LGBTQIA+

Every person, rather partnered or individual who embarks on their path to parenthood, experiences their journeys in very different ways. The experts at Sher Fertility Solutions have worked with the LGBTQIA+ community, offering a variety of treatment options. Below are some examples. 

Each case is specialized and unique. SFS recognizes that while the technical process of IVF is the essentially the same for LGBTQIA+ people as it is for heterosexuals, our doctors and staff at SFS understand the emotional differences that may arise and are with you during the entire process.

Many questions arise during this process. Those assigned male at birth who are looking to become parents may wonder about the egg donation and surrogacy process. And those assigned female at birth may have questions relating to carrying a child, embryo creation, donor sperm, egg donor, etc. There are many fertility options available.

For people assigned female at birth:

• Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) with Donor Sperm:  In the case of female partners, the simplest approach is to undergo artificial insemination (IUI) with donor sperm. It involves the physical placement of donor sperm in the uterus of one or both partners. After passing a set of tests, one or both mothers are given fertility medication to stimulate their egg production. Then the doctor inseminates or injects a donor’s sperm into the patient’s uterus. 
• IVF with Donor Sperm: In some cases, the matter is complicated by the existence of infertility that cannot be adequately addressed through IUI with donor sperm, thus necessitating in vitro fertilization. Regardless of the approach to treatment, stringent FDA guidelines require that all sperm donors whether anonymous or known are recruited from a licensed sperm bank or independently  tested for potential  transmittable viral infections at the time of producing the specimen and that the sperm specimen then be freeze/stored for several months at which time the sperm provider be retested before the sperm is dispatched for IUI or IVF. Once embryos are generated with donated sperm either female partner will choose to bear the child. Often times, both female partners may wish to share in the biological contribution of a pregnancy where one partner will produce the eggs necessary to be fertilized with donor sperm and the embryos will be transferred to the prepared uterus of the other partner. In some cases the couple will elect to use a gestational carrier (surrogate mother)
• Reciprocal IVF:  Both partners share in the conception and pregnancy processes. With reciprocal IVF, one partner provides the eggs to be harvested and fertilized, while the other carries the baby to term.

For individuals or people assigned male at birth: IVF With Donor + Surrogate: Partners or individuals can have their sperm fertilize a female donor’s egg and have the baby carried to term by a surrogate mother.