FULL 20-MINUTE DOCUMENTARY
Spares: Second Chance Stories of Frozen Embryos
1.6 million fertilized embryos, leftover from couples undergoing IVF, currently sit frozen in facilities. “Spares” tells the personal story of four couples that chose to adopt or put their fertilized embryos up for adoption, taking viewers on a riveting journey through ethical, scientific, and legal landscapes of this new and bizarre technology.
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Spares presented by the Palladium Pictures Incubator | Learn More | 2024 Fellows
PALLADIUM PICTURES INCUBATOR IN THE NEWS
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"I think at that moment, it was a new spark of light and a new spark of hope that we could carry a baby and bring a baby into this world."
- Ali, Illinois
About the Documentary
In vitro fertilization (IVF) has become increasingly common in the U.S., with 2% of births now resulting from this process. However, IVF often leads to unused frozen embryos, known as "spares." These spares, numbering over 1.6 million in the U.S. alone, can be adopted by other families in a process called "snowflake® adoption." This practice has grown significantly in recent years, with a 420% increase over 7 years and a 29% surge in 2023 alone.
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The documentary presents several personal stories of families involved in embryo adoption. Some couples, like Caleb and Paige, turned to embryo adoption after having a child with genetic complications. Others, like Sam and Gabbi, chose this path due to fertility issues. The document also shares the perspective of couples who donated their unused embryos, such as Travis and Tara, who wanted to give their remaining embryos a chance at life.
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Embryo adoption raises complex ethical and emotional questions. Many families view the embryos as lives beginning at conception, leading to difficult decisions about their fate. The process also involves navigating relationships between donor and recipient families, which can range from closed adoptions to close bonds. Despite its challenges, embryo adoption is presented as a "life-affirming solution" to the issue of unused IVF embryos, offering hope to couples struggling with infertility while addressing concerns about embryo destruction.
10 things to
know about
embryo
adoption
in 2024:
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2% of all U.S. births are now through in vitro fertilization (IVF).
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There are over 1.6 million unused frozen embryos (spares) in the U.S. alone.
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Embryo adoptions have grown 420% over a 7-year period.
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There was a 29% increase in embryo adoptions in 2023 alone.
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100% of parents informed of genetic mutations in their embryos chose not to implant those embryos.
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IVF cycles can create between 1 and 60 fertilized embryos.
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80% of embryos either die during the process, are frozen indefinitely, or are destroyed.
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Frozen embryos are expected to be viable for over 100 years.
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1 in 7 women struggle with infertility issues.
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Embryo adoptions number a few thousand annually, though this figure is growing.
"I still feel like I'm the father of those embryos. I still feel like I'm responsible for those and make the best decisions I can."
- Travis, Texas
IVF & Embryo Adoption in the News
Embryo Adoption Resources
Embryo Adoption Awareness Center
(Videos, FAQs, Webinars, & Stories)
Frequently Asked Adoption Questions – FAQs
(Nightlight Christian Adoptions)
(Nightlight Christian Adoptions)
(CDC)
(Snowflakes Embryo Adoption Program)
(National Embryo Donation Center)
Embryo Adoption Organizations
Is An Embryo Considered Life? Stephanie Gray