Divorced Couples Discard Thousands of Frozen Embryos, Study Finds

Thousands of frozen embryos stored at in vitro fertilization (IVF) clinics are being discarded when couples separate, according to a recent study. The research indicates that two-thirds of couples who split after fertility treatment opt to have their remaining embryos destroyed.

Embryo cryopreservation is a common practice in IVF, allowing for future attempts if an initial cycle is unsuccessful or if couples wish to have more children. However, when partners who have both contributed to egg creation separate and cannot agree on the fate of stored embryos, a 12-month cooling-off period is mandated. If no agreement is reached by the end of this period, the embryos are discarded.

In cases where only one partner contributed the egg and a donor was used, that individual retains sole authority over consent, including the right to withdraw permission for the other partner to use the embryo.

Researchers analyzing records from the London Women’s Clinic between 2019 and the previous year found that 141 couples who had stored embryos at the clinic had separated. Of these, 66 percent chose to have their embryos discarded, while 20 percent opted to keep them. A small percentage, 4.2 percent, chose to donate them to their ex-partner, with some embryos also being donated to other couples undergoing treatment.

The study, published in the online journal Reproductive Biomedicine, underscores the "emotional, ethical and legal complexities of consent after separation." The researchers noted that cryopreserved embryos "often become sources of conflict" during relationship breakdowns, with most couples opting for disposal rather than donation or retention.

With regulations now permitting embryo storage for up to 55 years, clinicians are increasingly navigating intricate scenarios involving long-term reproductive potential, evolving relationship dynamics, and legal consent issues. The study authors recommend that clinics offer counseling at regular intervals during storage and specifically at the point of relationship breakdown.

Researchers suggested that the decision to discard embryos might serve as a form of closure, stating that ending a relationship "can feel like letting go," and discarding embryos can carry a "more intimate sense of ending a potential life."

In 2024, approximately 53,000 individuals in the UK underwent fertility treatment, a figure that has tripled since the 1990s. Currently, about three percent of babies born in the UK are conceived through IVF treatment.