Understanding LGBTQIA+ Family Building
LGBTQIA+ intended parents, including same-sex couples, transgender and nonbinary parents, and single parents, may build their families through sperm donation, egg donation, gestational surrogacy, or a combination of these options. Some paths call for one search. Others call for two or three, across egg donors, sperm donors, and surrogates.
Our egg donor search covers egg donor agencies, frozen egg banks, and clinic programs. Our sperm donor search covers sperm donor agencies and banks. Our surrogate search looks across trusted surrogacy agencies.
Family-Building for Gay Dads
Gay dads usually need both an egg donor and a surrogate. Donor eggs are fertilized through IVF using sperm from one or both intended fathers, or from a sperm donor when needed. A resulting embryo may then be transferred to a surrogate. If you have specific requirements for an egg donor, such as ancestry, education, or physical characteristics, our egg donor search is built around them. Surrogacy for gay couples adds another search, with its own criteria and program requirements.
Family-Building for Lesbian Intended Parents
Lesbian intended parents may consider donor sperm, reciprocal IVF, donor eggs, or surrogacy, depending on who plans to carry the pregnancy. For couples, reciprocal IVF allows one partner to provide the eggs while the other carries the pregnancy. Surrogacy for lesbian couples may be an option when you don’t plan to carry or when pregnancy is not medically recommended. If donor sperm is part of your plan, our sperm donor search starts from criteria such as ancestry, physical characteristics, education, family medical history, and identity-release options.
Family-Building for Transgender and Nonbinary Intended Parents
Transgender and nonbinary intended parents who have preserved eggs or sperm may be able to use them, adding a donor, a surrogate, or both to cover whatever else you need. This applies whether you’re parenting with a partner or on your own. If you haven't preserved any, you can use donor eggs or donor sperm. A surrogate can carry the pregnancy if you don’t plan to or aren’t able to. Your fertility clinic can advise on the medical plan.
How Donor Concierge Supports LGBTQIA+ Intended Parents
Donor Concierge runs a cross-agency search for the path you choose. For intended parents pursuing more than one service, that can mean up to three separate searches: egg donors, sperm donors, and surrogates. Our recommendations are driven by your criteria, not agency partnerships or referral fees.
Donor Concierge’s role is the search. Once you’ve selected an egg donor, we connect you to the agency to begin your cycle. For sperm donors, we coordinate the handoff to your clinic and sperm bank. For surrogates, we set up the meeting with the surrogacy agency and stay involved through medical clearance. Your agency and clinic coordinate the medical and legal steps from there.
Our Private Client Program adds a dedicated search for families with highly specific criteria.
Choosing the Right Family-Building Path
Think about who wants a genetic connection, who may carry the pregnancy, and what your fertility specialist recommends.
Then weigh:
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Genetic preferences
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Medical recommendations
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Timeline
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Budget
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Donor or surrogate availability
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Legal requirements
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Level of search support you want
Know what you’re looking for? We’ll search for it.
Frequently Asked Questions
LGBTQIA+ intended parents can build their families through sperm donation, egg donation, gestational surrogacy, or a combination of these options. Many families combine two or more services, such as donor eggs and a surrogate. Donor Concierge runs the egg donor, sperm donor, and surrogate searches that fit your path.
Usually. Gay male couples need eggs to create embryos and a surrogate to carry the pregnancy. Eggs may come from an egg donor, while sperm may come from one or both intended fathers or, where needed, a sperm donor. Your fertility clinic can recommend a plan for creating embryos based on your medical needs.
Lesbian couples can use donor sperm, reciprocal IVF, donor eggs, or surrogacy. Reciprocal IVF lets one partner provide the eggs while the other carries the pregnancy. The best fit depends on fertility history, genetic preferences, and who plans to carry. Your fertility specialist can advise on the medical side.
Decide first who will carry the pregnancy and who wants a genetic connection. A fertility specialist can guide medical decisions, while a reproductive attorney can explain applicable legal considerations. Then weigh the timeline, budget, and donor or surrogate availability. Once your path is clear, you’ll know which of our searches you need.
Donor Concierge searches for egg donors, sperm donors, and surrogates. We search across a broad network of egg donor agencies, sperm donor agencies and banks, and trusted surrogacy agencies. Our recommendations are driven by your criteria, not referral fees. You work with one team instead of contacting each provider yourself.