Helping Same-Sex Couples Build Families

Starting your journey to conception

Deciding to build a family as a same-sex couple is a major life decision that involves thoughtful planning. Through long-established fertility treatments, there are many pathways to building a family as a same-sex couple.

Same-Sex Male Couples

Same-sex male couples can have a biological child with the assistance of a surrogate or egg donor and gestational carrier through IVF. You and your partner can provide sperm, and your egg donor and gestational carrier can be known to you or anonymous.

Egg donors are typically between the ages of 21 and 35 and have undergone comprehensive medical tests to help reduce the chances of genetic diseases. Depending on your requested donor characteristics, your donor eggs can be supplied from a fresh egg donation cycle or a frozen egg bank.

A gestational carrier will carry the embryo created from the donor eggs and your sperm. Gestational carriers typically have had at least one successful and uncomplicated pregnancy and are typically between the ages of 21 and 40. Most couples use an agency to identify their gestational carrier.

Same-Sex Female Couples

Same-sex female couples can have biological children through IUI or IVF using donor sperm. Sperm donors can be known or anonymous and undergo comprehensive medical testing regarding their medical and family history, genetic background, and more.

Same-sex female couples have various options regarding pregnancy. For example, if you wish to carry the pregnancy from your own eggs, then pregnancy can be attempted via IUI. On the other hand, reciprocal IVF allows one female partner to be the egg source via IVF while the other partner carries the pregnancy.

Protecting Your Family

From surrogacy contracts and same-sex adoption laws to birth certificate rights and the legal control of frozen embryos, navigating reproductive law requires an experienced and thoughtful team.

Our fertility specialists work closely with knowledgeable attorneys, mental health professionals, and reproductive coordinators to ensure every aspect of your family-building journey is protected, planned, and supported. Together, we prioritize clear communication and proactive planning, so you can focus on confidently growing your family.

Conception & Beyond

Starting the journey to build your family as a same-sex couple is an exciting time that requires preparation and patience. Preconception counseling is the first step in your journey and can give you the answers you and your partner need to make the best decisions for your family. Schedule your first consultation today. Our experienced fertility doctors in Raleigh are ready to meet you wherever you are on your journey to conception.

Atlantic Fertility, located in Brier Creek, provides fertility treatment, testing, and more to patients in Raleigh, Cary, Durham, Fayetteville, Chapel Hill, and beyond. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.