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LGBTQ+ Family Building

There are many options for building your family your way.

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The LGBTQ+ family building process

At Northern California Fertility Medical Center, we believe anyone who wants to be a parent can become one. You deserve a medical team that understands your unique fertility needs. We tailor each treatment plan to the specific needs of the patient.

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How LGBTQ+ family building works

Family building is a deeply personal process for every couple and individual who walks through our doors. Our doctors have extensive experience working with same-sex couples, transgender and non-binary patients, and non-partnered individuals who dream of parenthood. Your treatment plan will begin with a consultation where you can discuss your unique needs and goals with your doctor and collaboratively create a path forward. 

For lesbian and same-sex female (assigned female at birth) couples who have no medical history of infertility, we often recommend a diagnostic evaluation of each partner as the first step to achieve success quickly and make the process more cost-efficient.


These tests often include bloodwork to determine egg quantity and quality, genetic carrier screening, a hysterosalpingogram to evaluate the uterus and fallopian tubes, and a diagnostic ultrasound. After testing is complete, your physician will discuss possible paths to pregnancy. These can include intrauterine insemination (IUI) in a natural cycle (without hormones), Intrauterine insemination with hormones, and IVF. Shared IVF (also called reciprocal IVF), in which one partner provides the eggs and the other carries the pregnancy, is a popular option.


These procedures can be tailored to your unique needs. Donor sperm can be used from a known source, such as a friend or family member, or from an anonymous source from one of Northern California Fertility Medical Center’s trusted sperm banks. Your team will be there every step of the way to support you in making the best decision for your family.

For gay and same-sex male (assigned male at birth) couples starting or expanding their families involves donor eggs and a gestational carrier commonly referred to as a surrogate. The first step will be a diagnostic evaluation including semen analysis, genetic carrier screening and infectious disease testing. Once you’re ready to select an egg donor and surrogate, we will assign you a nurse that will help guide you through this process. The donated eggs will be combined with your sperm in our lab via IVF to develop an embryo which will then be placed in your surrogate’s uterus.

Northern California Fertility Medical Center has worked with many transgender and non-binary patients to help them achieve their dreams of parenthood through egg, sperm, and embryo freezing. We recommend scheduling a consultation with us before pursuing gender-affirming care if possible, but regardless of where you are in your journey, we welcome the opportunity to meet with you to discuss your fertility options and create a plan that works for you. You may have many options, from using your own stored eggs or sperm to exploring donors and surrogacy.

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NCFMC is rated 10/10 for LGBTQ+ care on Fertility IQ

Our network has built more LGBTQ+ families around the world than any other fertility group

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Paying for your fertility treatment

Though coverage for fertility care varies widely by insurance plan, the good news is that you have options. We are committed to guiding you through your insurance benefits, out-of-pocket expenses, and other financing options every step of the way. With Northern California Fertility Medical Center you will never be in the dark about cost.

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Your next chapter starts here. We’re here to help you write it.

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You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers.

Deciding between IVF and IUI will depend on the results of your fertility testing and the decisions that you make with your care team. We suggest booking a consultation to begin testing and the process of determining which treatment is right for you.

Finding a gestational carrier is a deeply personal process and we will be with you every step of the way. We partner with trusted surrogacy agencies and are also able to work with your known surrogate (sometimes called a compassionate carrier) should you choose to go that route

Couples and individuals seeking a sperm donor all have very different criteria, from health, to physical appearance and personality. Northern California Fertility Medical Center has partnered with trusted sperm banks so that we can support your process every step of the way. Some patients also work with known donors, such as family and friends, which we equally welcome as part of your fertility treatment plan.

Egg Donor IVF through NCFMC is unique in that we have our own in house egg donor program. Our egg donors complete a rigorous screening process. Couples can browse through our egg donor profiles from the convenience of their own home and know that they will receive the best care available through our full service IVF clinic.