Table of Contents
There are many options available to you, no matter your gender, whether you are same/similarly attracted to genders and/or transgender.
While it’s possible to have babies as a gay couple or transgender couple, it can be challenging. Cisgender heterosexual couples often do not consider or have to deal ever with, the legal and logistical challenges, financial difficulties, and other obstacles.
LGBT Families: Fertility
As with heterosexual couples and LGBT people, there will be infertility. Intersex individuals, who may identify with the LGBT community, might be infertile. It is possible to be discriminated against in your journey towards parenthood.
However, there are many LGBT people raising children. Despite all this, many LGBT people are raising children.
When compared with heterosexual couples, identical-gender couples are six times more likely to have foster children than heterosexual ones and four times more likely to have an adopted child.
You have two options to have children: through assisted reproduction technologies or foster or adoption. You have the following options for parents for gay and transgender people:
- Adoption
- Co-parenting (a plan, platonic parenting relationship).
- Foster care
- Insemination by a sperm donor
- In-vitro fertilization (with/without an embryo donor or gestational carrier) using an egg or sperm.
- Penis-in–vagina sex in relationships where one partner or both are transgender
- Reciprocal Infertility (one partner carries a baby, the other donates eggs)
- Utilizing an egg donor in conjunction with a pregnancy carrier
Due to the variety of legal issues and differences between states and countries when it comes down to establishing parenthood in LGBT couples or singles, it’s recommended that you consult with someone familiar with local reproductive and family law.
Third-Party Reproduction
Third-party reproductive refers to any fertility procedure in which a “third party” is needed to provide eggs or sperm for embryos or to act as a gestational carrier. 4 When third-party reproducibility is considered, terms will be used to describe how the donor or carrier is related to the intended parent.
Known Donor/Known Geostational Carrier
This refers to when the donor/gestational carrier is someone you’ve known in the past. It could be a friend or relative. You didn’t find the person through an agency.
There are both advantages and disadvantages in having someone you trust as your donor of sperm or eggs, or to act as a gestational carrier. This experience can enhance or destroy your relationship with someone you know.
It is vital to speak with a counselor and a lawyer who is experienced in third-party reproductive issues. Some fertility clinic won’t accept donors until they have received psychological counseling and completed legal agreements.
Anonymous Donor
This arrangement is what has been the most used for egg and/or sperm donation. The recipient does not know the donor. Also, the intended parents don’t have any information about their donors. It is unlikely that you will see any photos of potential donors. However, it will likely be a baby image.
This arrangement has been the most comfortable for intended parents and donors. Both may be concerned about legal or ethical complications after the birth.
Insemination With Sperm Donors
Insemination occurs when specially prepared semen is transferred into a person’s reproductive system. It is possible to have a baby with a lesbian couple, if one of the partners is transgender or if other people were given a female birth certificate. The donor might be known or from a sperm bank.
It’s All About Where It Happens
The insemination may take place in a fertility facility. Sometimes, a midwife can perform insemination at home. Home Insemination Is possible but comes with important warnings and caveats. There are serious legal and health risks associated with home insemination.
Parental Rights
If you are considering DIY at-home donor insemination, make sure to consult a licensed donor. Insemination done outside of a fertility facility in many states will give parenthood to the male donors of the sperm.
