LGBT Health Program
Many individuals on the LGBT spectrum face unique challenges when it comes to reproduction, family building and healthcare. Penn Medicine understands these challenges and offers the full spectrum of specialized services, in a sensitive environment, to address the needs of its LGBT patients.
"We commonly work with gay or lesbian couples who want to have a child," says Christos Coutifaris, MD, PhD, Vice Chair, Faculty Development, and former Chief of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Penn Fertility Care. "Whether we're working with two men or two women, the reproduction process requires special coordination and attention to FDA testing and donor regulations."
"We can use a third party's gametes — either sperm or eggs — for a pregnancy," Coutifaris says. "For a gay couple, for instance, we can fertilize donated eggs with one partner's sperm and transfer the fertilized eggs into a gestational carrier."
Transgender Patient Support
Penn Medicine also offers care for transgender patients at any stage of the transition process.
"Our physicians respect and feel comfortable caring for transgender individuals, whether they need surgical or hormonal care or both," Coutifaris says. "A number of our physicians have developed the needed surgical expertise, and hormonal treatment is available for transgender patients in conjunction with or separate from surgery."
Specialized fertility care is also available to transgender patients.
"We may see a genetic female with a uterus and ovaries who is transitioning to male," says Coutifaris. "If this person wants to have a child, we can offer hormonal stimulation to make that possible. If this person chooses not to carry the child, we can help with the transfer of embryos generated with his fertilized eggs to a gestational carrier."
Specialized Care
Because these situations can be complex and require serious consideration of the individuals' wishes and needs, doctors approach transgender patients and couples on a case-by-case basis.
"Reproductive endocrinologists offer care in terms of hormonal maintenance and reproduction," Coutifaris says. "But it's not purely medical — each case varies based on the patient's or the couple's needs and how much they want to share with their community."
"We're able to help these individuals physically, emotionally and with respect to planning their family" Coutifaris says. It's important that we make the LGBT community aware that not only do we provide these services, but we also truly appreciate and understand their special needs."