Family Building Options for Male Couples

At The New Hope Center for Reproductive Medicine in Virginia Beach VA, we provide family-building options for male couples. Learn about treatment costs and options for same-sex male couples who are looking to start a family. For more information, call us today and schedule a consultation.

We create a comfortable setting to discuss and manage a plan for our same-sex male couples to start or expand their families.

Same-Sex Male Couples Method for Biological Parenting:

Donor Egg with a Gestational Carrier
Male couples require IVF with the use of a gestational carrier and an egg donor. “Surrogate” is the outdated term for what we call today a “gestational carrier.” A gestational carrier is a woman who accepts the responsibility of becoming pregnant with the embryos created from the eggs of another woman. For gay men, the female who provides the eggs can be either anonymous or known to them. The gestational carrier provides a host uterus for the offspring, and does not contribute genetic material, i.e. she is not the egg provider.

The donor eggs are inseminated in the IVF lab, using sperm from one or both of the male partners. The resulting embryos are transferred into the uterus of the gestational carrier, who will carry the pregnancy to term. If the male couple do not have a female relative or friend who is willing to act as their gestational carrier, our office can assist the couple using our own network of egg donors and gestational carriers.

The New Hope Center follows strict guidelines to ensure the process is safe and efficient for all involved parties. It is an intensive process requiring exacting adherence to FDA regulations and national guidelines, and it should not be undertaken without significant experience and expertise. Couples meet with Dr. Robin to discuss the specifics of their individual case, and after, they will meet with New Hope’s Third-Party Coordinator, to begin discussing potential egg donors and gestational carriers.

The success of treatment depends on a variety of factors, including the fertility and health of those providing the eggs and the sperm, as well as the health of the woman carrying the pregnancy. Lastly, success depends on the expertise and skill of the physician and embryologists managing the process. At New Hope, the success of our patients is of the utmost importance, and couples take comfort in knowing that Dr. Robin & our team have been assisting couples with using donor eggs and gestational carriers, for more than 20 years.

Preparation for Intended Fathers
The male couple will undergo FDA required infectious disease screening, as well as providing a sperm sample to be cryopreserved and stored at New Hope Center’s facility. FDA requires the sperm be collected and quarantined for six months, and the intended father(s) must be retested for infectious diseases prior to the sperm being used to create any embryos. Sperm can only be utilized if the blood tests are “negative” at both screenings. Once all FDA screening is completed, the donor eggs can be fertilized with the sperm to produce embryos.

Time Table
It will take approximately 4 to 6 months to complete the necessary pre-screening, legal contracts, and cycle preparations, from the time the couple has selected a gestational carrier and all parties have presented together for a consultation with Dr. Robin. If a couple is seeking the assistance of an agency to recruit a gestational carrier for them, it may add an extra 2 – 6 months to the process timeline.

The New Hope Center can assist by introducing intended parents to potential gestational carriers. Couples can elect to work with one of these carriers, are welcome to find someone on their own, or can elect to use an agency to recruit a carrier for them. Keep in mind, it is illegal to “broker” gestational carriers in the state of Virginia, and there are no agencies in Virginia offering this service.

Come in and learn the many exciting options available to you, during a consultation with Dr. Robin at The New Hope Center. Call or contact us to reserve your appointment. We serve patients from Virginia Beach VA, Rudee Heights VA, Lynnhaven VA, Linkhorn Estates VA and Dam Neck VA.