Here at Gay Parents To Be we’ve helped countless LGBTQ individuals and couples become parents through IVF and surrogacy. In fact, one of my favorite parts of my job is helping prospective parents understand the process. I know that it can be complicated, and it’s easy to become overwhelmed with information that you find online or hear from second-hand sources.

Here at Gay Parents To Be we know the intricacies of LGBTQ family building can be hard to understand, and we want to demystify the process for all. One resource that we offer here for LGBTQ moms- or dads-to-be is access to in house genetic counseling. Why may you need a genetic counselor? What can this person help you understand about your family building journey?

For many LGBTQ parents to be, an egg donor can be an integral part of their family building journey. For same sex male couples or single men starting a surrogacy pathway, they will require the help of an egg donor to conceive their child. For same-sex female couples where one or both partners is experiencing fertility struggles, using an egg donor may allow them to complete a family building journey where one or both partners are able to carry a pregnancy.

In our last LGBTQ History Month blog, we reviewed the history of LGBTQ family building, and what’s led us to where we are now. Here’s more on where we’re at in 2019:

In my years of working with both intended parents (IPs) and surrogates, I find myself having the same conversations repeatedly (I’m sure this kind of thing happens in your job, too). My inspiration for this blog is the desire to to create a shortcut to this knowledge. I want to help intended parents sleep at night way earlier in the process because they have one or two less things to worry about.

You learned in our last article in this series, The Path to Gay Adoption: Part 1, that Nicholas and Paul are in the final stages of the legal adoption process for their young son, “J”. It’s been a relatively straightforward case. As they prepare for the judge’s blessing, Nicholas reflected on the couple’s journey toward parenthood.

By now, you’re probably aware that the journey to parenthood via surrogacy is an expensive process. Although a growing number of companies offer LGBTQ family building benefits that include surrogacy, many dads-to-be still pay for their surrogacy journey(s) out of pocket. To help budget for your surrogacy journey, we want to make it clear what the costs are for a gay dad’s journey to fatherhood.

There can be many challenges that single moms or female couples face while they’re trying to conceive. On top of your day to day work and home life, additional appointments and questions about insurance may seem stressful as you try to build your family.

Nicholas and Paul met in New York by chance. Two days later – on their first “official” date – they talked about having children. Nicholas always wanted to be a dad. As an adult, he figured surrogacy would be the easiest way. Paul preferred starting as a foster parent, then adopting, because that would take a child out of the often-cumbersome state care system as early as possible.

“Where do babies come from?” There’s a semi-standard answer to this question in our heteronormative society – something along the lines of, “Well, when a man and a woman love each other very much. . .” It’s high time for new standards. There are many kinds of family make-ups, and just as many ways to bring babies into the world. For cisgender gay, bisexual & queer men there’s a process that should explicitly be normalized and part of this conversation. But until all of the options for family building become more standard in our society, Gay Parents To Be is happy to provide answers.

Most men would agree that their fertility isn’t an everyday curiosity. It’s a topic that can make us feel vulnerable and uncomfortable. Besides, if we aren’t looking to have children right now, then why even consider looking at your fertility in the first place? My name is Kyle Tzanetis, an andrologist at RMA of Connecticut; and I am here to explain why your fertility should be important to you.

How do you pick a sperm donor? Whats the difference between IUI and IVF for moms? In our latest Facebook live, Dr. Cynthia Murdock sat with us to discuss paths to parenthood for LGBTQ moms to be. Click above to watch the video, or read on for a transcription of our chat.