Deciding Between Egg Donation or Embryo Adoption? Here’s What You Should Know

Third-party reproduction refers to conceiving a child with the help of someone other than the intended parent(s). For instance, egg donation is used when an intended parent cannot produce viable eggs. The eggs are fertilized via IVF, and the embryo is transferred to the intended mother or a gestational carrier. Embryo donation refers to when individuals or couples donate their unused embryos to another intended parent(s). 

Understanding the psychological implications of egg donation and embryo donation is crucial for all parties involved (parents, donors, children) because they can have lasting emotional, ethical, and relational effects. Parents using donated eggs or embryos may struggle with grief over not having a genetic connection to their child and may worry about bonding with a child who is not genetically related to them. Some parents may feel uncertain about whether or how to tell their child about their origins. For donors, the psychological implication of donating can be just as complex. Even if a donor initially sees their role as purely medical, they may later experience unexpected emotions about the genetic connection to a child they may never meet. And if the resulting child seeks them out later in life, the donor might need to navigate complex relationships. Children conceived through donation may also have questions about their origins and genetic background.

This article explores the key differences between egg and embryo donation—from biological and legal considerations to emotional and psychological impacts. Whether you're weighing your options or looking for clarity about the path that feels right for you, this guide will help you make an informed and empowered decision.

What is egg donation?

Egg donation is a process where a woman (the donor) provides her eggs to another person or couple (the recipient) who is unable to conceive on their own. Before a woman can become a donor, she undergoes comprehensive evaluations that include  medical screening, psychological evaluation, along with legal counseling. Once selected to donate, the donor undergoes hormonal treatments before undergoing a medical procedure performed under sedation to retrieve the eggs. These eggs are then fertilized and transferred to the intended mother or gestational carrier. 

Types of egg donation: known vs anonymous

The main difference between known and anonymous egg donation lies in the level of contact and information shared between the donor and the intended parents, and potentially the child in the future. With anonymous egg donation, the donor and intended parents do not know each other's identities and the fertility clinic or egg donation agency facilitates the process. Intended parents usually receive non-identifying details (e.g., physical traits, education, medical history) and the donor has no social relationship with the child. With known egg donation the donor and intended parents know each other’s identities and may even meet and form some sort of relationship. Some agreements may also allow for future updates or communication with the child.

Who is a candidate for receiving donor eggs?

According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, a candidate for receiving donor eggs is typically someone who cannot conceive with their own eggs due to medical, genetic, or age-related factors, is LGBTQ+, and or a single parent.

What is embryo donation?

Embryo donation is the process in which embryos created through IVF by one couple or individual are donated to another person or couple to achieve pregnancy. These embryos are typically unused from previous IVF cycles and are given to recipients who cannot conceive using their own gametes. Embryo donation provides both egg and sperm contributions, making the resulting child genetically unrelated to the recipient(s).

Legal status of embryos

The legal status of donated embryos varies by country, state, and fertility clinic policies, but generally, embryo donation is treated like tissue donation. The donating individuals legally relinquish all rights to the embryo through a contract and the recipients assume full parental rights.

Who is a candidate for receiving embryo donation

Similar to egg donation, embryo donation is an option for individuals or couples who cannot conceive using their own eggs and/or sperm due to medical, genetic, or age-related factors, is LGBTQ+, and/or a single parent.

Key differences between embryo and egg donation

With embryo donation, the resulting child has no genetic link to either parent, as the embryo comes from a completely different couple.  With egg donation, since the child is biologically related to one parent, it can influence family conversations about genetics and identity. But with embryo donation some parents may struggle with explaining the child's origins since neither parent shares genetic ties, making disclosure and identity exploration more complex.

Choosing egg or embryo donation is a deeply personal decision that can bring up a range of emotions. Anxiety is one of those emotions and is a natural part of fertility treatments and donor conception. To cope with anxieties, recipients can benefit from therapy or support groups for individuals using donor conception. Mindfulness and stress management techniques such as meditation and journaling can also be helpful. Open conversations with loved ones is key to reducing isolation. Writing letters to the future child can help process emotions and prepare for potential conversations down the road. 

Summing it up

Both egg donation and embryo donation provide paths to parenthood for those struggling with infertility. And both paths come with complex emotional and psychological considerations. In both cases, many recipients may grieve the biological connection they hoped to have with their child. Questions about their child’s future identity and how to explain their origins can add to emotional uncertainty. Some parents also experience imposter syndrome, wondering if they will feel like the child’s "real" parent or if they will even be able to bond. However, many parents find that love and connection transcend genetics, making the experience of raising a child just as fulfilling.

Find an amazing egg donor at Cofertility

At Cofertility, our program is unique. After meeting with hundreds of intended parents, egg donors, and donor-conceived people, we decided on an egg donation model that we think best serves everyone involved: egg sharing.

Here’s how it works: our unique model empowers women to take control of their own reproductive health while giving you the gift of a lifetime. Our donors aren’t doing it for cash – they keep half the eggs retrieved for their own future use, and donate half to your family.

We aim to be the best egg-sharing program, providing an experience that honors, respects, and uplifts everyone involved. Here’s what sets us apart:

• Human-centered. We didn’t like the status quo in egg donation. So we’re doing things differently, starting with our human-centered matching platform.
• Donor empowerment. Our model empowers donors to preserve their own fertility, while lifting you up on your own journey. It’s a win-win.
• Diversity: We’re proud of the fact that the donors on our platform are as diverse as the intended parents seeking to match with them. We work with intended parents to understand their own cultural values — including regional nuances — in hopes of finding them the perfect match.
• Baby guarantee. We truly want to help you bring your baby home, and we will re-match you for free until that happens.
• Lifetime support: Historically, other egg donation options have treated egg donor matching as a one-and-done experience. Beyond matching, beyond a pregnancy, beyond a birth…we believe in supporting the donor-conceived family for life. Our resources and education provide intended parents with the guidance they need to raise happy, healthy kids and celebrate their origin stories.

We are obsessed with improving the family-building journey — today or in the future — and are in an endless pursuit to make these experiences more positive. Create a free account to get started today!