Achieving Parenthood through Fertility Treatments
The path towards parenthood for LGBT couples has a unique set of challenges. At CRE Dallas, we are proud to help LGBT families build their families with the assistance of fertility treatments. We offer compassionate, personalized fertility care to patients in the Dallas-Fort Worth area from a skilled team of fertility experts.
First Steps
The first step towards creating your family is to schedule an initial consultation with Dr. Walid Saleh or Dr. Stephen Collins. During the initial consultation, your doctor will meet with you to review your medical history, discuss your goals, evaluate your reproductive, and discuss treatment and financial options. The next step will be to conduct diagnostic tests to determine the fertility level of either partner and develop your treatment plan.
Fertility Options for Lesbian Women
The fertility experts at CRE are here to help lesbian couples and single women build their families with the assistance of fertility treatments. Below are the two most common treatments available to lesbian or single women who wish to become parents:
- Intrauterine Insemination (IUI): On the day of ovulation, the donor sperm will be injected directly into the uterus. Ovulation timing can be controlled using fertility medications.
- In Vitro Fertilization (IVF): In this process, the egg (oocyte) is fertilized with donor sperm in a laboratory dish. A physician then transfers the resulting embryo(s) to the uterus of the partner who will carry the pregnancy, allowing the embryo to develop naturally. Reciprocal IVF is also a popular treatment option for lesbian couples who do not have infertility, allowing eggs to be retrieved from one partner, inseminated with donor sperm, and have the resulting embryo(s) transferred to the other partner who carries the pregnancy. This process allows both partners to be involved in the conception.
Fertility Options for Gay Men
For male couples, building a family involves the use of a donor egg in combination with IVF and a gestational carrier. Once the gestational carrier is chosen, the embryo(s) created from a donor egg IVF cycle and the sperm from you or your partner will be transferred to the uterus of the gestational carrier.
Legal Resources
Due to the use of a third party for reproduction (donor sperm, donor eggs, or gestational carrier), there are important legal issues that need to be taken into account in order to establish legal parentage. CRE Dallas can refer you to attorneys specializing in reproductive law to assist you through this process.