With over one million same-sex or LGBT couples in the US, fertility treatments are becoming increasingly popular for couples and individuals of all genders and orientations. While adoption is a great choice, many individuals desire biological children and seek an LGBT fertility clinic. For LGBT people who want to have a biological child, multiple fertility treatments are available that can help make their dreams come true. From NCCRM, here are the treatment options offered at our fertility clinics in NC.
Fertility Treatments For Gay Men
While it is not yet possible to create a child biologically related to both men, with advances in reproductive medicine North Carolina, gay male couples can still have children related to one partner. Deciding which partner can be a difficult decision, but it may be beneficial to look at the health history of both couples to see who may have the healthier sperm. Some of the options include:
- In-vitro fertilization (IVF) with a gestational surrogate and another egg donor
- In-vitro fertilization (IVF) with a gestational surrogate who is also the egg donor
To make IVF NC treatments possible, a woman volunteers as a gestational surrogate – meaning someone who carries the resulting embryos to term. The egg donor may be anonymous or known. Some couples like to choose a donor or gestational surrogate (or both) who is close to them. If the couple would like assistance choosing an egg donor, our fertility clinics in NC offer an in-house donor program. However, if the couple chooses to move forward with another agency for egg donor selection, our office is happy to work in tandem with theirs. Once chosen, the gestational surrogate is treated with hormones at our LGBT fertility clinic to stop ovulation and prepare her uterus for the implantation of the embryos.
Fertility Treatments For Lesbian Women
Like gay male couples, for lesbians looking to build a family, the child will be made up of one parent’s genetic makeup. However, with lesbian couples, both women can be physically involved. Here are some of the choices for lesbian couples:
- IVF with donor sperm with one partner donating eggs NC and gestating the pregnancy
- IVF with donor sperm with one partner providing the eggs and the other partner gestating the pregnancy.
- IVF with one partner as gestational mother and one as genetic mother
If a sperm donor is needed, our fertility clinics in NC can provide referrals to reputable sperm banks and recommend fertility medication depending on the patient’s age and other fertility factors. Certain requirements must be met if a sperm donor is chosen. This includes FDA-mandated infectious disease testing, a physical exam, and psychological counseling for both the donor and the recipient couple. The sperm specimen must also be frozen before the treatment cycle. It is highly recommended to have a legal agreement in place when co-parenting is expected.
If a lesbian couple chooses co-maternity, one partner will undergo egg stimulation and retrieval while the other partner prepares her uterus for embryo transfer by taking hormone injections. The baby will have the genetic makeup of the egg-providing partner and the sperm donor, and the gestational partner will carry the pregnancy, give birth, and breastfeed the baby. Legal agreements ensure that both mothers are listed on the birth certificate.
Fertility Treatments for Transgender Individuals
Although a rarer occurrence, our fertility clinics in NC have had the pleasure of working with transgender individuals and couples in the past. Depending on the couple’s sex and personal preferences, the couple may move forward with or without a third party. Some of the options transgender couples and individuals can choose from at NCCRM include:
- Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
- IVF with their partner’s sperm
- IVF with donor sperm
- IVF with donor eggs
- IVF with a surrogate
NCCRM | Fertility Clinics in NC
Everyone deserves the family of their dreams, no matter their gender, age, or orientation. Luckily, LGBT family-building options are becoming increasingly accessible due to advances in reproductive medicine North Carolina over the last few decades. Whether you are looking for natural conception options or more complex treatments, our LGBT fertility clinic is here to help. To learn more about our fertility clinics in NC, visit our website today.
