What are the Options for Gay Couples to have Children?
Family planning can be an exciting and emotional journey for many couples, but it can be especially challenging for gay couples who may require assistance from fertility treatments to conceive a child.
Fortunately, there are several options available to same sex couples looking to start or expand their family.
Surrogacy
Surrogacy is a process where a woman carries a pregnancy and gives birth to a child for another person or couple.
In the case of gay couples, surrogacy allows one partner to provide the sperm while the other partner’s egg is fertilised and implanted into the surrogate’s uterus.
Alternatively, gay male couples can also choose to use a donor egg or donor sperm. The surrogate is screened to ensure that she is medically and emotionally able to carry the pregnancy to term.
There are two types of surrogacies, namely traditional surrogacy and gestational surrogacy:
- In traditional surrogacy, the surrogate’s egg is fertilised with the intended father’s sperm through artificial insemination. The surrogate is biologically related to the child in this case.
- Gestational surrogacy, on the other hand, involves the fertilisation of an egg outside the body through in vitro fertilisation (IVF), followed by the implantation of the resulting embryo(s) into the surrogate’s uterus. In this case, the surrogate has no genetic connection to the child.
Egg Donation
Egg donation is a process where a woman donates her eggs to be fertilised with sperm and implanted into another woman’s uterus or a surrogate’s uterus.
In the case of gay male couples, one partner can provide the sperm while the other partner can use a donor egg for fertilisation.
The fertilised egg can then be implanted into a surrogate’s uterus to carry the pregnancy to term.
Egg donors are screened to ensure that they are healthy and have no genetic conditions that could be passed on to the child.
The eggs are typically retrieved from the donor through a minimally invasive procedure that involves extracting the eggs from the ovaries using a needle.
Sperm Donation
Sperm donation is a process where a man donates his sperm to be used for fertilisation. In the case of gay male couples, one partner can provide the sperm while the other partner can use a surrogate or an egg donor.
The sperm can be used for either traditional or gestational surrogacy, or for fertilisation with a donor egg.
Sperm donors are also screened to ensure that they are healthy and have no genetic conditions that could be passed on to the child.
The sperm is typically collected through ejaculation and then frozen and stored for future use.
Choosing the Right Option
Deciding which option is right for you and your partner can be a difficult decision.
When having a baby when you identify as LGBTQ, it’s also important to consider your emotional, physical, and financial capabilities when making this decision.
Each option comes with its own set of challenges and benefits, so it’s important to consult with a fertility specialist to determine which option is best for your specific needs.
Sago IVF Team is LGBTQ+ Friendly
It’s important to choose a fertility clinic that is LGBTQ+ friendly and has experience working with gay couples. Sago IVF Team welcomes patients from different backgrounds and does discriminate based on age, gender or sexual orientation.
Sago IVF Team North Cyprus has vast experience working with LGBTQ+ couples and understands the unique challenges and considerations that come with the family planning process.
Starting a family is a big decision. We provide viable options that can help LGBTQ+ couples achieve their desire of starting a family.
