PNWF Center
for LGBTQ+ Fertility

Welcome to the Center for LGBTQ+ Fertility!

PNWF has always supported our LGBTQ+ community. We’re proud to formalize our passion for inclusive care with this Center that provides comprehensive, highly successful options for all family building and fertility preservation needs.

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Services & Programs

Our LGBTQ+ patients may need eggs, sperm, a gestational surrogate, or a combination of these to pursue family building.

Eggs + Uterus

Examples: cisgender female couples, couples with a partner that will provide eggs and a partner that will carry the pregnancy, any individual with ovaries and a uterus desiring to be pregnant

Donor sperm inseminations:

  • Intrauterine Insemination, or IUI, is often the most straightforward way for a patient with a uterus to conceive. A partner’s sperm or donor sperm may be used.
  • PNWF has helped many families conceive with donor sperm. We do not have our own donor sperm bank but work with many sperm banks around the United States and can help our patients navigate the process. Donor sperm from a bank has been pre-screened and is approved for use by the FDA.
  • If patients want to conceive with sperm from a known donor (not an intended parent) there are testing and other requirements – please inquire about this option. We collaborate with Seattle Sperm Bank for known donor testing and sperm cryopreservation.

In vitro fertilization (IVF):

  • With IVF, an egg is fertilized outside the body and a resulting embryo is transferred to the uterus for implantation. The eggs are removed from the body after about two weeks of hormonal medication and ultrasound monitoring, with a small procedure called an egg retrieval.
  • IVF can be used by anyone with ovaries, and a partner’s or donor sperm can be used for fertilization. The embryo can be transferred into the uterus of the person providing eggs, or a partner’s uterus, or a gestational surrogate.

Shared maternity or shared IVF:

  • This is an option for couples in which one partner wants to provide eggs and the other wants to carry the pregnancy.

Sperm Only

Examples: cisgender male couples, couples in which one or both partners want to provide sperm without a source of eggs or uterus

Donor egg IVF:

      • This process begins with selecting an anonymous egg donor at PNWF or a known donor from a qualifying friend or family member.
      • Eggs can be fertilized with one or both partner’s sperm, and embryos can be genetically tested prior to cryopreservation.
      • When all complete, one of the cryopreserved embryos will be transferred into a gestational surrogate’s uterus.
      • Pregnancy success rates are extremely high after this process, exceeding 80 percent.
      • To learn more about our donor egg program please click here

Gestational surrogacy:

    • PNWF has helped build many families with surrogacy. Our patients have benefited from the change in Washington law in 2019 allowing intended parents to compensate gestational carriers. Washington State residents no longer have to go out of state (at significant cost) to find gestational carriers. We work with several different agencies who can help our patients find the right fit for them.

Eggs only

Examples: individuals or couples in which one or both partners want to provide eggs, but neither is able to or desires to carry a pregnancy

  • IVF can be performed with one or both partner’s eggs using donor sperm, and resulting embryo would be transferred into a gestational surrogate.

Uterus only

Examples: individuals or couples in which one partner wants to carry a pregnancy, but are unable or don’t desire to provide eggs

  • Donor egg IVF can be performed using donor sperm, and resulting embryo would be transferred into the uterus of the person desiring to be pregnant.

Eggs + Sperm + Uterus

Examples: couples in which one partner wants to provide eggs and carry, and the other partner can provide sperm

  • For TGNB patients born with testicles, sperm may be cryopreserved prior to hormonal transition or after a period of stopping hormones
  • This sperm can then be used for intrauterine inseminations or IVF

Eggs + Sperm

Examples: couples in which one partner can provide eggs and the other can provide sperm, but neither partner is able or desires to carry a pregnancy

  • IVF can be performed with both partners eggs and sperm, and the resulting embryo transferred into a gestational surrogate
  • IVF can be performed with eggs and sperm that were frozen prior to transition for transgender and nonbinary patients, or after a period of stopping hormones

Fertility Preservation

PNWF is recognized as a world leader in fertility preservation. Individuals in the transgender and nonbinary community may have the option to preserve eggs or sperm for future use. We have the experience to help counsel and guide patients who are interested in this option. We are happy to meet with adolescent patients or patients who have already started hormone therapy.

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Testimonials from intended parents, patients, and egg donors at PNWF Thank you to our patients who...

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