Choosing an Egg Donor for LGBTQ Couples
The team of fertility specialists at the Houston Fertility Center, led by Dr. Sonja B. Kristiansen, believes everyone deserves the chance to achieve their dream of building a family. Our practice is proud to offer a comprehensive range of fertility services that help patients overcome fertility issues. Additionally, we offer family building for gay men and LFBTQ couples, primarily through egg donation and in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Egg donor selection for gay parents is essential to easing the stress of IVF and promoting successful treatment. Our fertility team assists gay men and LGBTQ couples from the Houston, TX, area throughout the egg donor selection process so they feel confident about their choice.
What Does an Egg Donor Do?
An egg donor plays a vital role in IVF treatment for gay men and many LGBTQ couples. The egg donor undergoes ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval to donate healthy and mature eggs. Collected eggs are fertilized in a laboratory using sperm collected from the intended father(s) or a donor. Successful embryos are then transplanted to the intended mother or a surrogate, ideally resulting in implantation and pregnancy.
Can I Choose a Known Egg Donor?
When starting the egg donor selection process for fertility treatment, one of the first questions that patients tend to ask is, “Can I choose a known egg donor?” Selecting an egg donor is a personal and emotional experience so it is understandable that some prefer to have a known donor.
Working with a known egg donor is an option provided the selected donor is a viable candidate. Intended donors undergo a thorough screening, including a medical evaluation, family history assessment, and psychological evaluation. We must determine whether egg donors can provide healthy eggs and fully understand their role as donors. Our Houston patients who want to work with a known egg donor should consider the potential effect on their relationship with the donor before proceeding with treatment.
Selecting an Egg Donor Through an Agency
Many of our Houston patients choose to select an egg donor through an agency, either because they do not have a willing and viable known donor or because they want to avoid potential personal complications. Selecting an egg donor through an agency is a great way to find a pre-screened donor who meets the personal qualifications important to each patient.
Even though, when selected through an agency, the egg donor is not known to the intended parents, a lot of information is available to guide patients in their donor selection. An egg donation agency provides intended parents with donor profiles that may include:
- Physical characteristics of the egg donor (height, weight, hair and eye color, etc.)
- The ethnic background of the egg donor
- Family medical history of the egg donor
- Personality traits of the egg donor
- Educational background of the egg donor
Depending on the agency’s policies and the personal preference of the egg donor, intended parents may be able to meet potential egg donors or view pictures of the donor before making their selection.
Contact Us
Every day, egg donation helps thousands of patients in the United States achieve their dreams of parenthood. If you are a gay male, part of an LGBTQ couple, or believe that you can benefit from egg donation, our team of fertility specialists is happy to guide you through the selection process. Contact our fertility center at your earliest convenience to request a consultation with Dr. Sonja B. Kristiansen.