Building a Family Begins with Exploring Options

Choosing to Have Children

Many same-sex couples desire the experience of having children. Several opportunities exist that may help lesbian and gay couples interested in becoming parents.

When a lesbian or gay couple pursues the option of having a biological child, someone must become pregnant. For lesbian couples, one or both partners can choose to become pregnant or a surrogate may be used. For gay couples, a surrogate is the only option.

Learning as much as possible about the different options is the first step toward starting a family. Talk to your doctor to see if there is an option that may be right for you. You may also find it helpful to consult legal counsel to further explore your options.

To find out more about the items below, attend one of our local speaker events.

Options for Gay Couples

The road to biological parenthood for men will include a surrogate. A surrogate is a woman who carries and gives birth to a baby for another individual or couple. A gay couple's surrogacy options include:

Traditional surrogacy. One partner's sperm is inseminated into the cervix or uterus of a surrogate
Gestational surrogacy: One partner's sperm is used to fertilize a donor egg, which is then implanted into a gestational carrier via in vitro fertilization (IVF)

The majority of surrogacy arrangements today are gestational.

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Choices for Lesbian Couples

For lesbians, biological parenthood is achieved through donor insemination. Donor sperm can be obtained from a sperm bank or from a known donor. There are several different insemination options, including:

intracervical,
intrauterine, and
intravaginal

Lesbians also have the option for collaborative pregnancy with a female partner via reciprocal in vitro fertilization (IVF), embryo donation, and surrogacy. Embryo donation involves using a fertilized embryo from an outside source that contains genetic material from neither partner. One of the partners can carry the transferred embryo or a surrogate may be used.

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Assisted Reproductive Technologies

Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) include all fertility treatments in which both egg and sperm are handled. Techniques include in vitro fertilization (IVF), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), assisted hatching, sperm or egg donation, preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), egg/embryo freezing, and surrogacy. In general, ART procedures involve removing eggs from a woman’s ovaries, combining them with sperm in the laboratory, and returning them to the woman’s body or donating them to another woman. They do not include treatments in which only sperm are handled (e.g., intrauterine—or alternative—insemination) or procedures in which a woman takes medicine only to stimulate egg production without the intention of having eggs retrieved. ART can help lesbian and gay couples have a biological child.

Visit Fertility LifeLines™ for more information on ART.

Egg Donation

Egg donation involves one woman (a donor) “donating” eggs so that another woman (a recipient) might be able to conceive. In egg donation, in vitro fertilization (IVF) is performed in the usual manner, except that the donor may receive fertility medications to stimulate the production of multiple eggs in her ovaries. At the same time, the recipient (a gestational carrier or surrogate) may also receive medications so that her cycle mirrors the cycle of the donor and her body is prepared to receive the embryo. The egg is then fertilized in a laboratory and the embryos are implanted in the recipient’s uterus.

The DonorAssist program through Freedom Fertility Pharmacy™ provides the care you need as you explore the option of egg donation. Freedom’s dedicated team will work with your physician to coordinate all medication needs for an exceptional fertility experience. For more information visit www.DonorAssist.com or call 1-800-591-4413.

Talk to your doctor to learn more about egg donation and determine if third-party reproduction is an appropriate option for you and your partner.

Visit Fertility LifeLines™ for more information on Egg Donation.

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Fertility Challenges

Anyone can be affected by fertility challenges. That’s why it is important to have realistic expectations. Contrary to popular belief, fertility challenges are equally attributable to men and women.¹

Common reasons for female fertility difficulties include: Age (over age 35), ovulatory problems (hormonal imbalances, being excessively over- or underweight), anatomical issues (blocked fallopian tubes, cervical disorders, uterine malformation), and medical problems (Endometriosis, adhesions, fibroids, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome [PCOS], cancer treatments).

Common reasons for male fertility difficulties include: Sperm disorders (sperm count, volume, concentration), anatomical issues (scrotal varicocele, undescended testis), and functional issues (anejaculation, retrograde ejaculation, erectile dysfunction).

Visit Fertility LifeLines™ for more information on Fertility Challenges.

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A Fertility Specialist Can Help

If you and your partner decide to proceed with having a biological child, you will likely enlist the help of a fertility specialist.

A fertility specialist, also known as a reproductive endocrinologist, specializes in treating reproductive disorders. These doctors have completed the same education and medical requirements as OB/GYNs. In addition, they have also finished a two- to three-year fellowship in reproductive endocrinology, passed specialized examinations (if board certified) and completed a two-year practice in reproductive endocrinology.

A reproductive endocrinologist:

facilitates the process of getting pregnant (including alternate insemination [AI] and in vitro fertilization [IVF]),
addresses any fertility issues, and
treats both men and women

Let us help you find a Fertility Specialist.

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Adoption: One of Many Options

While adoption is not the only option for same-sex couples interested in expanding their families, it is an attainable goal that is often seriously considered.

It may be helpful to know that each state carries its own laws for same-sex couples seeking to adopt a child. However, all states must recognize out-of-state adoptions regardless of legal status in that particular state.

Types of adoptions include:

State/public agency adoption.
Agency-open adoption.
Open-independent adoption.
International adoption.

Additional Resources

Same-Sex Parenting

Gay Parent Magazine

Fertility

Legal

Adoption

1. Frequently Asked Questions About Infertility page. American Society for Reproductive Medicine Web site. Available at: http://www.asrm.org/Patients/faqs.html. Accessed February 4, 2009.

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