Beginnings Family Services

Open Embryo Donor/Recipient Program

Beginnings established the first national open embryo donation program in Canada in 2010, and we remain fully Health Canada compliant following the Assisted Human Reproduction Act.  Over the years, we have helped many families with their dream of having children while building strong professional relationships with fertility clinics across the country. We are an inclusive agency that offers services to everyone.

Our embryo donor/recipient program offers individuals and couples who have completed their own IVF journey the opportunity to donate their remaining embryos to other individuals and couples hoping to become parents. This selfless donation may be the answer to a dilemma of what to do with one’s remaining embryos while also offering hope to another family.

Beginnings promotes a child-focused approach that allows children the possibility of developing relationships with important people in their lives, including genetic parents and siblings.  Beginnings has been supporting families develop positive connections for over 38 years.

The amount of contact is discussed between donors and recipients and varies from one situation to another. For many of our families, open embryo donation involves ongoing communication and contact between the donor parent(s) and the recipient(s), including the child. This can take the form of providing updates, sharing new medical information, phone or video contact, and in-person visits.

Our professional team of social workers has the expertise to help you navigate open embryo donation and explore what works best for you and your family. We offer support services to help you talk with your children and others, and to support your relationship with the other family. We also host a peer support group with guest speakers several times a year.

Beginnings greatly appreciate our ongoing partnerships with Fertility Friends Foundation, Oasis Support, and Fertility Matters Canada. We welcome every opportunity to expand our network, ensuring comprehensive support for everyone navigating the family-planning journey.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is embryo donation?

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

Why don’t we use the terminology embryo adoption?  

• Embryo donation is the medical and legal process through which embryos are transferred from donors to recipients. 
• 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 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.
• Under Canadian law, embryos and children are recognized differently and are subject to different legal considerations. 

What is openness in embryo donation?

Open embryo donation refers to a mutually agreeable arrangement regarding contact and information sharing between donor and recipient families. Our program requires both parties to share and maintain up-to-date contact and medical information.

What is the ratio of donors to recipients?

The number of recipients and donors varies due to new registrations and mutual selection. The ratio is generally approximately 1:2.

Do you need to be a Canadian to be eligible to participate in the program?

Donors and recipients must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents.

Does Beginnings work with embryo donors and recipients throughout Canada? 

Yes, we are a National Program. Beginnings can work with embryo donors in any province or territory across Canada.

Can international embryos be used in the program?

Embryos created outside Canada must be shipped and stored in Canada prior to registration in the program.

Can embryo donors opt for a closed process? 

Our program does not facilitate closed embryo donation arrangements; we focus on approaches that allow for some level of information sharing between parties.

Can recipients pursue successive pregnancies using embryos that remain? 

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

What is the legal status of an embryo in Canada? 

Embryos are treated as biological material with special ethical and regulatory protections.
Their use is governed by the Assisted Human Reproduction Act (Canada). They do not have independent legal rights or status as “children” or “persons.” However, embryos are still treated with significant ethical sensitivity, and clinics must follow strict guidelines set by federal law and professional bodies.

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

Under the Federal Assisted Human Reproduction Act (AHRA) (2004), it is illegal to make any payments for embryos. 

How are embryo donation agreements formalized in Canada? 

In Canada, embryo donation agreements are formalized through consent-based legal and clinical documentation.