Embryo donation: a review

Background. Embryo donation is currently an uncommon procedure associated with many ethical, legal and psychosocial implications. It is, however, the only answer to infertility in some patients. This article summarizes the indications for embryo donation as well as the procedure and considerations in the preparation of both the donors and the recipients. Methods. A MEDLINE search was conducted for all English articles using the keywords embryo donation, in vitro fertilization and gamete donation. Conclusion. Embryo donation might indeed be the answer to many infertile couples who would otherwise have to resort to childlessness or adoption. The advent of in vitro fertilization and cryopreservation of the spare embryos make these embryos a ready source for potential donors. The success rates of both fresh and freeze-thawed embryo transfers have been encouraging and there do not seem to be any long-term clinical implications for the offspring. However, there remain many legal and psychosocial issues associated with embryo donation.