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A joyful family moment.

LGBTQ+ Family Building

Fertility care for gay, lesbian, bi, trans and queer people. Every family has a village, and we’d love to be part of yours.

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Lesbian moms with baby after fertility treatment

Built for queer families, not adapted for them

At Sage Reproductive Center, LGBTQ+ family building isn’t a side service. It’s core to what we do. Your plan starts with who you are and what your family looks like, not a checklist written for someone else.


Starting in your late 30s, 40s or beyond? You’re right on time. Many of our patients start here.

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How it works

Every path starts with a conversation. You’ll sit down with your physician, talk through what you want, and leave with a clear plan for what comes next.

Couples requiring an egg donor


Every pregnancy needs three things: sperm, eggs and a uterus. Typically, you provide the sperm. We help with the other two: an egg donor and a gestational carrier (surrogate).


  1. Get checked. Semen analysis, genetic carrier screening and infectious disease testing.
  2. Meet your nurse. You get your own dedicated nurse who guides you from start to finish.
  3. Choose your egg donor. Select from 600+ donors across the Ivy Fertility network.
  4. Match with your gestational carrier. We work with ethical, long-standing surrogacy agencies, or with someone you already know.
  5. Create your embryos. In our onsite lab, your donor’s eggs are fertilized with your sperm through IVF. An embryo is then transferred to your carrier.

Couples requiring a sperm donor


Most couples start by testing both partners. That often gets you pregnant sooner and keeps costs down. Testing usually includes:


  • Blood work to check egg supply and quality
  • Genetic carrier screening
  • An HSG to check the uterus and fallopian tubes
  • A diagnostic ultrasound

 

Then you and your physician choose your path:


  • IUI, natural cycle: no hormones
  • IUI with medication: a little hormonal boost
  • IVF: higher success rates per cycle
  • Reciprocal IVF: one partner provides the eggs, the other carries the pregnancy.

 

If you’re 37 or older, your doctor may suggest moving to IVF sooner or help you decide whose eggs to use. That’s normal, and it’s why evaluating both of you matters.


Your sperm donor, your call. Use someone you know, like a friend or relative, or choose an anonymous donor through our trusted sperm bank partners.

We’ve helped many trans and nonbinary people become parents by freezing eggs, sperm or embryos. If you can, meet with us before starting gender-affirming care. Wherever you are in your transition, though, we are glad to talk. Your options may include your own frozen eggs or sperm, donors, or a gestational carrier.

Children with parents

MORE LGBTQ+ FAMILIES THAN ANYONE

We have helped more LGBTQ+ families grow worldwide than any other fertility company.

*Based on total donor egg cycles reported by Ivy clinics to SART, 2024, compared with other U.S. fertility companies.

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Two fathers with their baby

Real numbers. No surprises.

Building a family can be a big investment, especially with surrogacy. We give you the full picture upfront: what your insurance covers, what you’ll pay out of pocket, and your financing options. That way you can plan instead of guess. We keep you updated on costs at every stage.

LEARN MORE ABOUT COSTS

Your family starts with one conversation.

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FAQs

We’ll guide you every step of the way. We partner with reputable ethical surrogacy agencies. If you already have someone in mind, like a friend or family member (a “compassionate carrier”), we can work with them too.

Through Ivy Fertility, you can choose from 600+ donors. Our team helps you narrow it down by what matters most to you. You can also use a known donor, like a friend or relative.

No. Many of our patients begin in their late 30s, 40s and beyond. For dads using donor eggs, the donor’s age is what matters most for success. For moms using their own eggs, age plays a bigger role, so testing sooner rather than later is worth it.

It depends on your test results, your ages and your goals. A consultation is the fastest way to find out the best option for you.

Everyone has different desires: health history, appearance, personality, interests and talents, etc. We work with trusted sperm banks and help you through the search. Using a known donor?  We are happy to build that into your plan.

Yes. Splitting the donor eggs between two partners’ sperm is a wonderful way to create your family.

Surrogacy and parental rights laws differ a lot from one Midwest state to the next. Our team has partners that are experts in each state’s legal framework. We work closely with reputable fertility and parentage law firms to ensure your legal pathways are safe and protected.