TV4, Sweden. 7 March 2019
Marie Granmar is my very dear patient from more than 8 years ago. Marie has chosen to do embryo adoption and I was privileged to be the doctor. Today Victor is 7,5 years of age. After having got a baby through embryo adoption Marie has written a lovely book Operation barn.
Please listen to Marie’s interview on TV4 7 March 2019 in Swedish: www.tv4play.se/program/nyhetsmorgon/11972538
You can also read the summary of this interview in English that Marie has kindly prepared personally for our non-Swedish speaking patients:
As consequence of a new law, more people can become parents. Marie Granmar carried out an embryo donation abroad since it was not allowed in Sweden then. After having carried her child in her belly, giving birth and being an infancy mother, she feels like any mum. Senior physician Anna Karin Lind explains more about the procedure.
Review:
The child is now 7,5 years. I was in St. Petersburg which was closest clinic at that time.
Anna Karin Lind explains what we see in the pictures. For example ICSI that must be done if the eggs have been frozen.
What does the new law mean? That we use both eggs and sperm at the same time, either from different donors or donated embryos from IVF-patients.
Can we do this at any age? The Swedish ethical committee, Smer, recommends no age limits. But there are risks when the woman gets older.
Marie Granmar – how does it affect you that there are no genetic links between you and your child? Not at all actually. I am the biological mother and have carried the child in my belly, given birth and been an infancy mother.
Is this a topic you discuss with your child? Yes, I have chosen to be open about all this from the beginning. I have written a book about it, Operation barn, so of course I have to be open also towards the child. I have also read about studies pointing out that it is good to tell the child at very young age, before the age of 6-7 years.
Anna Karin Lind: Not so many persons seek their genetic origin yet. The most important is that mum and dad feel good about it all.
What we are facing now is mainly a lack of donors. I urge anyone who wants to help to donate. Just contact the university hospitals or one of the sperm banks.
You cannot be anonymous as a donor in Sweden? You are anonymous to the couple or the woman receiving the embryo, but the child as a grown up can get information about the donor. We have chosen this in Sweden. Not so in all countries.
Have we put too much emphasis on genetic affinity, Marie? Yes, I think so. It is the social parent's contribution that is important.
You could compare embryo adoption with international adoptions where there is not a genetic link to the parents either. The big difference is that the cell clump implanted in the uterus has no memories of another environment. Many clinics also match the appearance to that of the future parents.
Is it important to have this treatment in Sweden? Yes, there is always extra stress and high costs when traveling abroad. Private care abroad costs a lot of money. With this care in Sweden it will be available also for people that do not have a high income.
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