Skip to primary navigation Skip to footer Referring Physicians Patients Search Resources Home / LGBTQ+ Family Building LGBTQ+ family building options Dedicated to helping gay, lesbian, and transgender people realize their dream of parenthood, SGF offers a full range of services — from low-tech to highly advanced — to help you achieve successful outcomes. Schedule Appointment Treatment options IUI IVF Donor sperm Donor egg Gestational carrier Egg freezing Gay men Lesbian women Transgender individuals Resources Fertility options for gay men If you are a same-sex male couple planning to build a family through fertility treatments, you will meet with your physician to discuss the details of using an egg donor and gestational carrier. Dual insemination Couples have the opportunity to utilize dual insemination wherein each partner provides sperm that can be used to create an embryo which will then be transferred to a known or recruited gestational carrier to carry the pregnancy. The partner(s) wishing to use his sperm will undergo a semen analysis to test motility (movement), volume, concentration, and morphology (shape) of the sperm. Selecting a gestational carrier agencies & attorneys Finding a gestational carrier is often one of the first steps for patients. Our medical team will refer you to experienced and reputable attorneys and agencies to find a gestational carriers, a woman with no genetic tie with the child she is carrying. The average wait to be matched with a gestational carrier is 3 to 6 months. All gestational carriers and intended fathers must seek legal counsel, even when working with a friend or family member. Legal contracts as well as all medical and psychological screening for the gestational carrier must be completed prior to selecting an egg donor. Selecting an egg donor Most patients utilize the in-house egg donors. For a variety of reasons, patients may opt to select an egg donor from Donor Egg Bank USA’s frozen donor egg bank or other agencies. For patients using an SGF egg donor, one of the major advantages is the ability to participate in the Shared Donor Egg Program to reduce cost. With the Shared Donor Egg Program, a single donor’s eggs can be split between two or three recipients — saving the recipients up to 50% on treatment costs. Learn about donor egg treatment Fertility options for lesbian women If you are a same-sex female couple, when you begin your fertility journey, one of the first decisions you must make is who will carry the pregnancy. The partner carrying the pregnancy will then proceed with an infertility work-up. If there is a good prognosis, the next step is to select a sperm donor. Selecting a sperm donor SGF works with certified sperm banks where donors are appropriately screened. Sperm registries offer childhood photos, personal demographics, and essays written by the donor. If you may opt to use a known sperm donor such as a relative or friend, your care team will coordinate this process for you and your donor. After you select the donor, the cryobank sends the frozen sperm sample directly to SGF. From there, you will undergo an intrauterine insemination or in vitro fertilization cycle using the donated sperm. Learn about donor sperm treatment Co-IVF Lesbian couples have the opportunity to share in the pregnancy through co-IVF, also known as reciprocal IVF. With co-IVF, one partner provides the egg and the other partner will carry the pregnancy. This is a more complex treatment protocol where both partners complete fertility testing and both will take medication to boost their fertility. Many couples enjoy this option which allows both partners to feel more connected to the pregnancy and the child. Learn about IVF Fertility options for transgender individuals For transgender patients, hormonal transitions from birth sex to identified gender can impact fertility potential. For those patients who wish to have biological children, there are options for family building including fertility preservation. Fertility preservation To protect future family building options, individuals should consider freezing eggs, sperm or embryo. This should ideally occur prior to hormone therapy or surgery. Learn about egg freezing Trying to conceive There are many ways for transgender men and women to be included in the family building journey with their partner. Transgender men (FTM) with a female partner Transgender men and their partner can conceive using donor sperm. Treatment options will vary based on individual fertility testing but most patients are likely to conceive with intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF). Co-IVF is also an option for transgender men and their partner. With co-IVF, one partner provides the egg and the other partner will carry the pregnancy. Transgender men (FTM) with a male partner Transgender men with a male partner can work our medical team to review and temporarily postpone hormone therapy, allowing the couple to conceive with intercourse. If fertility treatments are needed, they may be eligible for intrauterine insemination (IUI) or IVF with or without a gestational carrier. Transgender women (MTF) with a female partner Transgender women with a female partner most often opt to use intrauterine insemination (IUI) to conceive. If sperm was frozen prior to hormone therapies or surgery, that frozen sperm can be used. Otherwise, hormone therapy can temporarily cease for spermatogenesis to resume in order to obtain sperm. Alternatively, donor sperm can be used. Transgender women (MTF) with a male partner Transgender women with a male partner will need donor egg treatment using a gestational carrier. If sperm was frozen prior to hormone therapies or surgery, either the frozen sperm or the partner’s sperm may be used. Discover all treatment options Learn more ARTICLE Choosing a Family Member or Friend as a … ARTICLE Using a Known Egg Donor: How To Thank ARTICLE Using a Known Egg Donor: How to Ask ARTICLE Using a Known Egg Donor: What to Discuss Patient stories PATIENT STORY Casey & Rachel PATIENT STORY Stephanie & Dale PATIENT STORY Ashley & Michael PATIENT STORY Meredith How to get started Shady Grove Fertility has treatment options to help almost everyone build the family of their dreams. And it all starts with one call: Get Started or 1-888-761-1967 Sign up for eNewsletter Company About SGF About US Fertility Our Doctors Careers Newsroom Contact Us Treatments Egg Freezing Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET) Guarantee Programs All Treatments Resources Colorado Patient Portal Login Patient Portal Login Online Bill Pay Library Support Groups & Events Locations Colorado Florida Georgia Maryland New York Pennsylvania Virginia Washington, D.C. 2021 Shady Grove Fertility Privacy Policies & Terms of Use