Couples who go through in vitro fertilization typically have unused embryos left after achieving a successful pregnancy.

Unused embryos may be frozen, destroyed, donated for research or … “put up for adoption”.

Meaning, they can be donated to other couples who are infertile, thawed out and implanted in a would-be mother’s womb.

Purists are quick to point out that it is not truly “adoption”, because the embryos are not the same as a living, breathing baby.

But they do offer another option for infertile couples who want to have a child.

Read more in this Seattle Times article: “Embryo adoption” gives new life to some couples’ hopes for a child.