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6 March 2015

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Same-Sex Couples Wanting to Fall Pregnant – Why use a Fertility Clinic?

michael chapman

Written by

Prof. Michael Chapman

Find out more about Prof. Michael Chapman

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IVF Australia proudly supports Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 

 

IVF Australia is proud to be an official supporting partner of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
 
It is with pride that we celebrate and show our support for diversity, acceptance and importantly the families within the LGBTQI community that we’ve helped create.

We wish all of our patients, staff and friends a happy and safe Mardi Gras. 

Families come in all shapes and sizes. We’ll help grow yours.

IVF Australia and our sister clinics Melbourne IVF and Queensland Fertility Group offer comprehensive donor programs that can assist lesbian couples or single women to conceive using donor sperm and support gay couples through surrogacy arrangements.
 
Increasingly more and more members of the LGBTQI community are accessing our donor programs to fulfil their dream of having a baby.
 
If you choose to involve a fertility clinic you can use a donor that you know, or select from a database of de-identified donors that have been recruited locally or from overseas.

Why use a fertility clinic over self-insemination?

Whilst it is quite reasonable for same-sex couples to proceed with self-insemination when trying to fall pregnant, there are a few things worth considering:

Health risks

When you use a fertility clinic we can protect your health by ensuring that all sperm donors (known or de-identified) are thoroughly screened and their sperm is quarantined before being released for treatment.

All donors will also have undergone a thorough medical assessment and detailed genetic testing. 

Counselling

All parties will receive compulsory counselling to consider the legislation and the long term implications of becoming a sperm donor or recipient. Complex emotional and social issues are discussed as well as psychological implications and plans for future exchange of information and contact.
 
Fertility counsellors also provide invaluable support throughout the treatment process.

Security of identification and records

Fertility clinics ensure that all donations are carefully recorded. This allows you to be certain about the information and access that your child will have, if they request it.

Security of access

If you wish to have a genetic sibling for your child, using a clinic recruited donor will give you the best chance of accessing the same donor, providing they haven’t withdrawn consent.

Choice of treatment

While Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) is often the first choice for fertility treatment when lesbian couples are trying to conceive a child, due to the age of the mother or other complications, IVF may be required.

Many couples also choose to egg share, where the eggs of one partner are used in an IVF cycle to create embryos that are then transferred into the other partner, with the effect that one partner is the birth mother and the other partner is the genetic parent. 
 
For more information on fertility treatments for same-sex couples please visit your local clinic website:

IVFAustralia  |   Queensland Fertility Group  |  Melbourne IVF
 
The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is a not for profit member based organisation responsible for hosting the annual parade and festival, as well as a number of other events throughout the year. IVF Australia has been a Presenting Partner of Women Say Something and Official Supporting Partner of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras for the last 2 years. 

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