Beginning the Fertility Process
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We support our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ+) patients in all aspects of your care. Before we start any treatments, we’ll first have a consultation to fully understand your health, priorities for family planning, and how our fertility specialists can tailor a care plan to meet these needs. This is our chance to learn about you, your medical history, and how we can be a part of your journey to build a family. This consultation can be held virtually as a telehealth appointment or in person. If you have an in-person appointment, you may have the option of having physical exams and blood drawn for testing that day.
If you are freezing eggs or sperm, research has shown that both can be frozen and safely preserved, so you’ll have them available whenever you’re ready.
Treating Infertility at the Duke Fertility Center
Fertility Tests and Evaluation
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Regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, everyone who receives fertility treatments will undergo several exams and tests, including physical exams and genetic and infectious disease testing. We may schedule other evaluations like a pelvic exam, ultrasound, or hysterosalpingogram (HSG). This is a normal part of our care to make sure you're healthy. If you’re seeking an egg donation or sperm donor, our specialists can help you through the process. You can select a donor you don’t know (a de-identified or anonymous donor) or someone already a part of your life (a known donor).
Lesbian and Gay Fertility Options
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There are many ways to approach building your family, and we’ll review all your options with you. That may include using egg donation or sperm donors, surrogates, intrauterine insemination (IUI), and in vitro fertilization (IVF).
- If you’re seeking a donor, our specialists will work with you according to your preferences for an anonymous or directed donation -- whether you prefer to receive eggs or sperm from someone you don’t know or have identified a donor who will be a part of your family planning.
- If you are preparing for gender affirming medical treatment, we can assist you with freezing eggs or sperm that can then be used in the future for family building.
