If you are single or in a same sex couple, starting a family may not be a difficult as you think!
There are far more baby options for same-sex couples and individuals available today than ever before.
Here at Concept Fertility, we are committed to providing the highest quality care and professional advice regardless of your sexual orientation or relationship status.
We believe as with any medical treatment, it is important to have a good understanding of your options before taking any action. So here is some information to help you understand three of the most common fertility options for same sex couples…
Intrauterine Insemination
One of the most popular options for single women or lesbian couples is Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) using donor sperm. This fertility treatment allows women to become pregnant without having a male partner. IUI or donor insemination is the main treatment for female couples who want to start a family and can also be used to impregnate a surrogate. During this procedure, sperm is inserted directly into the carrier’s uterus using a small catheter passed through the cervix.
IVF
In vitro fertilisation or IVF is a common treatment for people who are unable to conceive naturally. IVF may be appropriate for female couples with fertility problems. Sperm from the same donor can be used for both women in a same-sex relationship to allow the children to have the same genetic father.
Usually in IVF, a woman uses fertility hormones to stimulate the ovaries and produce eggs. The eggs are then collected and mixed with donor sperm in our laboratory. Once the embryos have matured, they are then transferred into a female’s uterus. If you need to find a sperm donor to use in your treatment, please talk to one of our nurses or a member of our patient services team, about your options as there are specific sperm banks we have approved.
Surrogacy
Surrogacy is the most common pathway for male couples to start a family. It involves finding a suitable female surrogate who can carry and give birth to a child for you. You can choose to use one partner’s sperm and mix it with the surrogate’s eggs or use donated eggs and sperm. Whilst it is a medically straightforward process, the legal processes are very complex, and for this reason we do not offer Surrogacy at Concept Fertility. (This is also the case for women whose wombs are not able to carry a pregnancy and who do not have a female partner who could carry the pregnancy for them.)
