Chelsea Fertility NYC proudly assists in family building for LGBTQ, gay and lesbian individuals whether or not a fertility issue is present.

We believe a family is defined as two or more people (one of whom can be your baby) who share common values and ultimately form a deeply loving bond. Chelsea Fertility NYC recognizes equality and freedom in parenting by providing open access to all fertility treatments available, regardless of relationship status or sexual orientation. Some of the options for LGBTQ, lesbian and gay patients include:

With advances in fertility becoming more streamlined over the past 20 years, the essence of family creation is simply "getting gametes together." Chelsea Fertility NYC is ready to help patients fully understand their options and navigate along the path to parenthood by creating a supportive experience with a clearly defined process. Our clinic consists of a team of individuals who will share in your goals, walk with you along every step of your journey, and provide the medical, psychosocial, financial, and legal support you need.

Egg Donation, Surrogacy and Sperm Donation for Single & Gay Parents

Over the past several decades our fertility specialists have worked to pioneer third party reproduction options in Washington, DC and Maine. They now bring this specialized experience to New York City to help you access new reproductive technologies and achieve your dreams of becoming a parent.

The assisted reproduction resources at Chelsea Fertility NYC include:

IUI Program – Directed and Anonymous Sperm Donors
Egg Donor Program – Fresh Matched, Directed and Anonymous
Frozen Egg Donor Program
Surrogacy – Gestational Carrier Program

Biological Parenting Options Available for Same-Sex Female Couples (Lesbian IVF or IUI)

Gay parenting options for same-sex female couples typically include intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF). The couple will decide which partner will carry the pregnancy, and this partner will then proceed with fertility testing that normally includes day 3 ovarian reserve tests and a sonohysterogram. Following testing, the couple will select a sperm donor from a sperm bank or they can use a known donor of their choosing. The sperm is then gently injected via IUI into the uterine cavity during a speculum examination.

Failure to achieve a pregnancy after repeated attempts with IUI would indicate a fertility problem that needs to be treated. Options at that time may include the use of fertility drugs with IUI, or treatment with IVF. If IVF is required, the doctors will manually fertilize the woman's egg in the laboratory and then place the embryo into the woman's uterus.

The Chelsea Fertility NYC Egg Exchange Program: Affordable Family Building for Lesbian Couples

In the spirit of "all you need is love", the Chelsea Fertility NYC Egg Exchange program offers a unique and affordable opportunity for both members of a lesbian couple to participate in the extraordinary experience of having a baby. In this modern family building solution, one woman provides the eggs and her partner is implanted with the embryo. The program is particularly effective when the egg quality of the woman who will carry the baby is not optimal (with her partner providing the eggs in her place). The fertilized embryos are then implanted with the use of "mini IVF" or modified natural cycle IVF, minimizing medical intervention and reducing the overall cost.

Biological Parenting Options for Same-Sex Male Couples

Gay men wishing to build a family through assisted reproduction will need both an egg donor and a gestational surrogate, and will use in vitro fertilization (IVF) to become parents. The partner wishing to use his sperm will undergo routine andrology testing that includes an analysis of sperm motility, concentration, volume and morphology. Even if a male fertility issue is discovered during this process, the sperm specimen can normally be used and IVF treatment can continue as planned. Doctors will then perform IVF by manually fertilizing the donor eggs in the lab and then placing the embryos into the uterus of the gestational carrier.

Finding a gestational carrier as well as an egg donor can be challenging. At Chelsea Fertility NYC, we specialize in providing you with customized advice, support and consultation during this process.

Gestational Surrogacy Laws in New York

New York's Child-Parent Security Act took effect on February 15, 2021. It legalized compensated gestational surrogacy in New York and made gestational surrogacy agreements enforceable in the state.

Under the CPSA, intended parents can obtain a pre-birth order of parentage that recognizes them as the legal parents of the child at the moment of birth. Key features of the law include:

The law is gender- and marriage-neutral and applies to LGBTQ+ intended parents, married or unmarried, as well as single people building a family on their own.
A genetic connection between an intended parent and the embryo is not required.
The intended parents and the gestational carrier must each be represented by independent legal counsel, with the intended parents paying for the carrier's attorney.
CPSA protections apply when the gestational carrier resides in New York and/or delivers in New York. For a New York parentage order, at least one party must have lived in New York for six months before signing the agreement.
Traditional (genetic) surrogacy — where the carrier's own egg is used — remains prohibited in New York.

We strongly recommend working with a New York family-law attorney experienced in assisted reproduction to prepare your agreement and pre-birth order. This is general information about New York law and is not legal advice for your situation.

Support from Chelsea Fertility of New York City

The physicians at Chelsea Fertility NYC offer full emotional, physical, and legal support during your treatment, including:

Understanding the legal information surrounding fertility treatment
Connecting with genetics counselors as required
Locating third party reproduction agencies
Working with mental health specialists during your treatment
Referrals to adoption resources and professionals for families exploring adoption as a separate family-building path

We want to offer inclusive care for all of your fertility needs in addition to providing comprehensive reproductive medical treatment.

During Your Visit

All patients will schedule an initial, private consultation with their physician to discuss their medical history, potential treatment plans, and financial options. We encourage you to ask questions and express any concerns that you may have about the process of becoming a parent. If any diagnostic testing is needed, you will then schedule these tests so that the doctor can fully develop a treatment plan that is customized to your desired outcomes.

Concomitantly, our staff can help coordinate any necessary donor arrangements or legal consultations to help keep the process moving forward. There will likely be several decision points along the way, and we will take the time to discuss your options in detail and help you make an informed decision about your care.

LGBTQ Family Building