Deciding to start a family is a huge milestone for any hopeful parent. LGBTQ couples have certain considerations that heterosexual couples don’t always face, like fertility treatment options, finances, overall health, and age. Nowadays, there are many fertility services available for same-sex couples hoping to achieve parenthood. It’s important to know your treatment options and seek a fertility specialist who provides a safe space for you and your partner to take the next step toward starting a family.
Know your fertility treatment options
There are several ways for same-sex couples to start a family. When it comes to fertility treatment options, you may consider intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF). With IUI, both partners are inseminated with donor sperm. With IVF, eggs are harvested from either one or both partners and are fertilized with donor sperm outside the body, and once fertilized, the egg is implanted into the uterus.
Talk to a fertility specialist
Schedule a consultation with a fertility specialist to explore the fertility treatment options that are best for you and your partner. Discuss each of your options in-depth, and plan to do your own research before the consultation so that you can bring up any questions or concerns. Your fertility specialist will review each of your medical histories to ensure you are both in good health. Genetic tests, sperm viability, egg viability, age, and lifestyle habits are all factors that a fertility specialist should consider when discussing fertility treatment options.
Gay couples face relationship issues just like straight couples, but some unique challenges require specialized couples counseling. Therapy Group of DC provides gay couples counseling in a supportive, safe environment to bring clarity to communication issues. LGBT couples face trust issues, intimacy and sexual problems, marriage concerns, and decisions about raising a family. A couples therapist can provide a supportive environment for you and your partner to openly discuss all aspects of family planning.
Decide who will carry the baby
Same-sex couples will need to decide who will carry the baby to term. It’s a decision that will need to be made before you begin fertility testing and examination. Most lesbian couples choose to carry their own baby, assuming that all fertility testing is in their favor. Gay male couples may choose an egg donor and surrogate to carry the baby. You may choose to work with an egg donor program and surrogacy agency, or you may feel more comfortable asking a close family member or friend to be a surrogate. Your fertility specialist will help guide you through the process to find the best option for you and your partner.
Determine whose sperm to use
In addition to deciding who will carry the baby, you and your partner will need to determine whose sperm to use. Some gay couples might choose a sperm donor that they know, while others might choose an anonymous donor through a sperm bank. Choosing a known sperm donor takes careful consideration of parental rights and involvement in the child’s life, so it’s a smart idea to consult with a lawyer.
Sperm donation can help LGBTQ couples and single women conceive a biological family. PFCLA sperm bank Los Angeles can help you and your partner select a sperm donor, facilitate the sperm donation, and help with artificial insemination. The sperm bank considers the medical and genetic implications of all donor sperm and provides detailed medical history and character information about your sperm donor.
These are just some fertility tips for same-sex couples to keep in mind when deciding to take the next step toward parenthood. For more information visit the Pacific Fertility Center Los Angeles at 10921 Wilshire Blvd Ste 700, Los Angeles, CA 90024, or call them at (310) 209-7700.
