Embryo donation involved the transfer of a human embryo from an individual or family that has completed their own IVF journey (the donor(s)) to an individual or family that is hoping have a child (the recipient(s)/intended parent(s)).

Unlike embryo donation, neither egg nor sperm (gamete) donation procedures result in the birth of a child.  Embryos are established entities which, given “appropriate conditions”, can lead to the birth of a child. According to Canadian law, embryos represent more than sperm and egg (gamete) but less than a living child because “appropriate conditions” are still required.

Embryo donation is not surrogacy. In a surrogacy arrangement, an agreement is made for a person with a uterus to carry a pregnancy on behalf of the intended parents. The surrogate may or may not have any genetic link to the child they are carrying but is considered the birth parent when a child is born.  With embryo donation, the donor(s) relinquish all rights to the embryo and resulting child after the legal agreement has been signed. With embryo donation, a recipient carries the embryo to term and becomes the delivered child’s birth parent.

Embryo donation differs from infant adoption because:

• Donation relates to the medical and legal transfer of tissue between patients.
• Embryo donation involves a medical procedure to transfer genetic tissue (the embryo) created by 2 parties (the donors and/or the gamete providers used by the donors) to a recipient. If successful, a child is born to the recipient. Since the recipient gives birth to the child, they are considered the birth and legal parent of the child.
• Adoption is a process that involves the legal transfer of parental rights and responsibilities from the birth parent(s) to the adopting individual or couple. Consent for adoption cannot be given until after the birth of the child.
• Canadian law accords a lesser legal status to embryos than that of children. Accordingly, the term “donation” is used for the sake of clarity.

Yes. If a pregnancy is achieved using one of the donated embryos and others still remain, they can be used at a later date in pursuit of future pregnancies.

The decision to donate embryos is typically made after individuals or individuals/couples have completed their own families and have surplus embryos remaining from their IVF treatment and not at the start of treatment. As part of our counselling services, Beginnings can assist individuals or individuals/couples making decisions about IVF treatment and any surplus embryos created and stored.

If the remaining partner has the sole right to make decisions, and/or has a legal consent signed by the deceased partner, for the stored embryos and can provide the required medical history, then it may be possible to donate these embryos to recipients. It means there will only be one donor parent involved in the open relationship with the recipient couple.

Yes. Although Beginnings prefers to work with non-anonymous donors, we are able to work with donors who have used anonymous or identity release gamete donors, where there are no restrictions on doing so. If you have utilized donated sperm and/or eggs, we encourage you to review your donor contracts to ensure that you have the legal right to donate your remaining embryos to a recipient.

Yes. Beginnings can work with embryo donors in any province or territory across Canada.

No. Beginnings works with embryo donors and recipients solely residing in Canada but if a Canadian donor has used an out of country fertility clinic, the embryos could be brought to Canada.