How to have children for the LGBTQ Community

There are many alternative methods for the LGBTQ community to have children. Of course, the easiest of these is the adoption of a child or applications to become a foster parent, but one of the questions that couples ask us is whether there is a method to have their own biological children.

Alternative methods for LGBTQ couples can be listed as follows;

1. Sperm donation

For lesbian couples, it is possible to have their own biological children with sperm donation. In sperm donation application, intrauterine insemination-vaccination (IUI) or IVF method can be used. According to the suitability of the female partner or the preference of the couple, it is decided which method will be used first.

All of the donor sperm dissolved in the IUI method is released into the womb of one of the female partners using a special catheter. In the IVF method, microinjection (ICSI) is performed on the eggs obtained by egg stimulation from the female partners by selecting the appropriate sperms from the dissolved donor sperm sample.
Here, according to the couple’s wishes, both female partners can give eggs, or eggs can be taken from only one. The embryos obtained are also transferred to the uterus of one of the partners and pregnancy is obtained.

All donor sperms are obtained from accredited sperm banks abroad in accordance with the relevant law. Therefore, the success of sperm donation is largely determined by the egg quality of the female partner. Thanks to our stimulation protocols and sensitive follow-up processes that we apply in the preparation process of the female partner, which are constantly improved in line with our scientific developments and experiences, success rates in the range of 75-80% can be achieved if the woman’s age is young and her egg reserve is good.

In sperm donation application, the identities of the donor and recipient are kept confidential. Applying couples can only access the information on the donor’s profile form, the photo, identity and contact information of the donor are kept confidential. In the same way, donors cannot access the information of couples whose sperm are used.

2. Egg Donation

For gay couples, the way to have their own biological child is through oocyte, egg donation. In this application, it is ensured that the eggs collected from a donor (donor) are fertilized in the laboratory environment with sperm taken from one or both of the male partners who apply for donation purposes. The resulting embryos are transferred to a surrogate mother and pregnancy is achieved.

Since the eggs used in donation in our center are taken from donors who are young (20-30 years old), have health screenings and have predominantly known success rates, there are success rates of over 80%. Normally, this rate may vary according to the sperm parameters of the male partner, but due to the sensitivity we show in our center about sperm selection, there is no significant change in our rates if there are no very severe sperm morphological defects.

Similar to sperm donation, the identities of the donor and recipient are kept secret in egg donation. In the same way, donors do not have access to the information of the couples whose eggs are used.

3. Embryo Donation

Another alternative for same-sex couples is embryo donation. Although frozen embryos left over after pregnancy donated by couples undergoing IVF treatment are also used in embryo donation in some countries, only embryos obtained by using donor eggs and sperm can be legally used in Cyprus. Here, embryos obtained using donor eggs and sperm can be transferred to the uterus of one of the partners in lesbian couples. In gay couples, pregnancy may occur after the transfer to the surrogate mother. However, the current legal regulations in Cyprus do not allow surrogacy unless there is a medical necessity.

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