We’re providing an overview of LGBTQ fertility care options in honor of Pride Month
Happy Pride Month! Everyone at our San Antonio fertility center loves helping members of the LGBTQ community become parents. It’s an honor to support patients of all sexual orientations and gender identities as they start and grow their families. Erika Munch MD and our team feel that this is the perfect month to review the LGBTQ fertility care options that make parenthood possible for all.
Donor eggs and gestational surrogacy help gay men become papas
Nearly every option for LGBTQ fertility care involves third party reproduction. This means that a caring person steps up to help someone who can’t use their own eggs, sperm or uterus. In the case of fertility treatments for gay men, the third party options are egg donation and gestational surrogacy.
During the treatment cycle, Dr. Munch and her team will use donor eggs during a cycle of in vitro fertilization (IVF). This involves fertilizing the donor eggs in the IVF lab using sperm from one or both intended fathers. From there, Dr. Munch will transfer a resulting embryo into the uterus of the gestational surrogate. She will then carry the pregnancy and deliver the baby.
Lesbian mothers have several LGBTQ fertility care options
Because most lesbian patients can use their eggs and uterus, there are typically three different treatment options available. The patient’s overall health and fertility as well as family-building goals will help determine which one will work best.
- IUI with donor sperm involves using a thin, flexible tube (catheter) to place donor sperm in the intended mother’s uterus.
- IVF with donor sperm is a more advanced option that works for women facing some fertility issues. It involves several steps, including ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, fertilization and embryo transfer.
- Reciprocal IVF can help a lesbian couple both play a role in conception and pregnancy. One woman will provide her eggs for the pregnancy and the other will carry the baby.
The options for transgender patients range from fertility preservation to fertility treatments
Each person’s transition is as unique as they are. As a result, there’s no one-size-fits-all LGBTQ fertility care plan for transgender patients. Our San Antonio fertility center team will develop a customized plan based on the patient’s fertility and goals.
- Fertility preservation can be a good option for patients who are at or near the beginning of their journey to transition. Some of the medications for transitioning can harm fertility. As a result, preserving eggs or sperm can help make parenthood possible later.
- Fertility medications and fertility treatments like IUI and IVF can help make parenthood possible if fertility doesn’t return after pausing hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
Our San Antonio fertility center team knows sorting through all the LGBTQ fertility treatment options can be overwhelming. However, you don’t have to do it alone. Contact us to schedule an appointment with Dr. Munch, so she can help determine which plan is best for you and your family.