LGBTQAI+ Family Building

Women having babies

IUI with donor sperm

• Intrauterine insemination is a minimally invasive procedure where sperm is placed directly in a woman’s uterus. Many single females and lesbian couples choose sperm from an anonymous donor; there are a number of sperm banks across the country where patients can choose a donor based on physical characteristics, family history, academic achievements, and many other criteria.
  • Preparing for donor sperm IUI is the same as for any woman choosing IUI. Infectious disease testing and mental health consultation is recommended.
  • Individuals and their providers work together to choose the best plan of treatment for their cycle. If the individual undergoing IUI has regular menstrual cycles and can track her ovulation, a natural cycle IUI may be the best and least expensive choice. In other patients, medication can be used to induce ovulation and time the IUI.

IVF with donor sperm

• IVF involves using medication to stimulate the ovaries to develop multiple eggs. The goal is to develop a large number of eggs, then retrieve them and inseminate them with donor sperm to produce embryos, which can then be implanted into the uterus.
  • For any IVF cycle, patients must undergo ovarian reserve evaluation and infectious disease testing, as well as evaluation of the uterine cavity. Mental health consultation is recommended.

Reciprocal IVF with donor sperm

• Reciprocal IVF is another option for lesbian couples where both partners can participate in the process of building their family.
• One partner goes through medicated stimulation of the ovaries, and undergoes egg retrieval.
• The other partner goes on medication to prepare her uterus for embryo implantation, and will carry the pregnancy.

Men Having Babies

 Donor egg IVF with gestational surrogate

• One option for individual males or male couples who want to build their family is the use of donor eggs, which are then fertilized with one partner’s sperm. Embryos are then implanted into the prepared uterus of a gestational surrogate.
• The partner donating his sperm would undergo semen analysis and infectious disease testing. We have a team of professionals including assistance from Vermont Surrogacy, attorneys, and counselors to help you navigate this process.

Transgender individuals

Pre-transition fertility preservation

• Fertility preservation should be discussed with any transgender individual prior to undergoing any medical or surgical transition therapies. The decision to preserve fertility should ideally be made before the age of 30, in order to optimize future fertility.
• Options differ depending on the direction of transition, the gender of the current/future partner, and stage in the transition process.
• Male to female:
  • Banking a frozen sperm sample prior to starting treatment is ideal.
  • If hormonal treatment has already begun, it is possible to temporarily stop treatment in order to allow sperm production to resume. Sperm can then be collected and frozen for banking.
  • If hormonal treatment has already begun, it is possible to temporarily stop treatment in order to allow sperm production to resume. Sperm can then be collected and frozen for banking.
• Female to male:
  • Freezing eggs to be stored and used in a future IVF procedure is an option for pre-transition preservation of fertility.
  • Alternately, the transsexual man can undergo egg retrieval and have the eggs fertilized, either by a male partner’s sperm or by donor sperm. Embryos can then be cryopreserved, or implanted into the uterus of a female partner or a gestational carrier.
  • Transsexual males who have not undergone surgical transition and still have a uterus can also choose to carry a pregnancy prior to transition if they are willing to undergo reversal of masculinizing hormone effects during that period.

When you are ready, the next step is to schedule a consultation to develop a personalized fertility plan designed to deliver the family you have always wanted.

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