subject: What Fertility Services are Available for Gay and Lesbians [print this page] Prior to egg retrieval, some women choose to take fertility drugs to help them produce more eggs. These are very simplistic and basic descriptions of what are considered by some to be complex procedures, so further details should be sought.
In terms of fertility treatment for gay men, surrogacy is an option. Surrogacy involves a surrogate carrier who will carry a child created using sperm from one of the partners and eggs from either the surrogate carrier or donor eggs. When the surrogate carrier's eggs are used, intrauterine insemination may be an option, while in vitro fertilization is utilized when donor eggs are used.
The surrogate carrier will carry the child until childbirth, at which point she will immediately release the child to the couple. In vitro fertilization is an expensive procedure that often sees costs extend upwards of $10,000. Intrauterine insemination is a much cheaper route with prices ranging from $300 to $800, although this varies. Surrogacy requires a fee for the surrogate carrier and the couple pays for the surrogate carrier's pregnancy-related expenses and the procedure itself. The total cost of surrogacy ranges greatly between $20,000 and $120,000, although this is very variable.
Gays and lesbians considering fertility treatments should explore all of their options and take into consideration factors such as the physical demands of the procedures and the cost that each treatment carries. Gay couples considering surrogacy must also consider the legal paperwork and contracts involved in the process.
What Fertility Services are Available for Gay and Lesbians
