Our Guide to Fertility for Same-Sex Couples

Same-sex couples have some unique biological challenges to overcome when starting a family. Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) have become a popular way

for LGBTQ+ couples to have a baby, but many are unsure of the fertility treatments available and the best way to proceed.

We’ve taken a closer look at fertility and what it means for same-sex couples, outlining the available treatments and explaining which will be most suitable for your situation.

If you are a same-sex couple wanting to have a baby, Dr Hugo Fernandes and his team would love to help. We have considerable experience in assisted conception for LGBTQ+ couples and are excited to walk with you on your fertility journey. Contact us today for personalised advice.

Same-Sex Female Couples

And those requiring donor sperm to conceive

Couples where both partners were assigned female at birth will need to use donor sperm to start a family. You can either choose your own donor or use a clinic-recruited donor, it’s completely up to you.

Insemination

Once you’ve selected your donor, you’ll need to decide how the sperm will be introduced to the egg:

• Home insemination is the simplest and most cost-effective method. It involves the sperm being injected into the vagina using a syringe at home, similar to natural fertilisation. This method is not suitable when fertility problems are at play or if you plan on egg sharing.
• Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is the simplest ART method and is carried out in the clinic. It involves a very large number of sperm being introduced into the uterus after an egg has been released (either naturally or medicated). This method is not suitable for egg sharing.
• In vitro fertilisation (IVF) involves the egg and sperm being combined in the laboratory in the hopes of an embryo developing. One of the embryos will be transferred into the uterus where it will hopefully implant and develop into a viable pregnancy.
• Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is when the best sperm are selected from your donor’s sample and a single one is injected into each egg. This method is always used with clinic-recruited donors but may also be used with a known donor.

Egg Sharing

Also known as reciprocal IVF or embryo sharing, this is when same-sex female couples choose to use one partner’s eggs and the other partner to carry the pregnancy. This allows both partners to have a biological connection with their child and can make the pregnancy journey more of a shared experience. If this is your desired way to conceive, IVF or ICSI are your only options.

Same-Sex Male Couples

And those requiring donor eggs and/or surrogacy to conceive

Couples where both partners were assigned male at birth will need to use both donor eggs and a surrogate to start a family. In Australia, both egg donation and surrogacy must be altruistic (meaning they cannot be paid, however, ‘reasonable’ medical costs can be covered).

Donor Eggs

You have two options when it comes to obtaining donor eggs – a known or an unknown donor.

If you want a known donor, many couples choose to approach a friend or acquaintance. If both partners want a genetic connection to their child, you can approach a relative of the partner whose sperm will not be used.

If you would prefer to use an unknown donor, there are some online communities that can help you find someone (such as Egg Donation Australia). You also have the option to advertise, but you must receive permission from the Minister of Health to do so.

Surrogacy

Same-sex male couples will also need a woman to carry the pregnancy and give birth for them. You may choose to approach a friend, acquaintance, or even a family member to do this – however, it cannot be the same person as your egg donor. It is much harder to find an unknown surrogate in Australia, but it is possible.

Some couples choose to seek an overseas surrogate, which is allowed but must be altruistic for it to be legal in Australia. It should be noted that this can be quite an expensive route to starting a family, especially as you will need to plan to be overseas for several months once the baby is born.

Sperm mixing, which is when sperm samples from both partners are mixed together and introduced to the same egg, is not currently legal in Australia when using a surrogate.