IVF Treatments for LGBTQ+ Couples

1. Options for Homosexuals

Homosexual men have the option of egg donation or embryo donation along with surrogacy. Even though it is possible to use the sperm taken from a single man in order to fertilize the egg cells to be collected, some homosexual couples might prefer fertilization of half of the eggs with the sperm of a man, and the other with the sperm of their male partner.

We are aware of the fact that the treatment process does not only involve the medical treatment but also legal contracts, a considerable time, energy and finance for the applicable parties. We can assist in developing a customized treatment plan that meets the needs of a specific family and our team has the necessary experience to help our patients at each phase of the treatment.

2. Options for Lesbians – ROPA Method Cyprus

This technique allows a female couple to actively share the IVF process, while one of the women is the egg provider genetic mother; the other one is the biological mother who carries the baby. This treatment allows the partners of the same gender to share the pregnancy with an approach which is called partner IVF or co-maternity.

ROPA, the Receipt of Oocytes from the Partner, allows female couples to ‘share the maternity’.

In this method, the eggs are collected from one woman and sperm selection is done to create embryos. And then, the egg and sperm are brought together in the laboratory setting. The embryos obtained are transferred to the bio mom’s uterus for the pregnancy.

Many lesbian couples choose this mutual way. When they decide a second trial for a second child, the egg provider and the carrier can be reversed as well.

Sperm Donor Selection from the Bank

The sperm sample which is taken from an anonymous donor and frozen will be presented to the patient’s selection based on the patient’s physical traits and the process will start after the decision.

The male donor’s selection is followed by meticulous selection protocols which consist of psychological, physical and analytical tests so as to prevent the disease worries. In addition, we will be looking for maximum physical resemblance to the bio mom.

How is ROPA Method Done?

The woman whose eggs will be collected is taken to the standard IVF process. Primarily, ovaries are subject to stimulation in order to obtain optimal number of eggs in the same menstrual cycle. This treatment usually takes 10-12 days. The patient undergoes USG scanning and hormone tests on the specific days throughout the whole process.

Once the follicles reach the appropriate size, the eggs are collected. Egg collection is a very simple and quick process which takes about 15 minutes under sedation.

After this process, the patient takes a rest for about 2 hours in her room at the clinic. After the egg collection, our embryology laboratory team brings the selected bank sperm and the eggs together via ICSI method.

After fertilization, the embryos are taken to incubators to complete their development. During this process, embryologists analyze the morphologies and number of cells so as to identify the quality of each embryo. Embryos stay in the incubator for about five or six days until they reach the blastocyst phase. After this phase, the embryos of good quality which show the best development are packed and frozen.

Embryo Transfer

The treatment of the bio mom to whom embryo transfer will be made starts in order to prepare the uterus and increase the embryo’s chance of adherence.

Estrogen and progesterone hormones should be applied in order to prepare the endometrium and achieve appropriate endometrial thickness.

Once the bio mom’s uterus is ready for the implementation, the embryos which will be implemented to the uterus cavity will be frozen and the embryo transfer is made. Embryo transfer is a quick, easy and painless process which does not require anesthesia.

12 days after the embryo transfer, beta-hCG blood test is made in order to determine the pregnancy.

How to Make Decision?

The couple will be deciding the roles; which one will be the egg provider and which will be delivering the baby. In most of the cases, both want to become the mother; however only one of them wants to get pregnant. If both of them want to carry the baby and if they want a single child, our physicians will be recommending the best option to maximize the pregnancy rate.

3. Options for Transsexuals

RMA allows the protection of fertility in the transsexual individuals and couples both before and after change. Hormone treatment or sperms’ or embryos’ freezing before the treatment will give a chance to join the genetic structure of the future pregnancy.

Some transgender patients can get pregnant themselves while others might need IVF treatment to get pregnant.

Treatment options include the following:

IVF, egg donation, sperm donation, embryo donation and surrogacy. During the treatment, transgender patients might need to temporarily postpone the hormone treatment. Our physicians will work in close collaboration with the patients to help minimize the time allocated for the hormone treatment.