Penn Fertility Care is proud to support gay, lesbian and transgender individuals in creating families. We know there are multiple paths for starting or building a family for LGBTQ people, and we are here to help you achieve your goals.
We offer a variety of reproductive services that can help you start or build a family, ranging from more simple fertility treatments to more complex assisted reproductive technologies. The first step is to schedule a consultation to discuss your available options and to make a plan that best fits your specific needs.
Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
Individuals with the ability (retaining a uterus) and desire to carry a pregnancy may consider the use of intrauterine insemination (IUI).
If you choose IUI, you’ll meet with a fertility specialist to check your hormone levels and see if your uterus can support a pregnancy. Your doctor may prescribe ovulation drugs and will closely monitor you with regular ultrasounds and bloodwork to determine the best time for your IUI procedure.
You — or you and your partner — will choose donor sperm that will be washed and prepared for insemination. At the optimal time for conception, a fertility specialist will use a catheter to place a number of washed sperm directly into your uterus.
Learn more about IUI at Penn Medicine.
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
You may also consider in vitro fertilization (IVF) for family growth. You would select a sperm donor and would need your or your partner's donated eggs and your or your partner's uterus.
Learn more about IVF at Penn Medicine.
Gestational Carriers
Gestational carriers are necessary for individuals or couples who cannot conceive or carry a pregnancy.
A gestational carrier — a person with a uterus who carries a baby through pregnancy for another person — is often a close family member or friend, or is selected with the assistance of a lawyer or gestational carrier agency. Couples or individuals without the ability to use their own eggs will also need to select an egg donor.
Learn more about how we work with patients in need of a gestational carrier.
Fertility Preservation
We also offer fertility preservation and family-building to transgender individuals before, during or after a medical or surgical transition.
Fertility preservation options include egg cryopreservation (freezing) and sperm banking.
Learn more about fertility preservation options available at Penn Medicine.
It's important to recognize that there may be legal challenges that can affect the rights of transgender or same-sex parents.
We work with reproductive lawyers to ensure that all legal and medical concerns are addressed for all of our patients.