What is Third-Party Reproduction?

Third-party reproduction refers to the use of eggs, sperm, or embryos that have been donated by a third person (the donor) to enable individuals or couples (the intended parents) facing infertility or other conception challenges to have a child. Third-party reproduction can also refer to the assistance of gestational carriers. When using a gestational carrier, in vitro fertilization is used to facilitate the pregnancy. It can can be done with the intended parents eggs, sperm with donor eggs, donor embryos, or donor sperm. The carrier is not genetically linked to the baby and her assistance is limited to the reproductive process. It does not involve raising the child.

Why would someone need to use a donor?

There are four main reasons for the need of an egg or sperm donor. 

1) ovarian failure or sterility. This can be due to a wide variety of different causes, including radiation, chemotherapy, surgical removal of the ovaries and a variety of disease which cause or are associated with ovarian failure and sterility.

2) women and men who carry a serious genetic disease who wish to diminish the chance that the disease will be passed on to their children. 

3) women and men whose age is sufficiently advanced so that their fertility potential is impaired significantly.

4) women and men who have had poor quality embryos during previous IVF cycles.

Why do people need surrogates aka gestational carriers?

A person or couple may need the help of a surrogate to achieve pregnancy for a number of reasons.  

1) they are a same sex couple and neither have a uterus.

2) women who have had their uterus removed due to an illness or hysterectomy , have a compromised uterus, or were born without a uterus. 

3) women who cannot safely carry a pregnancy to term for various reasons, such as, a history of IUGR, PROM, Gestational Diabetes, Pre-eclampsia, etc. 

4) women who have been diagnosed with infertility. 

How many children were born with the use of third-party reproduction?

There have been 1 million births in the United States between 1987 and 2015 through the use of IVF or other assisted reproductive technologies. 

Who keep track of the third-party reproduction statistics in the united states?

According to the CDC 86% of all fertility clinics are members of and report their statistics to, SART, Society For Assisted Reproductive Technology. 

Who is SART?

SART is the primary organization of professionals dedicated to the practice of IVF, or assisted reproductive technology (ART). The organization represents the majority of the ART clinics in the country. The mission of SART is to establish and maintain standards for ART so that you receive the highest possible level of care.

For additional statistics and information regarding third-party reproduction in the united states, please follow the link below.

https://www.sart.org/ivf-info/third-party-reproduction/