NYU Langone Fertility Center is proud to serve all members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community. We are committed to providing all patients with quality medical care in a considerate and inclusive environment. We work alongside all patients and intended parents – straight, gay, married, unmarried, partnered, or single – to translate the love they feel into the family they desire.
Learn more about common care paths for cisgender gay men, cisgender lesbian women, and transgender individuals.
At your initial consultation, you will discuss your current and future family building goals with a physician. You will receive prescreening lab work, including hormonal lab testing and ovarian and uterine evaluation (if appropriate), and you can schedule a semen analysis (if appropriate).
You may explore many different treatment paths, and your physician will work with you to design a fertility plan that meets your needs.
LGBTQ+ individuals and couples have the option to undergo in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intrauterine insemination (IUI) to conceive. Same-sex couples may need to utilize donor eggs or donor sperm to acheive embryo creation, and if neither partner is able to carry the pregnancy, you may partner with a Gestational Carrier.
A gestational carrier, or surrogate, is someone who agrees to carry and deliver a baby for another person or couple. Cisgender gay men interested in surrogacy will first choose a separate, usually anonymous egg donor. Then, they’ll find a surrogate, typically through an agency. Once both parties sign all legal agreements, the surrogate can undergo the IVF process. The gestational carrier will not be biologically related to the child, and all legal rights to the baby will belong to the intended parents.
LGBTQ+ couples and individuals may require the use of donor eggs to conceive. NYULFC has an in-house egg donor program. Additionally, we’ve partnered with MyEggBank and Fairfax EggBank to provide our patients with access to the largest donor egg networks in the world.
A sperm donor can be known or anonymous. If you opt for a known donor, all parties involved must attend counseling and sign a legal agreement. If you prefer an anonymous donor, it's important to note that NYULFC does not own or operate a sperm bank. However, our experienced Third Party Reproduction Team can help you find one.
For individuals who are starting gender-affirming care and hope to have children in the future, we recommend preserving your fertility beforehand, as hormone treatments could potentially impact your ability to conceive. At NYULFC, our team can retrieve your eggs or collect your sperm, and our IVF laboratory will freeze and store them for your future use.
"There will never be words to express the love and care that was shown to us. Being part of the LGBTQ+ community, sometimes the journey to parenthood can be quite difficult. This team shows us love that can never be expressed completely. We adore you all!"
Set Up a Consultation to Understand Your Options
We invite you to reserve an initial consultation with one of our fertility specialists, where we will conduct diagnostic testing to evaluate your fertility, along with your partner's (if applicable). Diagnostic testing will be individualized based upon your (and partner's) fertility potential, and may include bloodwork, an ultrasound, and/or a semen analysis, if appropriate. You will then work collaboratively with your physician to design a plan to meet your family-building goals. Throughout the process, you should feel confident you’re working with a team that understands the unique nature of LGBTQ+ family building and gay parenting.
Every path to parenthood is different, and LGBTQ family building is no exception. What's the right pathway for your future family? Donor Sperm + Your Egg? Donor Sperm + Your Partner's Egg? Your Sperm + a Donor Egg? Your Partner's Sperm + a Donor Egg? Donor Eggs + Donor Sperm? Who will be carrying the pregnancy—you? Your Partner? A gestational carrier? The embryo creation and embryo transfer process will depend upon which options you select in partnership with your physician. Every family is unique—there is no "One-Size-Fits-All" approach to family building.
We recognize that our patients have a choice in care providers, and we are committed to providing compassionate, individualized, and cost-effective options for all LGBTQ+ individuals and couples. We’re here to go at your pace and answer any questions you have.
Fresh eggs are fertilized immediately and then frozen until it's time for the embryo transfer. Alternatively, frozen eggs are not fertilized right away; they are cryopreserved (frozen) until the intended parent is ready for embryo transfer. Using frozen eggs offers scheduling flexibility, as there is no need to coordinate cycles with the donor. Both options have similar success rates. Our team can help you determine whether fresh or frozen eggs are the best choice for you.
Choosing an egg donor is a highly personal journey. Our team can help you navigate this process and pick a donor that's an ideal fit for your needs and preferences. We can also refer you to our partners, MyEggBank and Fairfax EggBank. It's important to determine which donor traits you and your partner are flexible on and which are non-negotiable. Some individuals choose a donor based on intuition and what feels right for them.
You have the option to use a known donor or an anonymous donor. If you choose a known donor, there are specific legal requirements that you must fulfill before moving forward with NYULFC. Alternatively, if you use a reputable sperm bank to find an anonymous donor, you won't have to worry about any further legal issues. It's important to note that NYULFC does not own or operate a sperm bank, but our team can help you find one.
Prior to any embryo transfer into a gestational surrogate, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) mandates extensive screening for both the sperm and egg source, including a questionnaire, physical exam, and blood tests. The surrogate must also pass a physical and psychological examination.
The self-pay fees for patients who are using donor sperm to build their families start at $450, excluding the cost of purchasing or transporting the sperm.The self-pay fees for patients who are using donor eggs to build their families start at $9,650. This does not include donor stimulation, donor compensation, or any agency fees. You may be eligible for insurance coverage depending on your plan.
Pricing for a gestational carrier cycle at NYULFC can be broken down as follows:
Please note these fees do not include the cost of fertility medications, anesthesia, or products and services provided by third parties, including gestational carrier agencies. Agency fees are subject to the agency and will be paid directly to the agency.
Learn more about financing options with NYULFC.
