Catch up on the essential insights and personal stories from our recent virtual class on embryo storage options after treatment.
For those navigating the complexities of IVF and other family-building treatments, the decisions surrounding the storage and future of embryos can be both challenging and deeply personal. Our recent virtual class features Reproductive Care Center's Jess McNamara (reproductive care specialist), Alison Brown LCSW, a therapist with Infertility Connections, and the personal experiences shared by Andrea and Bethany, covering the donation of embryos and adopting an embryo for their family-building journey.
Below is a quick breakdown of these critical topics to help you make informed choices:
Potential Routes of Care for Fertility Treatments:
Diagnostic testing:
Generally takes one month to complete tests and analyze results.
From here, there are two general paths-
"Lower tech" options:
Ovulation induction (femara or clomid medications) stimulates follicle development and causes ovulation to occur.
Timed intercourse or IUI (intrauterine insemination)
"Higher tech" options:
IVF- egg retrieval and sperm insemination in the lab. From there-
Fresh transfer occurs ~5 days after IVF
Frozen Embryo Transfer [FET] occurs later on and embryos can undergo PGT (preimplantation genetic testing) to check for chromosomal abnormalities in the embryos.
Remaining embryos are stored either at the clinic or with a partner laboratory
Cost of Embryo Storage:
U.S. average costs $450 - $800 annually
Some clinics offer monthly payments vs. single annual charges
Embryo Disposition Choices:
Donate to Research (ask your clinic what type(s) of research they will be donated to)
Donate to Another Person/Couple (do you want to donate directly to a specific individual or family?)
Disposition by Clinics:
Thawed and disposed of as medical waste
Compassionate Transfers- involve transferring the embryos at a time in the menstrual cycle when pregnancy is unlikely, allowing the embryos to naturally cease developing.
Protecting Your Mental Health and Relationships:
Communication is key
Discuss embryo options with your partner early to ensure unity in decisions.
Regularly check in with each other for support; no one should carry the weight alone.
Set aside time for complex conversations to be better prepared for future scenarios.
Allowing room for grief
Take time to process where your family-building journey has led you.
It's okay to grieve the number of embryos, the toll of IVF, and unmet hopes- your family may not look as envisioned and it's okay to have complex emotions around that.
Give yourselves space to grieve and support each other’s emotional needs.
Self-care for you and your partner
Prioritize self-care; it’s vital in this process.
Check in with your partner, as they may need unspoken support.
Consider grief rituals like tattoos, jewelry, gardening, or special ceremonies to say goodbye.
Boundaries are critical
Share information with friends and family only when you’re ready.
Be clear with your partner on who gets what information and support each other in these decisions.
Boundaries protect your situation, allowing time to process before sharing with others.
- Check out the full virtual class here with the Q&A at the end -
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