Embryo Donation FAQ

Below you will find an exhaustive list of answers to most of your questions surrounding the Beginnings Embryo Donation Program.

Beginnings Family Services

1. What is Beginnings Family Services?

Established in 1985, Beginnings is a national, non-profit, faith-based family services provider. Drawing upon 25 years experience, Beginnings arranges private adoptions, facilitates embryo donations and provides comprehensive fertility counselling as well as pregnancy support services to clients of all ethnic backgrounds, religious affiliations, and walks of life.

2. What is the Beginnings mission?

In the conviction that life is a gift from God, the Beginnings mission is to provide services related to pregnancy and adoption.

3. What services does Beginnings provide?

• Free pregnancy counselling
• Education, prenatal and parenting programs
• Infertility counselling
• Open adoption services
• Open embryo donation services
• Interim foster care
• Post abortion counselling
• Community referrals
• Post adoption counselling
• Reunion counselling

4. Is Beginnings a not for profit organization?

Yes. Beginnings is a non profit agency with registered charitable status (CCRA Charitable Reg. No. 11880 2388 RR0001).

5. Is Beginnings a licensed adoption agency?

Yes. Beginnings is licensed by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services to provide adoption services in Ontario. Beyond Ontario, we can provide adoption services on a case by case basis in provinces and territories that have provision for private adoption.

6. Why does Beginnings facilitate embryo donations?

Beginnings facilitates embryo donation because it represents a life affirming alternative to embryo destruction or donation to medical research.

7. Are there other organizations in Canada that facilitate open embryo donation?

Beginnings is the only provider of open embryo donation services in Canada. A small number of private fertility clinics facilitate anonymous embryo donation for their own patients.

8. On what moral, ethical and spiritual basis does Beginnings facilitate embryo donation?

Beginnings provides donors with an alternative to destroying or donating embryos for medical research and offers a chance for life, hope and a future for their surplus embryos created through in-vitro fertilization (IVF). For the donors, there is altruistic motivation and the satisfaction of helping an infertile couple have a chance to become parents. There is also the ability to choose the recipient family, share medical and identifying information, and to maintain contact to a mutually agreeable level.

Beginnings works within the Government of Canada’s legislation as set out in the Assisted Human Reproduction Act (2004) and will comply with all present and future guidelines and regulations set out by the Government of Canada’s Assisted Human Reproduction (AHR) oversight Agency. Embryo donation services are not prohibited as set out in the legislation.  Beginnings services are altruistic with no payment or other compensation for use of embryos. Beginnings will work with licensed clinics that comply with donor informed consents, abide by controlled activities, and regulations as defined in the AHR.

Our work is guided by the belief in the best interests of the child – that the psychosocial needs of children born from assisted reproductive technologies must be considered, and that all parties must be prepared for the life long issues associated with their origins.

IVF, Embryos and Embryo Management

1. What is in-vitro fertilization (IVF)?

IVF is a clinical procedure whereby fertilization is accomplished outside a woman’s body, and involves three basic steps:

• Fertility drugs are used to stimulate the female’s egg production by the female’s ovaries
• Eggs are retrieved from the female partner and mixed with sperm from the male partner
• Fertilized eggs (embryos) are mixed with the sperm and transferred to the uterus.  Depending on the number of embryos produced, some may be frozen for later use.

2. What is a human embryo?

An embryo is a human organism during the first 56 days of its development following fertilization, excluding any time in which its development has been suspended.

3. What are the current options available to donor families for the management of surplus embryos?

Each year thousands of surplus embryos are created by couples pursuing IVF treatments across Canada. Currently in Canada, couples seeking to deal with these extra embryos have limited options that include:

• Indefinite storage of the embryos 
• Destruction of the embryos
• Donation of the embryos for medical research
• Donation of the embryos to another couple

Embryo Donation

1. What is embryo donation?

Embryo donation involves the transfer of a human embryo from a donor couple to a recipient woman. Under this legally binding contract, all responsibilities for the embryo(s) and delivered children transfer to the recipient.

2. How does embryo donation differ from egg or sperm donation?

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.

3. How does embryo donation differ from surrogacy?

Embryo donation is not surrogacy. In a surrogacy arrangement, an agreement is made for a woman to carry a pregnancy on behalf of the intended parents. The surrogate may or may not have any genetic link to the child she is carrying, but is considered the birth mother when a child is born.   With embryo donation, donors relinquish all rights to the embryo and resulting child prior to transfer. The recipient carries the embryo to term and becomes the delivered child’s birth mother. Surrogacy is regulated under the AHR Act (2004) and there can be no payment, or facilitating surrogacy arrangements.

4. How does embryo donation differ from infant adoption?

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) to a recipient. If successful, a child is born to the recipient mother. Since she gives birth to the child, she is considered the birth mother and legal parent of the child.
• Adoption is a process that involves the legal transfer of parental rights and responsibilities from the birth mother to the adopting 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” therefore is used for the sake of clarity.

5. Does Beginnings promote the use of IVF as a way to create a family?

Beginnings neither promotes nor condones the use of IVF as a couple’s choice to create their family. Beginnings offers options to couples who have surplus embryos created as a result of IVF procedures.

6. Does Beginnings encourage the creation and freezing of embryos?

No. Beginnings  does not encourage the use of a medical treatment to create embryos for this purpose. Beginnings is working to provide a life affirming alternative to the dilemma faced by the families with tens of thousands of embryos frozen in clinics across Canada.

7. Can recipients pursue successive pregnancies using embryos that remain?

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.

8. Does Beginnings work at the outset with couples engaging in IVF treatments who want to pursue embryo donation?

The decision to donate embryos is typically made after 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 couples making decisions about IVF treatment and any surplus embryos created and stored.

9. Does Beginnings facilitate the donation of embryos created using donated sperm or eggs?

No. Beginnings works with couples who have undergone IVF treatment with their own sperm and eggs and have generated embryos surplus to their requirements. In keeping with our open donation model, donated sperm or eggs cannot be used because they likely are from anonymous donors and the required informed consents. If donors are known and willing to be involved, then these embryos could be donated.

10. In the event of one partner’s death, can the remaining partner donate embryos to Beginnings for placement with suitable recipients?

Yes. If the remaining partner has the sole right to make decisions for the stored embryos and can provide the required medical history, then it is possible to donate these embryos to Beginnings and to choose a recipient. It means there will only be one donor parent involved in the open relationship with the recipient couple.

11. Does Beginnings work with out of province embryo donors?

Yes. Beginnings can work with embryo donors in any province or territory across Canada where accredited fertility clinics exist.

12. Does Beginnings work with out of province embryo recipients?

Yes. Beginning s can work with embryo recipients in any province or territory across Canada where accredited fertility clinics exist.

13. Does Beginnings work with out of country embryo donors?

No. Beginnings works with embryo donors solely in any province or territories across Canada where accredited fertility clinics exist.

14. Does Beginnings work with out-of-country embryo recipients?

No. Beginnings works solely with embryo recipients in Canada.

Embryo Donation Legal Considerations

1. What is the legal status of a child in Canada?

When a baby is born he or she is considered to have full legal rights and protections under the law.

2. What is the legal status of an embryo in Canada?

The embryo has no legal status under Canadian law.

3. What laws, regulations and guidelines relate to embryo donation in Canada?

At the Federal level, the Federal Assisted Human Reproduction Act (2004) has several provisions and regulations that are currently being developed that affect Embryo donation such as:

• Licensing and inspection of fertility specialists, fertility clinics, laboratories where embryos are created (and subsequently donated through the process of embryo transfer)
• Consent for the procedure of donating embryos to third party
• Consent for receiving donated embryos from a third party
• Regulations about ‘Health Reporting Information’ to be held in central birth registry 
• Counselling is required prior to undergoing an AHR procedure i.e.) for using own sperm, eggs or embryos, donating or receiving sperm/ eggs or embryos to/from a third party).

At the Provincial/Territorial level, there may be laws created in the near future to address the legal status, rights and responsibilities of the parties involved in Embryo donation.

4. How are embryo donation agreements formalized in Canada?

All participating parties are advised to have legal consultation and private contractual agreements. Beginnings will make a referral for a legal consultation for embryo donors and recipients as part of our process.

5. Can embryo donors change their mind and opt out of the transfer process?

Yes. Under the Assisted Human Reproduction Act, withdrawal of consent by the donor or recipients can happen if notified in writing before the embryo is matched. This may happen where a donor couple’s circumstances change. According to the AHR Act the donors may withdraw their consent in writing up until the time of the thawing of the embryos.

6. Can embryo recipients change their mind and opt out of the transfer process?

Yes, for the same reasons as above.

7. What is the process for donating embryos through Beginnings?

1. initial contact via our website or phone call
2. completion of registration forms and Beginnings service agreement
3. complete a Donor Assessment  including full medical and social history
4. consultation with Beginnings staff 
5. participate in an openness education seminar
6. complete a Donor Profile and Preference Profile
7. profile presentation and selection process
8. meeting arranged with full information disclosure
9. notification of the fertility clinic where embryos are stored
10. referral for legal documentation and private donation contracts for embryo release
11. donor responsibility for embryos ceases
12. recipient couple attends fertility clinic, comply with regulations, informed consents and receive embryo transfer procedure 
13. donor couple is informed of outcomes & on going contact maintained
14. follow up support provided by Beginnings

Counselling will be provided at all points in the process for the donor couple.

Embryo Donor and Recipient Management

1. What does Open Embryo Donation involve?

Open embryo donation involves ongoing communication and contact between the donor parent(s) and the recipient, including the child. This can take the form of letters, emails, phone calls, and/ or visits. The amount of contact is negotiated between the parties and varies from one situation to another. Beginnings believes openness is good for a child as it allows him or her to maintain relationships with important people in his or her life; as he or she grows older, openness allows access to information about his or her origins and background and to any other siblings he or she may have.

2. What are the basic requirements of the embryo donors?

Embryo donors must:

• Be a permanent resident or citizen of Canada
• Confirm embryos are not created from donated egg or sperm
• Disclose and provide background psycho social history, genetic and medical information in order to fully inform and keep safe the recipients
• Participate in a Covenant Agreement with the recipient family in respect to sharing identifying information, as well as ongoing contact
• Sign a fee and service agreement with Beginnings and all related third party consents
• Participate in consultation and counselling session(s) with Beginnings or agree to be referred to a trained and knowledgeable counsellor 
• Provide a profile of themselves and their family

3. Why do embryo donors need to complete a family profile?

Family profiles provide information to assist in the matching process. Profiles containing non identifying information initially will be shared with recipient families to assure mutual compatibility. It is equally important that both donor and recipient families have common connections.

4. Can embryo donors opt for a closed process?

No. Beginnings provides only fully identified embryo donation services, but there is a range of ongoing contact arrangements they can mutually agree to. We believe this will benefit children created by embryo donation.

5. What are the basic requirements of the embryo recipients?

An Embryo Recipient must:

• Be a permanent resident / citizen of Canada
• Participate in Beginnings’ open donation education and preparation program 
• Secure independent legal consultation
• Respect the donor’s wishes for the use of surplus embryos
• Provide medical documentation that the recipient mother is medically in good health and capable of carrying a baby to term and agree the recipient will carry the baby to term herself
• Abide by the guidelines and policies of the partner fertility clinic
• Agree to participate in a Covenant Agreement with the donor family in respect to sharing identifying information, as well as ongoing contact
• Sign a fee and service agreement with Beginnings and all related third party consents throughout the process
• Have a consultation and counselling session(s) with Beginnings or referral to a trained and knowledgeable counselor 
• Provide a profile of themselves and their family
• Travel to the donor family IVF clinic for embryo transfer
• Provide pregnancy outcome information to Beginnings
• Accept that the choice of family is up to the embryo donors and not up to the choice of the Beginnings

6. Why do embryo recipients need to complete a family profile?

Family profiles provide information for Beginnings to assist in the matching process. Initially, non indentifying information will be shared with recipient families to assure a mutual comfort with the interests, beliefs, and background. It is equally important that both donors and recipients have a common connection.

7. Can embryo recipients opt for an anonymous donation process?

No. Beginnings provides only identified embryo donation services in the belief that this is in the best interest of the child(ren) created by embryo donation to have a relationship with their donor family members.

8. Can Beginnings facilitate contact between embryo donors and recipients?

Yes. Beginnings will provide opportunities for donors and recipients to meet, and assist with creating a mutually satisfactory Covenant Agreement  (contact agreement) Beginnings also provides on going counselling services to donors, recipients and children born from embryo donation when they have questions or evolving contact needs in the future.

9. What are the steps involved in embryo donor and recipient matching?

The matching process is a mutual selection process. Donors will provide detailed information about the qualities, characteristics and circumstances of the recipients requested. Non identifying background information about the donors will be shared. Ideally, donors will have several profiles to choose from. When the recipients’ profile is selected, full information will be disclosed to both parties. The donors and recipients have the opportunity to meet depending on the distance involved. Both donors and recipients work with Beginnings to develop a mutually agreeable contact agreement.

It is important to note that ultimately it is the donors who choose the recipients.

10. What are the criteria by which embryo donors define their preferred recipient?

Embryo donors express their preferences based on: age, length of relationship, existing children, income, work, child care plans, religion, race, culture, ethnicity, interests, health, and degree of contact desired.  This information will be contained in a PROFILE provided by the recipients.

11. What are the criteria by which embryo recipients define their preferred donor?

Embryo recipients hope to have compatible characteristics with donors in categories such as : age, length of relationship, existing children, income, work, child care plans, religion, race, culture, ethnicity, interests, health and degree of contact.

12. Can Beginnings select embryo recipients on behalf of embryo donors?

No. We encourage our donors and recipients to participate in the established process. Often donors start out not wishing to participate in such a selection process, but with education they come to understand the benefits to the child in later years.

13. Why is an Assessment required of embryo recipients?

It is a significant investment recipients are making to have a child from a third party donation. It is important to be fully informed about the issues a child will encounter and the implications for each of the involved parties and their extended families.  It also assures donors that the recipients they choose are prepared for an open relationship, and can provide a stable, caring environment for a future child. The Recipient Assessment also provides reassurance to the donors that recipients are healthy, have a stable relationship, are able to provide a safe, nurturing, environment, and well prepared for ongoing contact.

14. What is involved in a Recipient Assessment?

It is an education process to determine your understanding and readiness to parent a child conceived by embryo donation. The Recipient Assessment can typically take a few weeks to complete. It consists of documentation, education and interviews. Beginnings will provide a list of qualified professionals who can do this assessment in your area. Beginnings will provide this service to clients within our service regions.

1. Documentation: This includes; application, medicals, police checks, autobiographical information, questionnaires.
2. Education: This is the most important aspect of the Recipient Assessment. You will work with your counselor to explore your attitudes about embryo donation and how to explain this to your child. Discussion will include motivation, risks and implications involved with the procedure, disclosure, and how to manage an open relationship with the donor family. You will be encouraged to view videos, read books, and speak with others including couples who have children, or adults created by third party technology. Beginnings will also provide opportunities to learn more about embryo donation through panels, webinars, or group sessions.
3. Interviews: There will be at least 2 interviews, including a home visit. As a matter of course, all family members who reside in the home will be interviewed. The information will be shared with the Donors.

15. Can this Recipient Assessment report be used for a domestic adoption if Embryo Donation is unsuccessful?

This assessment can be a useful resource document for an adoption homestudy, but you will need to work with a private adoption practitioner or your local Children’s Aid worker to meet the requirements for a home study in your own province or territory.

16. How long does the embryo donation process take from registration to live birth?

This depends on the availability of embryos and when you are chosen by the donors. There is no guarantee that a pregnancy and live birth will result from the donation of embryos.

17. Is there a way for embryo donors to expedite the process?

Only if you come to Beginnings with a donor/ recipient connection already made. Beginnings would proceed with the education, counseling and support services.

Embryo Donation Clinical Considerations

1. What are Beginnings embryo donor medical requirements?

As part of the application process a comprehensive standard health screen and medical will be required including confirmation of testing for any blood, infectious diseases or known genetic disorders. Likely, this information is currently on file in the fertility clinic.

Each clinic participating in this program will want to undertake their own evaluations to confirm that the recipient is able to carry a child to term and to assess any particular risks factors.

2. Where do recipients undergo embryo transfer procedure?

Beginnings requires that recipients undergo embryo transfer treatment at the donor’s fertility clinic.

3. Can donated embryos be shipped to the recipient’s fertility clinic of choice?

No. Beginnings requires that recipients undergo embryo transfer procedure at the donor’s fertility clinic.

4. How many donated embryos are used in each recipient treatment cycle?

This is decided in consultation with the recipient and the fertility clinic staff on best practice guidelines. The Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society (CFAS) medical guidelines recommend the maximum number of embryos for a physician to transfer to a recipient. These guidelines take into account various factors such as the woman’s age, the quality of the embryos, and whether she has had previous unsuccessful cycles of treatment. There is usually intent to avoid multiple pregnancies with the goal of one healthy child.   Most Canadian fertility clinics are likely to transfer only the minimum number at one time.

5. Can embryo recipients specify the preferred gender of an embryo?

No. Embryo recipients must contractually commit to accept the delivered child regardless of gender.

6. What is the likelihood of becoming pregnant with multiples?

Multiple births (twins, triplets or more) are generally seen as undesirable due to the higher level of risk for both mother and child. Multiples can result on rare occasions, however, such as when a single embryo “splits” after it is transferred.

7. If the embryo recipients become pregnant with multiples, can they selectively reduce the pregnancy?

This will become the decision of the recipient in consultation with her physician and the clinic involved in the embryo transfer procedure based on medical concerns of a specific situation. Consequences of multiples will be discussed within the counselling services provided by Beginnings.

8. What is the live birth success rate when frozen embryos are transferred?

Success rates for frozen embryo transfers are generally lower than the success rates for fresh embryo transfers. It depends on a number of factors including:

• quality of the eggs that are used to create the embryos which is highly dependent on the age of the female donor at the time she created the embryos
• quality of the embryos (grading) before freezing
• methods of thawing
• success rates of a particular clinic.

9. Can recipients pursue successive pregnancies using embryos that remain?

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.

10. What happens to donated embryos left unused by a given recipient?

Consent regulations require that once the embryos have been formally accepted in writing by the recipients, all further decisions about their use is made by the recipients.

11. What happens if pregnancy is not achieved and all embryos are used?

The recipient can return to Beginnings Embryo Donation program and hope to be chosen by a new donor.

12. Are embryo donors notified of the live birth outcomes from the recipient transfer attempts?

Based on our open model of donation, recipients will have an ongoing relationship with their donors who will be pleased to share this information. Beginnings will keep statistics on file.

Embryo Donors

1. Who would wish to donate embryos through this program?

Couples who have undergone IVF treatment may generate embryos surplus to their requirements. These couples may seek alternatives to the current options of indefinite storage, destruction, or contribution of surplus embryos to medical research. Beginnings Embryo Donation Program offers an alternative to the anonymous donation and the chance for future contact with the chosen recipients.

2. Does Beginnings require that donors have a minimum number of embryos to offer?

No, donors who may have only one embryo remaining may choose to donate to another couple.

3. Does Beginnings require that donated embryos be frozen no longer than a specific period?

No. Beginnings provides this information to the recipients and requires them to seek medical advice regarding the implications for the length of time the embryos have been frozen. Embryos that were frozen many years ago may not be of the best quality due to less sophisticated freezing techniques and other factors at the time they were created.

4. Does Beginnings work with embryo donors of various ethnic origins, religions or walks of life?

Beginnings facilitates embryo donation by working with couples of any ethnic origin, religion and/or walk of life who wish to donate surplus embryos produced through IVF.

5. Does Beginnings work with couples of any age who wish to donate embryos?

Beginnings facilitates embryo donation by working with couples of any age who have produced surplus embryos through IVF. Given the fact that older women have more genetic risk factors, where the female is over the age of 35, recipients will be advised to seek medical advice as to the level of genetic risk.

6. Does Beginnings work with couples in all provinces across Canada who wish to donate embryos?

Beginnings is a national family services provider and therefore facilitates embryo donation by working with donors and recipients anywhere in Canada.

7. Does Beginnings work with single women hoping to donate embryos?

Beginnings accepts embryos from donors who can attest to their genetic origins and who would be willing to be in an open relationship with the recipient family. Beginnings accepts embryos from donors who can provide a full genetic history of both the male and female.

Embryo Recipients

1. Who would hope to receive donated embryos through this program?

Couples who have failed to conceive through IVF or those for whom treatment was not medically possible or genetically advisable to achieve pregnancy. There are many infertility diagnosis (such as premature menopause, poor egg quality, sterility as a result of cancer treatment,  polycystic ovarian syndrome) where carrying a child to term via donated embryos is a viable alternative.

2. Why would a couple choose embryo donation over infant adoption?

Newborn domestic adoptions have been declining in numbers in recent years for a variety of reasons, therefore many couples who would like to parent a child from birth are unable to do so through adoption. Embryo donation, if successful, provides the opportunity to experience pregnancy and birth, and to form an emotional bond with a baby at the earliest possible opportunity.

3. Does Beginnings work with embryo recipients of specific ethnic origins, religions or walks of life?

Beginnings works with couples of any ethnic origin, religion and/or walk of life who wish to donate surplus embryos produced through IVF.

4. Does Beginnings work with single women hoping to receive donated embryos?

Beginnings is guided by the expressed wishes of embryo donors in terms of selection of recipients for their embryos.

5. Does Beginnings work with same-sex couples hoping to receive donated embryos?

Beginnings is guided by the express wishes of embryo donors in terms of the selection of recipients for their embryos.

6. Does Beginnings work with couples who do not have a infertility diagnosis but are hoping to receive donated embryos?

Recipients of donated embryos are those who are unable to have a child through either natural conception or through fertility treatments, or who are carriers of genetic disorders advised not to conceive.

7. Does Beginnings work with couples of any age who are hoping to receive donated embryos?

Beginnings is guided by the expressed wishes of embryo donors in terms of the selection of recipients for their embryos. Recipients would require medical clearance to pursue a pregnancy. There may be limitations at the clinic where the embryos are stored.

8. Does Beginnings work with couples in all provinces across Canada who are hoping to receive donated embryos?

Beginnings is a national family services provider and therefore works with couples anywhere in Canada.

9. What are some of the risks involved in embryo donation?

• Donated embryos may not survive the thawing or transfer process
• Pregnancy and childbirth are not guaranteed
• Risk of higher multiples if more than a single embryo is transferred
• Medical risks involved with pregnancy and childbirth

Embryo Donation Program Fees

1. What are the costs incurred by the embryo donor throughout the process?

There are no costs to the embryo donors.

2. What are the costs incurred by the embryo recipient throughout the process?

The average cost for Embryo Recipients through Beginnings is $10,000. Costs may exceed this amount depending on the complexity of the case. Most of the cost is incurred once donors choose their recipients. Costs will be for the following services:

• Registration
• Education & Training 
• Consultation & Assessment
• Profiles and posting
• Administrative fees 
• Fertility Clinic fees (outside cost)
• Legal Consultation (outside cost)
  
  (link to draft fee schedule)

3. Does Beginnings offer or arrange financial support for embryo recipients to offset costs associated with the process?

Not at this time.

Glossary of terms:

Openness: Indentifying information is shared between donors and recipients for the sake of the child and for the purpose of providing a life long connection between the 2 families.

Couple: For all intents and purposes, the word “couple” is used throughout for simplicity, but we recognize that “couple” is not defined by a married male and female partner.  It does not exclude single parents as either donor or recipients.

Surrogacy: A woman who carries a child for another woman using her own eggs and donated sperm

Gestational carrier: A woman who carries a child for another woman using donated egg and sperm

IVF: In Vitro Fertilization is a clinical procedure whereby fertilization is accomplished outside a woman’s body, and involves three basic step: fertility drugs are used to stimulate the female’s egg production by the female’s ovaries; eggs are retrieved from the female partner and mixed with sperm from the male partner; fertilized eggs (embryos) are mixed with the sperm and transferred to the uterus.  Depending on the number of embryos produced, some may be frozen for later use.

Covenant Agreement: Agreement between donors and recipients about the terms of contact between themselves and the child. Beginnings agreements are based on the best interests of the child and outline the degree of openness mutually agreed upon. They are not legally binding, but they are created and followed in “good faith”.