Just wondering what people have done with excess IVF embryos? We are coming up on the 5 years and will need to apply for an extension. We don't want any more babies and we are paying a fortune for storage. Monash IVF are not taking embryo donations for research.
Our options are:
To destroy them, which seems awful.
To donate them, which we also don't really want to do as they are our children's siblings.
Neither option is very good really. What have others done?
9 Replies
That’s a hard one. Apart from those two options I’m not sure there is anything else you can do?
That’s a hard one. Apart from those two options I’m not sure there is anything else you can do?
Donation would be my option. They are, at this point a couple of cells. Research into that which helped you have your children would be helping others like you.
I would strongly recommend keeping them a bit longer. Things change in the future, and in 2 years time you may decide it’s time?
If your definitely sure though, time to discard and save the money for other ventures.
Only saying this as a cousin was in the same boat. They felt complete and the storage cost was high, she regrets the decision, but everyone is different.
If you are definitely done ask if you can bring them home. I know some women in the IVF groups I’m in have had them made into jewellery or planted the straws in a pot. It’s a very personal choice. You can also have what’s called a compassionate transfer. They are transferred into you at a time pregnancy is least likely. But I would assume there is still a chance they could take so best doing research for that!
Sounds weird but.....are you able to put them in orange juice and drink them? Kinda feels like a nice way to go.
Have them made in to a jewellery keepsake. I have seen rings, pendants and Pandora like charms made with embryos. Then you will always have them with you
What a difficult situation. Personally, I could never donate as I would always feel that someone else was raising my children. There is no easy answer.
Get them put into a piece of jewellery or ornament for the mantle. Can be with you forever!