The child was given. And if I were Zoe's parents I would tread very carefully with the donor family, in fact I would cease all contact and leave it up to the siblings to find each other legally at 18 years of age. It would be incredibly confusing for children to grasp this arrangement , it is hard for adults too and there is more than the donated child to consider. This area is poorly regulated at the moment and I believe the Embryo Donation network, although having their heart in the right place are far to flippant. As for ' hooking up' a surname would suffice, and be given to extended family so cousins can't ' hook up' and the authorities have the records anyway as like they do in a proper adoption . I believe this should be treated more like an adoption. We must always put the child first and in this case it isn't. This is pandering to the donor family at what expense?
I personally am not against embryo donation. Wouldn't do it myself but very unhappy that I as the biological Aunty of Zoe now know not only of her existence but her face and home life. I now know that she is the only other red head in a family of dark haired people that came from my grand fathers side and would have made him proud as punch! I know that this information has broken Zoe's biological grandma's heart as she too now knows of her pretty face and can't kiss it and it concerns me greatly that Zoe's biological mum must think of her daily and wait with baited breath for the update photo's and dream of meeting and holding her daughter and what of the 4 siblings? Should they wait with baited breath for this ' sister' to contact them or can they contact her? it is all too messy and too wrong to be put on display like this. It should be correctly regulated .
I do hope your journalistic ethics are fair and the extended families get a say and my previous comment is shown.