June 2008
 
Embryo Donation and Adoption Awareness Campaign

Issue 1.6
IN THIS ISSUE!
 

Results of Two-year Clinic survey completed by CalState Fullerton

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Dear Fertility Professional;
 
Welcome to the second edition of the Embryo Adoption Awareness Center newsletter!  The content of these newletters is designed to assist Fertility Clinics in their efforts to manage/create/refer embryo donation programs and to improve patient understanding of potential dispositions for their embryos.  The number of embryos in frozen storage continues to rise.  Clinics have to manage the increase in storage space and associated costs, patients have to determine what to do with remaining embryos. 
 
In this edition the results of a clinic survey completed in 2005 & 2007 are provided.
 
RESULTS: Two-Year Survey of Fertility Clinics
Cal State Fullerton Social Science Research Center
 
The Embryo Donation & Adoption Awareness Campaign aims to better equip clinics in assisting patients to make informed decisions regarding their remaining frozen embryos.    In 2005 and 2007 CalState-Fullerton Department of Social Sciences conducted a survey of fertility clinics.  In 2005 254 clinics completed the survey.  In 2007 329 clinics completed the survey.  The analysis focused on the 182 clinics that completed surveys in both years (a "matched pairs" group). 
The surveys revealed the following results: 
 

1. In both survey years, a high majority of clinics were very willing to accept patients with embryos stored elsewhere.  There was no significant change from 2005 to 2007.
 

2. Staff of fertility centers expressed slightly more comfort with the term "embryo donation" in 2007 than in 2005.  Surveys also showed that in general, there is a greater level of comfort using the term "donation" than "adoption" among staff.
 

3. The clinics were asked whether they had functioning donation/adoption programs currently and in the previous year of the survey.  Researchers could thus map trends each year from 2005 to 2007.  Less than half of the clinics operated an embryo donation or adoption program in each of the years.  Of the clinics that operated programs, over half could not/would not reveal how many babies were born through their programs.
 

4. Over 75% of clinics indicate that they refer patients to outside organizations and agencies for information regarding embryo donation/adoption, and slightly more clinics referred patients in 2007 than 2005.
 
 
5. Clinics that do not refer patients to outside organizations (25%) reported greater awareness of each of the major agencies in 2007 over 2005. (Agencies include: www.embryoadoption.org, Snowflakes, Cooper Clinic, and the National Embryo Donation Center.)
 

6. Over 90% of fertility clinics require patients to complete an embryo disposition form.  Out of these clinics, the largest proportion requires them to complete the form prior to transfer.
 

7. The sample size of clinics that analyze patient disposition forms is too small to determine any significant changes or trends in patient preference for the disposition of unused embryos.
 

8. Between 70 and 75 percent of clinics in 2005 and 2007 report having procedures to assist patients in determining disposition of remaining embryos.
 
Plans are underway to conduct annual surveys of fertility clinics beginning in 2009 regarding clinic embryo donation programs and embryo disposition.  The number of embryos in frozen storage continues to increase.   Families with remaining embryos can face embryo disposition with great emotional attachment, unable or unwilling to make difficult, but important choices.  The Embryo Adoption Awareness Center is committed to working with clinics to help them help their patients.   
 
Fertility clinics throughout the United States have brought joy and fulfillment to numerous families because of the diligence of medical professionals to increase the success rate of Assisted Reproductive Technologies. 
 
Most families are counseled at the outset of their IVF treatment about the potential for remaining embryos and the choices available for the disposition of those embryos.  However, the focus of couples at that point in time is 'having a baby', not 'what will we do with our remaining embryos'.  As a result, the number of embryos in storage continues to increase.  
 
Our goal is to help these families think through the options available to them.  We hope to accomplish by:  
 
1. Helping clinics inform and educate their patients.
2. Providing clinics with practical help and understanding of the latest FDA Rules and Regulations from professionals who clearly understand them.
3. Supplying the latest fertility clinic survey data completed on behalf of the Awareness Campaign by California State University - Fullerton.
4. Maintaining an Internet web site giving potential donor families comprehensive answers to their questions and access to medical, legal and adoption resources.  
 

 
Is your clinic on The List?  
 
Clinics Listed now on
Couples exploring embryo donation and adoption frequently visit this web site.  A service provider list is included on this web site to help couples find local fertility clinics. 
 
 
Email us at clinics@embryoadoption.org to add or update your clinic information. 
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Supported by grant number 2EAAPA941000-03-00 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Department.