LGBTQ+ Families
At Ohio Reproductive Medicine, our team of fertility experts is proud to work with gay and lesbian couples to make dreams of parenthood a reality. Our In Vitro Fertilization Program supports LGBTQ+ families in their effort to build a family. Our state-of-the-art facilities and committed reproductive specialists will provide you with the information you need to make informed decisions. Our many fertility services offer numerous family building options. We can help you navigate the sometimes complex process to achieve your goals.
We offer a wide variety of procedures and services to work with each of our patients including:
- Donor Sperm – This is the process where a man donates his sperm for assisted reproduction through IVF or artificial insemination. The donor may be known (directed) or anonymous. Donated sperm is an option for single women, lesbian couples, and men who have male factor infertility, or for men who may be carriers of genetic mutations or anomalies, they do not want to pass to future offspring. An individual is able to choose the sperm they would like based on key characteristics that are presented at a sperm bank center. The Food and Drug Administration regulates anonymous donor eligibility and screens donors for relevant medical risk factors. Sperm banks are required by law to test for infectious diseases, and STDs but not genetic diseases. In some cases, genetic testing is offered as an option.
- All sperm donors will undergo semen analysis, testing for sperm motility, volume, concentration, and examine the shape of the sperm.
- Donor Eggs – Egg donation is the process where a woman provides eggs for assisted reproduction by IVF. It may be anonymous egg donation or known donor egg donation. Utilizing IVF, a woman’s eggs are removed and then fertilized by sperm to create an embryo. The embryo(s) is then transferred to the uterus of the future mother, or a gestational carrier. The eggs can be either frozen or fresh. Anonymously donated eggs are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, which establishes the donor’s eligibility including screening of the donor for relevant medical risk factors. Success is determined by the age of the woman donating her eggs. The highest pregnancy rates are achieved with egg donors under age 35.
- All egg donors undergo in vitro controlled stimulation of the ovaries, with hormonal medications to induce maturation of multiple eggs.
- When a surrogate is used, the egg donor and the surrogate’s cycles must be synchronized to ensure the surrogate’s body is prepared to receive the embryos at the appropriate time.
- In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)– In Vitro Fertilization begins with the stimulation of a woman’s ovaries to produce multiple eggs. The sperm is washed to concentrate it and to remove the seminal fluid. The eggs are taken from the ovaries and fertilized in the laboratory using sperm from a partner or donor sperm. After the eggs are fertilized and become embryos, they are transferred into the uterus of a patient or to a gestational carrier. IVF offers the highest chance of success per cycle.
- Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)-IUI is an infertility procedure that involves the placement of sperm into the uterus. The sperm is washed in a lab to concentrate it and to remove the seminal fluid. IUI must be synchronized with ovulation to enhance the chances of conception. Pregnancy rates are about 20% per cycle but may vary depending on other factors.
- Gestational Carrier Services– A gestational carrier is a woman who carries a pregnancy for a couple or an individual.
At Ohio Reproductive Medicine, we can assist you in the process of finding the right gestational carrier through our relationships with qualified agencies. We are committed to helping LGBTQ+ couples and individuals with the services they need to succeed in having their own biological children.