Family Planning for Gay Men By Paula Hovell on July 30, 2020

Gay men with a childParenthood is one of the most rewarding and joyous experiences in the world. At the Center for Fertility & Gynecology, we believe that everyone should have the opportunity to become a parent if they choose, including members of the LGBT community.

Although conceiving naturally is not always possible, our experienced fertility doctors offer a range of LGBT fertility services to make family planning a possibility for same-sex couples in Los Angeles, CA, Tarzana, CA, Bakersfield, CA, and surrounding areas. Here, we discuss the most appropriate fertility treatment options for gay men.

Understanding the Surrogacy Process

For gay men to build a family through fertility treatment, they need to have a surrogate. There are two surrogacy options available: traditional surrogacy and gestational surrogacy. 

  • Traditional surrogacy: When patients pursue traditional surrogacy, they are looking for a surrogate who will not only carry the child, but also use their own eggs for the pregnancy. A traditional surrogate is both the biological mother and the person who carries the baby to term.
  • Gestational surrogacy: When working with a gestational surrogate, patients will need to have both a surrogate and an egg donor. A gestational surrogate carries an embryo that has been fertilized with donor eggs and the male patient’s sperm.

The type of surrogate that is used plays a part in determining what fertility treatment option is right for our patients.

Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)

IUI, which is sometimes referred to as artificial insemination, is a fairly straightforward fertility technique. To perform IUI, we collect a semen sample from our male patient. The semen is washed to separate sperm from the seminal fluid and remove chemicals. The washed sperm is placed directly into the surrogate’s uterus. This procedure minimizes the distance that sperm must travel to fertilize the egg, which greatly increases the chance of fertilization. Because the sperm is injected directly into the uterus, IUI is only a treatment option for gay men who are working with a traditional surrogate. 

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

IVF is the most common LGBT fertility treatment. IVF is a multi-stage procedure that oversees all areas of conception. During IVF, donor eggs are fertilized in a lab using a collected sperm sample. The eggs are evaluated for several days. On day three or five of fertilization, embryos are graded and the most viable are selected for transfer. Selected embryos are implanted directly into the uterus of the gestational surrogate, with the hope that they will implant and result in pregnancy. IVF is an option for patients working with either a traditional or gestational surrogate.

Questions to Consider

Before settling on a treatment technique, there are some questions that gay couples need to consider:

  • Whose sperm will be used?
  • What type of surrogate will be used?
  • Will the surrogate be a close friend or family member, or will you work with an agency?
  • If using donor eggs, will the donor be known or anonymous?

These are all personal choices, but our fertility specialists work closely with patients to help them customize treatment so that their unique needs and desires are met. We can even talk to patients about the possibility of using sperm from both partners so that both fathers can have a child with a biological connection.

Contact Our Team to Learn More

If you would like more information about the LGBT services offered at the Center for Fertility & Gynecology, our fertility doctors would be happy to answer any questions you may have. To learn how we can help you pursue your dream of parenthood, send us a message online, or call (818) 881-9800 at your earliest convenience.

Related to This

Doctors

The Center for Fertility and Gynecology

The Center for Fertility and Gynecology provides cutting-edge medical care in a patient-oriented and supportive setting. Drs. Michael Vermesh and Tannaz Toloubeydokhti offer all couples the best possible evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of male and female infertility. Our experienced physicians are affiliated with:

  • American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists
  • ACOG: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
  • American Medical Association
  • ASRM: American Society for Reproductive Medicine
  • Pacific Coast Reproductive Society
  • Resolve: The National Infertility Association
  • SREI: Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility
  • The Seed Fertility Program

Ready to start your family? Request your consultation today by filling out our online form or calling (818) 881-9800.

Get In Touch

Rate, Review & Explore

Social Accounts Sprite
Google map image of our location in 18370 Burbank Blvd Ste 301 Tarzana, CA

Tarzana Office

18370 Burbank Blvd
Ste 301
Tarzana, CA 91356

Open Today 8:00am - 6:00pm

Google map image of our location in 5353 Balboa Blvd Ste 301 Encino, CA

Our Lab

5353 Balboa Blvd
Ste 301
Encino, CA 91316

Closed Today

Google map image of our location in 9610 Stockdale Hwy  Bakersfield, CA

Bakersfield Office

9610 Stockdale Hwy
Bakersfield, CA 93311

Closed Today

Google map image of our location in 24241 Hawthorne Blvd Ste 201 Torrance, CA

Torrance Office

24241 Hawthorne Blvd
Ste 201
Torrance, CA 90505

Closed Today

Google map image of our location in 415 Rolling Oaks Dr Ste 260 Thousand Oaks, CA

Thousand Oaks Office

415 Rolling Oaks Dr
Ste 260
Thousand Oaks, CA 91361

Closed Today

Tell us a bit about yourself...

(818) 881-9800 Send a message