When it comes to family building for cisgender gay men, the journey typically involves IVF, along with the support of a gestational carrier and an egg donor. You may have heard the term “surrogate,” but nowadays we prefer “gestational carrier,” which refers to a woman who carries embryos created from the eggs of another woman. For gay couples, the egg donor can be either anonymous or someone known to the family. The gestational carrier provides the womb for the baby but does not contribute genetic material.
The process starts with the egg donor’s eggs being fertilized in the lab using the sperm from one or both male partners. The resulting embryos are then transferred to the gestational carrier’s uterus after she’s been prepared with hormones to ensure her body is ready for the embryos.
At the clinic, we recommend working with a gestational carrier agency that helps you find the right match. While some may have a family member or friend willing to be a carrier, we still advise going through an agency to ensure everything is handled safely and according to strict guidelines. It’s crucial not to navigate this process alone or rely on informal arrangements found online, as the requirements are complex and require expert handling.
Our clinic also offers in-house egg donation services and can coordinate cycles if you choose to work with a different agency or a known donor. For more about working with gestational carriers and egg donors, check out our linked resources. If you’re interested in home insemination, you might want to explore what Healthline has to say about pregnancy or consider using the BabyMaker at Home Insemination Kit for your family-building journey. And if you’re curious about early pregnancy signs, you can read more about it in our post on no breast growth in early pregnancy.
In summary, building a family as a cisgender gay man involves navigating IVF, gestational carriers, and egg donors. It’s a process that requires careful planning and expert guidance to ensure a successful outcome.