As More LGBTQA+ Build Their Families, The Prelude Network® Reinforces its Commitment to Fertility Care for Everyone

Submitted by: By Dr. Allison Bloom, Global LGBTQ+ Ambassador for The Prelude Network and Reproductive Endocrinologist and Infertility Specialist at Main Line Fertility

The gap between non-LBGTQ+ millennials and LGBTQ+ millennials aspiring to become parents is narrowing, with 48% of the latter planning to grow their families compared to 55% of non-LGBTQ+. This includes an increase in those looking to expand their families through assisted reproductive technologies (ART) to help bring home a biological child.

Why the shift? There are several factors, but from the viewpoint of a reproductive endocrinologist, our industry has done a great job of educating the community on their reproductive options. At The Prelude Network® (Prelude), we've taken this a step further through our commitment to "Fertility Care for Everyone," which, in addition to reproductive health education, promises inclusive, compassionate fertility care for every individual, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation.

Let's break down what those reproductive options are today:

Donor Sperm IUI
Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a procedure in which a sperm sample is injected directly into the uterus at the time of ovulation. An aspiring parent can use the sperm of someone they know or decide to utilize the services of an FDA-approved sperm bank.

Donor Sperm IVF
Through IVF, ovaries are stimulated with injectable medications, extracted at the time of egg retrieval, and fertilized with donor sperm to create embryos. An embryo is then transferred into the uterus.

Patients may choose to pursue IVF for a variety of reasons, including family building, genetic testing, or reciprocal IVF. They may also receive an infertility diagnosis or experience recurrent pregnancy loss that requires IVF treatment to build their families.

Reciprocal IVF
A good option for same-sex female couples, non-binary couples, and transgender men to be physically a part involved in the journey is reciprocal IVF or co-maternity IVF. Here, one partner provides the egg for in vitro fertilization, and the other carries the pregnancy.

Donor Egg IVF
Donor eggs in vitro fertilization (IVF) is when a donor's eggs are fertilized and implanted into a uterus. This can be the intended parent or a gestational carrier. This could be a person that the intended parents know, or eggs can be obtained from an FDA-approved donor egg bank.

Gestational Carrier
Most prospective parents who decide to use a gestational carrier do so with the help of a third-party agency. Gestational carrier agencies deeply understand the financial, legal, and medical aspects of this specialized process, making them a great partner for you and your entire fertility care team. A gestational carrier could be from an agency or someone that you know.

As an REI and member of the LGBTQ+ community, I remember being grateful for the advancements in ART that brought me and my wife our sons. I was equally thankful for the welcoming and compassionate care we received throughout our journey – one that was void of any discrimination that could have made our patient experience less pleasant.

This PRIDE Month, Prelude is proud to reinforce its commitment to Fertility Care for Everyone with three simple words: Accessibility. Inclusivity. Compassion. These are more than just words for Prelude. They're drivers that direct our approach to providing the best care to every patient who walks through our doors looking to build the families of their dreams.

I hope you will join me on Wednesday, June 28 at 5:00 pm CT | 6:00 pm ET for a free LGBTQ+ Family Building Webinar, where I will address various aspects of fertility, answer participant questions, and offer practical advice tailored to the LGBTQ+ community. To register for the event, please visit Fertility Care for Everyone Webinar.

You can also visit preludefertility.com to learn more about your reproductive options and Prelude's full list of comprehensive fertility care services to help you realize your dream of having a family.

1 LGBTQ Family Building Survey - Family Equality

About Allison Bloom, DO, MPH
Allison Bloom, DO, MPH is a specialist in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at Main Line Fertility, part of The Prelude Network. Dr. Bloom is an experienced IVF provider with a particular interest in LGBTQ+ family building – an interest that coincides with her personal life experience. Dr. Bloom and her wife underwent infertility treatment for more than a year before successfully conceiving with IVF and welcoming twin boys into their family. They are happy to share their story with others looking to start or grow their families.