LGBTQ+ Family Building Through Sperm Donation
The Fertility Center of California (FCC) welcomes and supports growing families of all shapes and sizes, and the LGBTQ+ community is certainly no exception. Sperm donation services are essential for same-sex female couples planning to have a baby either through intrauterine insemination (IUI) or via in vitro fertilization (IVF).
At FCC, we realize that choosing to work with a sperm donor can seem overwhelming. Where to start and the decision process are overwhelming enough, but what happens if IUI is unsuccessful or if you need to start with IVF because of a fertility issue? All your questions related to the sperm donation process are completely valid, and we’re happy to walk same-sex couples and individuals through the process of using a sperm donor to have a baby.
Step one: Choose the type of sperm donor you want to use
There are two types of sperm donors: directed (known) or unknown (anonymous). A directed sperm donor is someone you already know, such as a family member or close friend who agrees to donate the sperm needed to have a baby. An unknown sperm donor is someone you select from a sperm donor database. You will be able to learn basic facts as well as detailed medical information about this individual’s personal and family history, but their identity will remain anonymous.
Step two: If working with an unknown sperm donor, choose your donor
FCC offers a free donor search through our sperm donor database to help you get started. From here, you can search for a donor’s eye color, hair color, ethnic origin and donor code, if applicable. Full detailed donor profiles can be viewed for a fee, depending on if you wish to view profiles individually or as a part of a month-long membership.
Step three: Determine whether IUI or IVF is needed to conceive
IUI, also called artificial insemination (AI), is typically the first step used when a woman wishes to conceive using donated sperm. The sperm is delivered to the female patient’s cervix via a tube, and the procedure is usually quick, with minimal discomfort expected. In cases where IUI has failed on one or more occasions or if an infertility diagnosis determines that IUI will not be successful, IVF will be used instead.
Your fertility specialist will be able to assist with any necessary fertility screening, if needed.
Modern family building has come a long way in the past decade. Third-party reproduction services like sperm donation, egg donation and gestational surrogacy have helped fulfill the dreams of LGBTQ+ couples and individuals. If you are interested in using a sperm donor to build your family, please contact the Fertility Center of California today.
