Fertility Options for LGBTQ+ Families

At Positive Steps Fertility, we believe that love makes a family and take pride in fostering a nurturing and supportive environment for all individuals and couples who want to embark on the journey of parenthood. We’re thrilled to offer comprehensive fertility services specially designed for the LGBTQ+ community, ensuring a sensitive and inclusive approach at every step of the process.

The journey towards parenthood for LGBTQ+ individuals and couples is a beautiful tapestry of love, hope, and resilience. While the paths may vary, the common thread that binds every family is the love that parents share for their children. The myriad of family-building options for LGBTQ+ families is a testament to the fact that love knows no boundaries.

Ultimately, the journey toward parenthood may look different for everyone and may come with unique challenges and triumphs. But what truly matters is the love that parents, regardless of gender or sexuality, have for their children. The array of options available for LGBTQ+ individuals and couples to start their family is a testament to how love transcends all boundaries.

Families come in all shapes and sizes. No matter the path you choose to parenthood, the love and care you provide for your child truly defines what it means to be a family.

We offer a range of fertility treatments tailored to the diverse needs of the LGBTQ+ community. Fertility options for the LGBTQ+ community are as diverse as the rainbow flag that represents it. Lesbian couples may explore options like donor insemination or IVF, while gay couples might consider surrogacy coupled with donor eggs.

Transgender individuals may have unique considerations depending on their transition status and whether they have preserved their sperm or eggs. Bisexual and queer people may choose from a range of options depending on their specific circumstances and relationships.

No matter who you are or who you love, we believe that everyone has the right to experience the joy of parenthood. We understand the unique needs and challenges of the LGBTQ+ community and are committed to offering compassionate, individualized care.

Lesbian Women and Couples:

Love, family, and connection are at the core of what we do. We offer a range of assisted reproductive treatments, including intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF). Our innovative options like reciprocal IVF allow one partner to provide the egg and the other to carry the pregnancy. This shared biological connection creates a truly unique and meaningful path to motherhood. Together, we’ll discuss your preferences, answer all your questions, and guide you on your journey to becoming parents. 

Gay Men and Couples:

We are dedicated to making your dream of fatherhood a reality. From IVF to using a gestational carrier and egg donor, we are here to support you every step of the way. Our team will assist in coordinating the complex logistics, ensuring you understand each option and decision, and providing the necessary medical and emotional support. Your vision for family-building is our priority.

Transgender Individuals and Couples:

We honor and respect your identity and your fertility journey. We offer comprehensive reproductive services, including IUI, IVF, and options with donor sperm or eggs or gestational carriers. Importantly, for transgender individuals planning to transition, we provide in-depth fertility preservation consultations. Our experienced professionals can help navigate the delicate balance between transitioning timelines and fertility preservation options, always honoring your unique journey.

LGBTQ+ Fertility Treatments and Testing: Diverse Choices for a Diverse Community

LGBTQ+ families might want to know about fertility testing options for themselves or their partners.

Fertility testing can provide vital information to help guide decisions related to family planning.

Relevance of Fertility Testing: LGBTQ+ couples may not have fertility issues per se, but they often require assistance from reproductive technology to conceive. Fertility testing could provide information about which reproductive technology (IVF, IUI, donor insemination, surrogacy) may be most suitable or successful.

Options for Lesbian Couples: Lesbian couples may choose to use sperm from a known or anonymous donor. Fertility testing can help identify if there are any issues that might impact the ability of one partner to carry a pregnancy.

Options for Gay Couples: Gay couples may choose to use an egg donor and a gestational surrogate to have a child. Fertility testing, in this case, could involve screening potential egg donors for fertility issues.

Options for Bisexual/Transgender/Non-Binary Individuals: Depending on the individual’s body and their partner’s (if they have one), different fertility testing and treatment options may be recommended. For example, for a transgender man (assigned female at birth but identifies as male) who still has a uterus and ovaries, fertility tests could determine whether pregnancy is a viable option.

The Process of Fertility Testing: The process can involve a range of tests, including blood tests to check hormone levels, ultrasounds to examine the uterus and ovaries or semen analysis for men.

Implications of the Results: If fertility issues are discovered, this does not mean that having a child is impossible. It simply means that the couple or individual may need to explore other options, such as using donor sperm, eggs, or embryos, or consider adoption or foster care.

We understand the specific fertility needs and challenges of the LGBTQ+ community, and we’re here to help you navigate the exciting journey ahead with our IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) options.

IVF for Lesbian Couples: Our IVF services offer a chance to share the biological connection with your child. One partner can provide the egg, which will be fertilized with donor sperm, and the resulting embryo can be implanted in either partner. This ‘reciprocal IVF’ allows both partners to have an intimate connection to the pregnancy and birth process.

IVF for Gay Couples: With the help of an egg donor and a gestational surrogate, you can have a biological connection to your child. Our team will assist you in coordinating the process, from selecting a suitable egg donor to finding a surrogate who aligns with your values and expectations.

IVF for Transgender Individuals: We understand the complexities that transgender individuals might face when considering parenthood. We offer fertility preservation consultations before transition, and comprehensive IVF services after, with options for using either your own or donor eggs or sperm.

IVF is a process where eggs are retrieved from the ovaries, fertilized with sperm in a lab, and then the resulting embryos are transferred into the uterus. IVF can be used by anyone with a uterus, and can be an excellent option for couples dealing with infertility, single women, or lesbian couples who want to share the biological connection with their child (through a process known as reciprocal IVF).

Intrauterine insemination (IUI) can play a crucial role in helping LGBTQ+ individuals and couples achieve their dreams of parenthood. Particularly for lesbian couples or transgender men who still have a functioning uterus and ovaries, IUI can be an excellent first-line option.

This process involves direct insertion of donor sperm into the uterus at the time of ovulation. Performed in a clinic setting, IUI can be timed with natural cycles or used alongside fertility medications designed to stimulate ovulation, enhancing the likelihood of conception.

For lesbian couples, IUI involves selecting donor sperm (either from a known or anonymous donor) which is then inserted directly into the uterus around the time of ovulation to facilitate fertilization. Couples may choose to alternate who undergoes the IUI procedure if they plan for more than one child, allowing both partners the experience of carrying a pregnancy.

For single LGBTQ+ individuals or those in a partnership where neither person has a uterus and ovaries, IUI can be combined with the use of a gestational carrier. This involves the carrier undergoing the IUI procedure, creating an opportunity for individuals who might not be able to carry a pregnancy themselves to still have a biological child.

For transgender men, if they’ve chosen not to have surgery or to delay it, IUI offers a way to use their own eggs for conception. It’s important to note that this would involve stopping testosterone treatment, which is a significant decision and requires careful discussion with healthcare providers.

IUI can be a less invasive and less expensive option than in vitro fertilization (IVF), making it an appealing choice for many in the LGBTQ+ community. However, every individual and couple is unique, and the choice of fertility treatment should always be based on personal circumstances, health history, and family-building goals. At Positive Steps Fertility, we’re committed to helping you understand your options and making the choice that’s best for you.

Becoming a parent is a joyous journey, filled with love, hope, and anticipation. For LGBTQ+ individuals and couples, this journey often involves unique pathways, one of which is surrogacy. Surrogacy is a viable and increasingly popular option for many in the LGBTQ+ community, particularly for gay men who wish to have a biological connection to their child.

Surrogacy is a process where a woman, known as a surrogate or gestational carrier, agrees to carry and give birth to a child for another individual or couple, often referred to as the “intended parents.” There are two types of surrogacy: traditional and gestational.

In traditional surrogacy, the surrogate’s eggs are used, making her the biological mother of the child. However, this method is less commonly used today due to the potential emotional and legal complexities.0

Gestational surrogacy, on the other hand, involves the surrogate carrying an embryo created via in vitro fertilization (IVF), using the eggs and sperm of the intended parents, or donors. The gestational surrogate has no genetic link to the child, which often simplifies the legal process and reduces potential emotional complications.

Egg and sperm donation are invaluable resources for many in the LGBTQ+ community, opening doors to biological parenthood that might otherwise remain closed. 

For gay men or couples, an egg donor is necessary to facilitate conception. The donated eggs can be fertilized with sperm from one or both partners (if in a couple), allowing for a genetic link to the child. This process is typically combined with the use of a gestational surrogate, who carries the pregnancy.

On the other hand, lesbian women or couples, as well as single individuals with a uterus, often rely on sperm donation to conceive. Sperm can be from a known or anonymous donor and can be used in various types of fertility treatments, including intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF).

A unique option for lesbian couples is ‘shared motherhood’ or ‘reciprocal IVF’, where one partner provides the egg and the other carries the pregnancy- the egg is fertilized with donor sperm and then transferred to the partner’s uterus.

Donor insemination involves introducing donor sperm into the uterus around the time of ovulation. This can be done at home or in a clinic setting, and can be a viable option for lesbian couples, single women, or trans men with a uterus and ovaries.The sperm can come from a known donor (like a friend) or an anonymous donor from a sperm bank. If choosing a known donor, it’s vital to consult a lawyer to clarify parental rights and obligations.

For lesbian couples and single women, donor insemination allows for conception without a male partner. The donor can be known, such as a friend, or anonymous, selected from a sperm bank. This gives the opportunity for these individuals and couples to have a biological child. For lesbian couples, an appealing aspect of donor insemination is the opportunity to share the pregnancy experience, with one partner providing the egg and the other carrying the pregnancy.

For transgender men who wish to conceive and carry a pregnancy, donor insemination can be used if they have retained their reproductive organs and can safely stop testosterone treatment for the duration of the pregnancy.

Whether you’re single, in a couple, or somewhere in between, we celebrate diversity and are committed to your journey to parenthood. We recognize that every path to parenthood is unique and we are here to guide and support you with expert, empathetic care.

At Positive Steps Fertility, we stand by your side, offering leading-edge fertility solutions with a human touch. Your dreams, your choices, and your path to parenthood matter to us. Join us, and let’s take these positive steps to parenthood together.

Your Journey, Our Support: With Positive Steps Fertility, you’re not just a patient – you’re a partner. Our compassionate, experienced team will be with you every step of the way, providing personalized care and support.

Embrace your unique path to parenthood with us, and let’s embark on this rewarding journey together. Here at Positive Steps Fertility, your dreams of becoming parents are within reach.