First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes….BABIES! After (or before!) marrying the person of your dreams, start the family of your dreams. If you want genetically related children, the path to parenthood through fertility treatments can be made easier, with the help of a cryobank, like Cryos USA – International Sperm and Egg Bank.
Cryos is the largest sperm bank in the world and the first free-standing, independent egg bank in the United States. They offer hundreds of frozen donor sperm and donor egg options for you to choose from and they gladly guide you through every step of the process. Now, what exactly are the steps to creating your own family using donor sperm or donor eggs?
Options for Couples With One or Two Uteruses
Becoming a parent is an exciting journey and all first-time parents are filled with a plethora of questions. As a couple with one or two uteruses, your first question might be ‘how do I begin the journey to becoming a parent?’ While the path to parenthood comes in many forms, it’s best to research which fertility treatment will work best for you.
1 / Artificial insemination: ICI or IUI
Artificial insemination is the process of sperm being placed into a person’s vagina or uterus for the purpose of achieving pregnancy without sexual intercourse. There are two procedures. One is called intracervical insemination (ICI) and the other is intrauterine insemination (IUI). Donor sperm can be used when one or both partners are ovulating.
ICI, also known as home insemination, is done in the comfort and privacy of your own home. Cryos will ship the sperm straws and everything you need for the insemination directly to your door! ICI is the least expensive option for couples. IUI is a procedure that is done at a clinic by a physician, using sperm that has been prepared and washed. A physician then places the sperm directly into the uterus at the exact time you are ovulating for fertilization. Cryos ships to many fertility clinics across the US and internationally.
2 / IVF: Using only one person’s egg and uterus
Another option for someone wanting to get pregnant is in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. IVF is a medically assisted reproductive technology where the egg and sperm are manually combined for fertilization in a laboratory. Once an embryo has formed, it will be transferred to the uterus. Chances of becoming pregnant are much higher using this method. But the cost is also much more expensive than ICI or IUI processes. Read more about IVF here.
3 / Reciprocal IVF
With reciprocal IVF, one partner will donate their eggs to the other partner, who will carry the baby. This is an amazing method in which both partners get to participate in the process of bringing a child into the world. It is very expensive since both partners need to have medical procedures with an IVF physician and clinic.
One partner undergoes the complete process of egg donation. This includes taking fertility medications, which helps produce multiple mature eggs. Afterwards, they will undergo the egg retrieval process. Once the eggs are retrieved, they are combined with donor sperm in an IVF laboratory. The partner planning to carry the child will undergo tests and preparations to make sure their uterus is ready for the embryo transfer. When the time is right, the embryo will be transferred to their uterus for implantation.
As you can see, there are quite a few options available which range in cost. To learn more about these treatments, take a look at the Cryos blog post about lesbian fertility treatment options.
Options for Couples With Sperm
1 / IVF: Using One (or Both) Partner’s Sperm
Gay couples who would like to have a child that is genetically related to one or both partners have the option to provide one or more sperm samples. Upon providing the sperm samples, the couple can then choose an egg donor, and then, choose a gestational carrier. The sperm sample is tested and analyzed to see if it can be used for insemination. After the analysis, the sperm and egg are combined in a laboratory to form an embryo. Once the embryo is formed, it is then implanted in the surrogate’s uterus. This option is costly, but allows one or both of you (in the case of twins) to be genetically related to your children.
How Do I Order?
Once you’ve selected the fertility treatment you want to pursue and your favorite donor, you can place your order for shipment to your home or clinic. Cryos makes the ordering process simple and easy through their website. They even provide a step-by-step guide that you can read here.
A nitrogen tank will keep your donor sperm or donor eggs frozen for seven days (small tank) to twelve days (large tank).
Inside the liquid nitrogen charged tanks, the sperm or egg straws are placed in a holding device, and the tank itself is then placed inside a dry shipper box. A logging system will monitor the tank during transport to ensure the correct temperature is maintained. Remember, your donor sperm or egg straws should be stored in the nitrogen tank until used, or they should be moved to a storage tank at your clinic.
Hopefully, you have become familiarized with the different fertility treatments that exist and you are now ready to take the next steps in creating your family! No matter which treatment you wish to pursue, we advise you to consult your doctor and let them help you to decide which treatment is best for you.
If you have any questions regarding these family planning options and procedures, please contact Cryos for guidance. You can speak with one of their helpful bilingual Client Service Representatives at (407) 203-1175 or email them at usa@cryosinternational.com. A live online chat system is also available on their website from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday – Friday.
