Breaking Barriers: How LGBTQI+ Families Are Thriving Through Assisted Reproductive Technologies

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Silvana Chedid on September 9, 2026

LGBTQI+ individuals and couples today have more paths to parenthood than at any point in the history of reproductive medicine. Depending on individual circumstances, options can include intrauterine insemination, in vitro fertilization, reciprocal IVF, donor eggs or donor sperm, gestational surrogacy, and fertility preservation for transgender patients planning a family before or during transition. The right combination depends on each person’s or couple’s anatomy, relationship structure, and family-building goals, and a fertility specialist can help map out which pathway fits best.

At Chedid Grieco, our LGBTQI+ family-building program has supported individuals and couples for years, combining nearly 30 years of experience in reproductive medicine with inclusive, judgment-free care. Every patient works with a team that takes time to understand their specific goals, whether that means using donor gametes, coordinating with a gestational carrier, or preserving fertility ahead of gender-affirming care.

What Are the Family-Building Options for LGBTQI+ Individuals and Couples?

Assisted reproductive technologies offer multiple pathways to parenthood, and identifying the right combination of fertility treatments starts with understanding what each option involves. The most common approaches include intrauterine insemination (IUI), in vitro fertilization (IVF), and egg or sperm donation, each tailored to a patient’s specific anatomy and goals.

For female same-sex couples, IUI with donor sperm often serves as a first step, allowing one or both partners the chance to carry a pregnancy. IVF may be recommended when IUI has not been successful, or when a couple wants to use one partner’s eggs while the other partner carries the pregnancy. Male same-sex couples typically need both an egg donor and a gestational carrier to achieve pregnancy, while transgender individuals may pursue different combinations of these treatments depending on where they are in their transition and their family-building timeline.

Key treatment options for LGBTQI+ family building include the following:

• Intrauterine insemination with donor sperm for a less invasive first-line approach
• IVF using partner or donor eggs, which allows flexibility in family-planning decisions
• Comprehensive egg donation programs with a range of donor options
• Gestational surrogacy coordinated with experienced agencies and legal teams
• Fertility preservation for transgender individuals before or during transition

Our multilingual team, fluent in English, Portuguese, Spanish, and French, works to make sure language is never a barrier to receiving clear information and compassionate care.

Reciprocal IVF and Other Pathways for Same-Sex Couples

One option that same-sex female couples ask about often is reciprocal IVF, sometimes called co-maternity IVF. In this approach, one partner provides the eggs, which are fertilized and transferred as embryos into the other partner’s uterus, so both partners can take part in the physical experience of pregnancy in different ways. Reciprocal IVF is not medically necessary in the way IVF may be for a couple facing infertility, but many couples choose it because it allows both partners a biological and physical connection to the pregnancy.

Male same-sex couples generally build their families through a combination of donor eggs, IVF, and gestational surrogacy, since neither partner can carry a pregnancy. This path involves more coordination, including legal agreements with a gestational carrier and screening through the egg donation program used for the cycle. Our team helps intended parents understand each step, from donor and carrier matching through embryo transfer, so the process feels less overwhelming.

Egg Donation and Its Role in LGBTQI+ Family Building

Egg donation plays a particularly important role in helping many LGBTQI+ families reach their goals. Male same-sex couples rely on egg donors to provide the genetic material needed for pregnancy, and some female couples choose donor eggs if one partner has a fertility diagnosis that makes using her own eggs less likely to succeed, or simply because they prefer that option.

Our clinic maintains a donor bank with a range of donor profiles, allowing intended parents to find a match that fits their preferences. As an FDA-registered clinic with New York State tissue licensing, we hold donor screening and egg handling to rigorous safety and quality standards, and our team provides counseling throughout the process so intended parents understand each step before moving forward.

Fertility Preservation for Transgender Individuals

Gender-affirming hormone therapy and some surgical procedures can affect future fertility, which is why many transgender patients choose to pursue fertility preservation before starting treatment. For transgender women, this typically means banking sperm before beginning hormone therapy. For transgender men, this can mean freezing eggs or embryos before testosterone therapy begins, since testosterone can affect ovarian function over time, though its effects on fertility are not considered permanent for everyone.

Because timing matters, we encourage transgender patients to speak with a fertility specialist as early as possible in their transition planning, ideally before starting hormone therapy. Preserved eggs, sperm, or embryos can later be used with a partner, a gestational carrier, or through IUI consultations and IVF cycles, depending on what family-building path a patient chooses down the road.

What Research Shows About Outcomes for LGBTQI+ Family Building

Research and clinical guidance increasingly support equitable access to fertility care regardless of relationship status, sexual orientation, or gender identity. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine has stated that fertility services should be available to individuals and couples regardless of marital status, sexual orientation, or gender identity, reflecting a broader shift in reproductive medicine toward inclusive care.

Outcomes for LGBTQI+ patients pursuing IUI, IVF, egg donation, or gestational surrogacy generally track with the same factors that affect any fertility patient: age, ovarian reserve, sperm quality, and the underlying reason for treatment. Because success is never guaranteed and can vary significantly from person to person, we focus on setting realistic expectations from the first consultation and adjusting a treatment plan as needed based on how each cycle responds.

How Chedid Grieco Supports LGBTQI+ Family Building

Building a family as an LGBTQI+ individual or couple can involve more logistical and legal coordination than traditional conception, from donor selection to gestational carrier agreements to fertility preservation timing. Our team works to simplify that process by coordinating directly with donor banks, legal teams, and, when relevant, a patient’s other medical providers, so families are not left to manage every detail on their own.

We also recognize that inclusive care goes beyond the treatments themselves. That means using a patient’s correct name and pronouns, avoiding assumptions about family structure, and building a treatment plan around each patient’s actual goals rather than a one-size-fits-all protocol. Our years of experience with a range of family structures, including same-sex couples, has shaped how we train our staff and structure our consultations.

Building Your Family With Chedid Grieco

Dr. Silvana Chedid and the Chedid Grieco team bring decades of combined experience in reproductive medicine, FDA and New York State tissue licensing, and a multilingual, judgment-free approach to every consultation. Our team has worked with individuals and couples across a wide range of family structures and has helped coordinate donor selection, gestational surrogacy, and fertility preservation for LGBTQI+ patients pursuing many different paths to parenthood.

If you are exploring your options for LGBTQI+ family building, whether that means IUI, IVF, donor eggs, gestational surrogacy, or fertility preservation ahead of a transition, our team can walk you through what each path involves for your specific situation. Consultations are held in Miami, with treatment provided at our FDA- and NYDH-licensed facility in Brazil through our fertility tourism program. Reach out through our contact form to schedule a consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions About LGBTQI+ Family Building