University Reproductive Associates is proud to help same-sex couples build their families. At URA we believe that families come in all shapes and combinations. When you choose URA to help build your family, your journey starts with an initial consultation with one of our fertility doctors to go over diagnostic testing, medical history, and treatment options.
Once testing is completed, your provider will discuss the most appropriate treatment option and provide expert guidance through the process of fulfilling your dream of starting or expanding your family with the help of fertility treatments. Potential treatment options for same-sex couples include:
With today's medical advances, there are so many options to help you start a family!
Same-sex lesbian couples have two primary options to fulfill their dream of starting or expanding their family; intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in-vitro insemination (IVF).
IUI involves placing anonymous or known donor sperm inside the uterus of the partner who will carry the baby. The sperm will go through a sanitization process in a special solution to separate lower quality (slow or non-moving) sperm from fast-moving sperm. The high-quality sperm are concentrated and placed in the uterus right before or during ovulation when the chances of a successful pregnancy are higher.
In some cases, treatment may also include fertility drugs to stimulate ovulation of more than one oocyte. If this is the case, you can expect close monitoring for any adverse effects.
IVF involves combining sperm and eggs in a laboratory setting and transferring the embryo back to the uterus. This is the oldest and most frequently used method of assisted reproductive technology. We may recommend IVF for same-sex female couples when one partner wishes to donate the eggs and the other desires to carry the pregnancy.
We may also recommend IVF when the chances of pregnancy with IUI are low.
You and your partner will need to decide which partner will carry the pregnancy. We will check hormone levels and perform a hysterosalpingogram (HDG) to check the health of the uterus and the fallopian tubes.
The partner donating her eggs will undergo egg retrieval surgery. The eggs are inseminated with the donor sperm and once mature, the embryos are placed in the uterus of the partner who chooses to carry the baby.
Thanks to advances in reproductive technology, we are proud to offer options for same-sex male couples to build their family. Gay couples who desire to start or expand their family will need an egg donor and a surrogate to carry the baby.
The partner who chooses to donate the sperm will undergo semen analysis to check sperm motility, volume, and concentration.
Traditional surrogacy involves artificially inseminating the surrogate with the partner chosen as the intended biological father.
With IVF the eggs are removed from the donor’s ovaries and fertilized in a laboratory with one or both partner’s sperm. The embryos are then transferred to the surrogate’s uterus.
Same-sex male couples will meet with our team to discuss the details of using an egg donor and surrogate.
Building a family is one of the greatest joys you can experience. Fertility treatments are a safe way to bring a child into your family and create the family you’ve dreamed of. To learn more about fertility options for same-sex couples, we invite you to contact the office nearest you to schedule your initial consultation. We have offices in Hasbrouck Heights, Hoboken, and Wayne, New Jersey, for in-person and telemedicine consultations. Just call 201-288-6330 or visit www.uranj.com.
