|
|
|
|
|
|
Reproductive Endocrinology Associates is pleased that we have been chosen as the first Regional Transfer Center of the National Embryo Donation Center. The National Embryo Donation Center is located in Knoxville, TN and is endorsed by the Christian Medical and Dental Association.
When you choose embryo adoption as an answer to your infertility you will experience pregnancy, labor and delivery. You must understand your child is the product of two people you may never know. When couples undergo IVF there are usually an excess of embryos (fertilized eggs) that are frozen and stored for later use. When the genetic parents decide their family is complete and embryos are still frozen, they usually face a moral or ethical dilemma. They have three choices: donating the embryos to a couple who are infertile, destroying the embryos in research or thawing them and letting them die.
The National Embryo Donation Center is located at Knoxville’s Baptist Hospital for Women and is a not-for-profit center assisting both embryo donors and recipients. The NEDC handles the medical, legal and social requirements of embryo donation and adoption. Offering a variety of placement options for couples, the NEDC works with Bethany Christian Services, an experienced adoption agency, to ensure appropriate screening and assistance with your decisions. Important elements the NEDC provides are education and counseling for both the donors and recipients. Dr. Jeffrey Keenan, a highly respected specialist in reproductive medicine, is the medical director.
Who can adopt?
The NEDC works hard to assure that all embryos are placed in good homes. The adopting mother must be in good health and able to carry a child to term. Furthermore, she must undergo infectious disease and other screening to ensure reproductive health and the ability to carry a pregnancy. The NEDC also requires the wife be a non-smoker or willing to discontinue smoking throughout the adoption process. This will be monitored with blood testing for nicotine levels. The adopting family must be a married man and woman that have successfully completed a comprehensive evaluation and education process. The couple must married for at least three years and the adopting mother must be 45 years of age or less and the combined age of the adopting couple must be 100 years or less. At least one partner must be a United States citizen. Priority is given to couples with no biological children of their own. The staff at NEDC will help prepare you for this exciting journey.
For more information call the NEDC toll free at 1-800-585-8549 or log on to the website at www.embryodonation.org.
|
|
|
|
|