Patient Resources/Fertility Blog

For LGBTQIA+ couples and individuals, growing your family is possible. In the past, there weren’t many options, if any, but Reach is proud to be a part of every individual's journey to parenthood.

Whether you are ready to start growing your family now, or want to know your options for the future, we are here to help. LGBTQIA+ individuals can grow their families through:

• Gestational surrogacy: Using a gestational carrier along with an egg donor, we are able to help gay men and couples build the family of their dreams. 
• IUI (Intrauterine Insemination): Commonly known as artificial insemination; an IUI is when sperm is placed directly into a woman’s uterus during ovulation. This procedure is done in the office using a small catheter that passes through the cervix and into the woman’s uterus. 
• IVF (In Vitro Fertilization): IVF is the process where eggs are removed from a woman’s ovaries and fertilized with sperm inside a lab environment. Once fertilized, the embryo is transferred back into the uterus. Learn more about IVF here
• Reciprocal IVF: In reciprocal IVF, the couple chooses one partner to donate her eggs, which are fertilized and then implanted into the other partner’s uterus. This option allows both partners to have an intimate/unique connection to the baby.
• Cryopreservation: Hormone therapy can result in changes to the ovaries and testicles. It is important that transitioning males and females are aware of their options and proactively plan ahead. Cryopreservation-Before transitioning, trans men can freeze their eggs and trans women can freeze their sperm for later use. 
• Egg / Sperm Donation: At Reach we offer IVF cycles with egg and sperm donors who are directed or non directed donors.
  • Directed egg or sperm donation (known donor) is a family, friend, or someone you know that will be donating their eggs or sperm for use for in fertility treatment.
  • Non directed donation (anonymous) is the egg or sperm source is not disclosed. For example, a sperm or egg bank with frozen gametes.