FAMILY BUILDING FOR GAY MEN
At our fertility clinics in Albany, Rochester, and Syracuse, we believe everyone deserves to experience the joy of parenthood.
Since our Boston IVF network first opened its doors in 1986, we have proudly helped LGBTQ+ men and women build their families, and we have become pioneers in the process: our network was the first fertility center in New England to assist a gay couple with IVF, the first in New England to successfully support a family to achieve pregnancy with donor eggs, and the first to successfully support the first IVF/ICSI baby. Our Boston IVF network is also responsible for the first birth in MA using a frozen egg.
Our LGBTQ+ Fertility Program continues to integrate innovative technology, such as genetic testing, with empowering, comprehensive care for gay men so that you have options for building your family your way, with the highest chance of success.
BEGIN HERE
Your very first step in the process of building your family with us, is to come into our Albany, Rochester, or Syracuse fertility office for your initial consultation. During this visit, you’ll meet with your doctor, your nurse, your financial coordinator, and our third-party reproduction team coordinator. Your doctor will review your medical history and physical health, you’ll have a chance to ask questions and get answers, and you will leave with a clear plan to proceed with building your family.
To build their families, gay men need:
donor eggs (frozen eggs from an anonymous or known donor)
their own sperm (or donor sperm if needed)
HOW TO FIND AN EGG DONOR
Our fertility experts are partnered with My Egg Bank, one of the nation’s largest and most reputable egg donor agencies. You may choose from a pool of qualified and healthy donors whose eggs are already frozen and available, or you may decide to use eggs from a known donor (family or friend). Your fertility team will work closely with you to help you connect with an egg donor that meets your needs.
HOW TO FIND A GESTATIONAL CARRIER
One of your first steps toward building your family is selecting a gestational carrier. You have options: you may choose to work with one of our recommended agencies, or you may choose a known carrier, such as a friend or family member.
If you decide to find a carrier through an agency, our Third Party Reproduction Team Coordinator will work with you to find a carrier that meets all of your needs and preferences. Your fertility team at Boston IVF – Albany, Rochester, and Syracuse will help you navigate the selection process, but ultimately you will select a gestational carrier based on your own preferences.
Once you’ve connected with a carrier, our physicians and psychologist will screen her for medical, reproductive, and psychological health.
SEMEN ANALYSIS
You and your partner will decide together whose sperm you would like to use to create embryos. Our lab will lead you through a semen analysis on the sperm you plan to use. This allows your doctor to assess the characteristics of the sperm, and determine whether it is likely to fertilize your donor eggs, or whether additional measures, such as ICSI, may be necessary in order to maximize your chances of a successful pregnancy.
HOW TO BUILD YOUR FAMILY WITH US
- Visit our Central New York office for your initial consultation
- Connect with your third-party reproduction team
- Complete a semen analysis
- Choose an egg donor
- Choose a gestational carrier
- Enlist an attorney that specializes in third-party reproduction
- Begin your first IVF cycle to combine your sperm with donor eggs to create an embryo in our laboratory for transfer into your chosen gestational carrier
GENETIC TESTING
One of the most recent (and important) scientific advances to support gay fertility is genetic testing of embryos. This additional step in the IVF process allows your doctor to analyze your embryos prior to implantation, and to select only chromosomally healthy embryos to implant into your gestational carrier. Preimplantation Genetic Screening (PGS) increases pregnancy success rates by eliminating the chance of chromosomal abnormalities, and help ensure the birth of a healthy baby.
The vast majority of our gay patients choose to undergo genetic testing as an additional measure to make sure their IVF cycle has the highest possible chance for success. Preimplantation Genetic Screening (PGS) allows your doctor to identify and eliminate any chromosomal abnormalities, which can otherwise negatively impact pregnancy.
