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Reproductive Options for LGBTQ Couples

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At least 4.3% of adults in the United States population identify as LGBTQ. Modern reproductive technology means an LGBTQ couple has incredible options when they decide to add to their family.

Here at California Center for Reproductive Health, in Encino, Valencia, or West Hollywood, California, we help you achieve parenthood in a way that works with your relationship status and identity.

Our reproductive specialists offer numerous options so you can find the right choice for you. Learn your options and what to consider when starting your family planning process.

Initial consultation

At your initial consultation, our specialists at California Center for Reproductive Health meet with you to discuss both partners’ medical histories and potential treatments.

These potential treatments include:

  • In vitro fertilization (IVF)
  • Intrauterine insemination
  • Sperm or egg donation
  • Surrogacy

During your consultation, we can also order fertility tests for females and for male factor infertility. We’ll ask if it’s important to you to use a family member for sperm or egg donation or if you’d rather use an anonymous donor.

We can also help you navigate legal and financial matters associated with reproductive technology in a timely and considerate way.

All-female couples

Choices for pregnancy include intrauterine insemination, egg donation, and IVF.

The partner who is carrying the baby undergoes blood work to test hormone levels and a hysterosalpingogram (HSG) to evaluate the health of reproductive organs, including the uterus and fallopian tubes.

A female couple also needs to decide how to obtain donor sperm. You may choose a loved one or friend or opt for anonymous donation from a sperm bank. We guide you through this process, whatever your choice is.

Intrauterine insemination places the donor sperm into the intended mother’s uterus using a small catheter that passes through the cervix.

If you go the route of IVF, you may decide that one partner contributes the egg while the other partner carries the pregnancy. Partners sometimes take turns when more than one pregnancy is planned. You may also opt for a donor egg or a surrogate, depending on medical issues.

During IVF, the donor sperm and egg are united in a laboratory to create a viable embryo. The embryo is then placed in the uterus of the partner who is going to carry the baby.

All-male couples

All-male couples who add to their families use in vitro fertilization, egg donation, and surrogacy.

Usually, the partners decide together who will provide the sperm. You can also elect to have both partners provide sperm for the IVF procedure and allow us to select the most viable embryo, regardless of the donor.

We have a comprehensive egg donation program in which we review and screen each donor carefully. You can review the egg donors we offer or choose a relative or friend to potentially donate her eggs. This potential donor will have to go through a special screening process, however, to ensure she has optimal hormone levels and is free of infection.

The team at California Center for Reproductive Health also helps you arrange an appropriate surrogate – a woman who carries the baby to term. Of course, you may have a preselected surrogate, and we can help you with contracts and screening her health.

Once you’ve selected all the participants in your pregnancy, the IVF procedure begins. Sperm and egg come together in a lab to create an embryo, which is then placed in the surrogate’s uterus.

At California Center for Reproductive Health, we want families of all types to enjoy parenthood. Call one of our offices or use the online tool to set up a consultation to learn more about LGBTQ reproductive options.

See Dr. Mor’s Publications

Eliran Mor, MD

Reproductive Endocrinologist located in Encino, Santa Monica, Valencia & West Hollywood, CA
Reproductive Endocrinologist located in Encino, Valencia & West Hollywood, CA Doctor Mor received his medical degree from Tel Aviv University-Sackler School of Medicine in Israel. He completed a four-year residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at New York Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn, New York. Subsequently, Dr. Mor completed a three-year fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility […]
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FAQ

What does a reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist do?

Reproductive endocrinology and Infertility is a sub-specialty of Obstetrics and Gynecology. In addition to managing medical and surgical treatment of disorders of the female reproductive tract, reproductive endocrinologist and infertility (REI) specialists undergo additional years of training to provide fertility treatments using assisted reproductive technology (ART) such as in vitro fertilization.

Reproductive endocrinologists receive board certification by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology in both Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility.

When should I see an REI specialist?

In general, patients should consider consulting with an REI specialist after one year of trying unsuccessfully to achieve pregnancy. The chance of conceiving every month is around 20%, therefore after a full year of trying approximately 15% of couples will still not have achieved a pregnancy.

However, if a woman is over the age of 35 it would be reasonable to see a fertility specialist earlier, typically after 6 months of trying.

Other candidates to seek earlier treatment are women who have irregular menses, endometriosis, fibroids, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), women who have had 2 or more miscarriages, or problems with the fallopian tubes (prior ectopic pregnancy).

What are the reasons we are having trouble conceiving?

Approximately 1/3 of the time cause for infertility is a female factor, 1/3 of the time a male factor, and the remaining 1/3 a couples’ factor.

At CCRH, we emphasize the importance of establishing a correct diagnosis. Both partners undergo a comprehensive evaluation including a medical history and physical exam.

Furthremore, the woman’s ovarian reserve is assessed with a pelvic ultrasound and a hormonal profile. A hysterosalpingogram (HSG) will confirm fallopian tube patency and the uterine cavity is free of intracavitary lesions. A semen analysis is also obtained to evaluate for concentration, motility, and morphology of the sperm.

Additional work up is then individualized to direct the best possible treatment option for each couple.

What is IVF? What is the process like?

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is the process that involves fertilization of an egg outside of a woman’s body.

The process starts with fertility drugs prescribed to help stimulate egg development. In your natural cycle, your body is only able to grow one dominant egg, but with stimulation medication we can recruit multiple eggs to continue to grow. After about 8-10 days of stimulation, the eggs are surgically retrieved and then fertilized with sperm in a specialized laboratory. Fertilized eggs are then cultured under a strictly controlled environment within specialized incubators in the IVF laboratory for 3-5 days while they develop as embryos. Finally, embryos (or an embryo) are transferred into the uterine cavity for implantation.

Should I have IVF?

Before deciding if IVF is the right choice, it’s important to sit down with an REI specialist to discuss available treatment options. For some people, other methods such as fertility drugs, intrauterine insemination (IUI) may be the best first choice treatment. At CCRH, we believe each individual couple is unique and not everyone needs IVF.

Is the IVF procedure painful?

While not painful, the fertility medications may some side effects including headaches, hot flashes, mood swings, and bloating. The injection sites may also bruise.

Will IVF guarantee a baby?

Unfortunately, no. Many people think once they start IVF it’s a matter of time that they will be pregnant and have a baby. But according to national statistics per the Society of Assisted Reproduction (SART), on average 40% of assisted reproduction cycles achieve live births in women under age 35. The chances of success then continue to decrease with advancing age.

At CCRH, we employ only evidence-based interventions to ensure patient safety and optimal outcome. While we cannot guarantee a baby, we guarantee that you will receive the best, most advanced, personalized care to help you maximize your chance of a baby.

What is the success rate for IVF?

The average IVF success rate (success measured in live birth rate) using one’s own eggs begins to drop around age 35 and then rapidly after age 40. This is due to the decline in egg quantity and egg quality as a woman ages.

Our clinic’s success rate consistently beats the national average year after year.

Do insurance plans cover infertility treatment? How much does IVF cost?

Individual insurance plans often do not have any coverage for infertility treatments. If you have a group plan, you can call members services to see if they have coverage for infertility (including consultation/workup and IVF).

After your consultation with our REI specialist, one of our dedicated account managers with sit with you to go over the cost of treatment.

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