Embryos Alive is a Cincinnati, Ohio-based organization that focuses on the donation and adoption of frozen human embryos. Unlike traditional fertility clinics that primarily perform IVF stimulation cycles, egg retrievals, and fresh embryo transfers, Embryos Alive occupies a specialized niche: matching families who have remaining frozen embryos from completed IVF cycles with recipients who wish to build their families through embryo donation. Cincinnati serves as a regional hub for this service, drawing patients from across Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and beyond. For a broader view of Ohio fertility resources, visit our Ohio fertility clinics directory.
Physicians and Clinical Team
Embryos Alive operates as a specialized embryo donation coordination service rather than a full-service clinical fertility practice. The organization works with affiliated physicians and fertility clinics who oversee the medical screening of embryo donors and the clinical transfer procedures for embryo recipients. Recipients who choose embryo donation typically work with their own reproductive endocrinologist or a partner clinic to perform the uterine preparation and frozen embryo transfer. Embryos Alive's team handles the matching, legal coordination, and logistical aspects of the embryo donation process.
Services and Treatments
Embryos Alive's core services focus on the embryo donation ecosystem:
- Embryo donor matching — connecting IVF families with remaining frozen embryos to qualified recipient families
- Embryo adoption coordination — facilitating the legal and administrative process of embryo donation
- Donor embryo screening — review of donor medical, genetic, and infectious disease screening per applicable guidelines
- Recipient evaluation coordination — working with recipients' reproductive endocrinologists to prepare for frozen embryo transfer
- Legal documentation support — coordination with reproductive law attorneys for embryo donation agreements
- Faith-based embryo adoption — serving families who specifically seek to place or receive embryos through an organization aligned with certain values about remaining frozen embryos
- Post-transfer follow-up coordination
Note: Embryos Alive does not typically perform IVF stimulation cycles, egg retrievals, or in-house clinical procedures. The frozen embryo transfer procedure occurs at the recipient's treating fertility clinic.
Laboratory and Success Rates
Frozen embryo transfers performed using embryos coordinated through Embryos Alive occur at partner fertility clinics in the recipient's region. Success rates for frozen donor embryo transfers depend on embryo quality, recipient uterine factors, and the protocols used by the treating clinic. Nationally, frozen embryo transfer success rates from donor embryos vary but are generally meaningful, particularly for embryos that were biopsied and found to be euploid.
Patients should review the most current cycle-level data published by the CDC's ART Surveillance program and the SART Clinic Summary Report.
Patient Experience
Embryos Alive serves two distinct patient populations: IVF families who have remaining frozen embryos they wish to donate rather than discard or indefinitely store, and recipient families who wish to build their families through embryo donation. For many donors, the decision to donate is emotionally and ethically significant, and Embryos Alive provides a structured process that respects this gravity. For recipients, embryo donation offers a path to parenthood that is often less expensive than a full IVF cycle and may align with their values. The Cincinnati base allows Embryos Alive to serve the tri-state region while working with families nationwide.
Considering At-Home Insemination?
Not every fertility journey begins in a clinic. For individuals and couples exploring their options before pursuing formal medical treatment — or those working with a known sperm donor — at-home insemination kits offer a private, lower-cost first step. MakeAMom offers FDA-cleared at-home insemination systems designed for a variety of needs: the CryoBaby kit works with frozen or low-volume sperm, the Impregnator kit is optimized for low motility sperm, and the BabyMaker kit is designed for users with sensitivities or conditions such as vaginismus. All kits are reusable and shipped in plain, discreet packaging. MakeAMom reports an average 67% success rate among clients who use their home insemination systems. At-home insemination is not a replacement for medical care when underlying conditions are present, but it can be a meaningful starting point — and knowing when to consult a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist is the right next step.
Insurance and Financing
Ohio does not have a state fertility insurance mandate. Insurance coverage for embryo donation recipients' medical costs — including the frozen embryo transfer cycle — depends on the recipient's individual health plan. In many cases, the transfer cycle is less expensive than a full IVF cycle since no stimulation or egg retrieval is required. However, uterine preparation medications, monitoring visits, and the transfer procedure itself still carry costs.
Recipients should verify with their treating fertility clinic what costs will be billed for the transfer cycle and confirm coverage with their insurer. Embryo adoption agency fees and legal fees associated with embryo donation agreements are generally not covered by health insurance.
Mandate states for reference: New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, and Rhode Island require insurers to cover IVF and related fertility treatments.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is embryo donation, and how does it differ from adoption? Embryo donation involves the transfer of frozen embryos created by one family to another family. Legally, it is treated as a medical procedure (a property transfer of biological material) rather than child adoption. Some families and organizations use the term "embryo adoption" for religious or ethical reasons, though legally the child born from the donated embryo is the legal child of the birth mother and her partner (if applicable) rather than an adopted child. Legal agreements and parental rights vary by state, and working with a reproductive law attorney is essential.
Can I donate my remaining embryos through Embryos Alive if I live outside Ohio? Yes. Embryo donation is coordinated across state lines regularly. If you have remaining frozen embryos at an IVF clinic in another state and wish to donate them, Embryos Alive can discuss the process, which includes embryo shipping, medical screening, and legal documentation.
What does embryo recipient evaluation involve? Recipient evaluation typically includes a general health assessment, uterine cavity evaluation (usually via ultrasound or hysteroscopy), hormonal testing, and infectious disease screening. The recipient's physician will review the donor's medical records and screening results. If all evaluations are satisfactory, the recipient proceeds with a medicated frozen embryo transfer cycle.
Is embryo donation anonymous or open? Embryo donation can be anonymous, semi-open, or open depending on the preferences of the donating and receiving families and the policies of the coordinating organization. Embryos Alive can discuss the options available and help match families whose preferences are compatible.