The use of fertility treatments in Mountain View, California, has become more prevalent over the last two decades because of their ability to help infertile couples or have reduced fertility due to age or other medical conditions conceiving children. Couples typically look towards IVF treatments for this, but there are other options out there, including sperm donation. LGBTQ couples need to explore all of their options regarding family formation, and these fertility treatments should be considered seriously. Specialists in LGBTQ Fertility in Mountain View, CA, provide the opportunity for those couples to have a child that they otherwise would not have been able to conceive. Below are standard procedures they consider.
Sperm Donation
Sperm donation has been around for a while, but the LGBTQ community is only just now looking at it as a way to have biological children. There are thousands of sperm banks in the USA and Canada where a man can privately donate his sperm so that an individual or couple can use it to conceive a child. This option isn’t available everywhere, though there may be organizations in your area that will help you find the right person who meets your needs.
Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
Another option that lesbian couples can use to conceive a child is intrauterine insemination (IUI). This fertility treatment involves placing sperm into the uterus during ovulation so that it has the best chance of fertilizing an egg. It’s not as invasive as other fertility treatments, but it typically only works for couples with issues with male factor infertility or cervical factors.
This method doesn’t require artificial hormones to trigger ovulation either, which usually makes this process more comfortable to go through than IVF. The embryo implants itself into your uterine wall typically within twelve days after IUI, but sometimes it may take longer if there are issues with egg development.
In-vitro Fertilization (IVF)
The process of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) is when a woman takes fertility drugs to make her ovaries produce more eggs, and then the eggs are harvested and placed in a lab dish for sperm to be added. The dish is put in an incubator and grows for two to five days. Once the embryos reach the appropriate size, they’re transferred into your uterus via a catheter, ideally at the time of your next period.
Egg Donation
Another way that LGBTQ couples can have a child biologically is by using donated eggs to conceive. This means that you’ll go through the same process as other infertile couples, but someone else’s eggs will be used during IVF instead of yours.
Donating your eggs takes some effort and isn’t possible for everyone, so it’s worth talking to your doctor about what your options are if you’re interested in donating eggs. It also helps if there has been a history of certain genetic conditions or cancers running in your family. This could reduce the chances of an egg being viable for donation.
When it comes to fertility treatments, there are various options that LGBTQ couples can consider. One such option is intrauterine insemination (IUI). IUI involves placing sperm into the uterus during ovulation so that it has the best chance of fertilizing an egg. It’s not as invasive as other fertility treatments but usually only works for couples who have issues with male factor infertility or cervical factors.
