Third-Party Reproduction

When Is Third-Party Reproduction Necessary?

There are several reasons why an individual or couple may seek assistance from a third party to grow their family. For instance, a person in a cisgender, heterosexual relationship may face medical conditions that prevent them from using their own eggs or sperm. Similarly, LGBTQ+ couples – such as those consisting of two biological men or two biological women – require donor eggs or sperm to successfully conceive. Additionally, gay male couples typically need a surrogate since they do not have a uterus to carry and deliver a baby.

Legal Questions and Concerns

At Main Line Fertility, we have a legal network that patients can utilize to find the best support and advocacy possible. There are a variety of legal considerations for working with a known versus unknown sperm or egg donor. For example, ​the legal connection between a known donor and a pregnancy can be complicated. In some cases, known donors will have to go to court to sever their legal connection to the pregnancy and the ensuing baby. Alternatively, unknown donors found through an agency have already severed legal ties with their samples.

We understand the frustration and confusion that can come with navigating the legalities of third-party reproduction. Please let us know if we can assist you in finding the right attorney to guide you through the process of legally securing your current and future family.

Locating a Sperm or Egg Donor

Our exclusive in-house no-wait donor egg database enables us to provide our patients with access to over two thousand high-quality eggs in a time frame that fits their busy schedules. Main Line Fertility patients have the option of choosing a fresh donor egg cycle or a frozen donor egg cycle. In addition to meeting all Food and Drug Administration (FDA) compliance standards, our egg donors complete a thorough medical, psychological, and genetic screening process by our physicians. For anonymous egg donors, we maintain strict confidentiality of the donor’s and the recipient’s identity. The egg recipient will have access to all of the available donor medical history.

Direct Egg or Sperm Donations

If you are an individual under the age of 40, without any known fertility challenges, and you know a family who is trying to conceive, you may want to give a directed donation to help that family on their fertility journey. At Main Line Fertility, we are here to support you through every step of the directed donation process.

Giving your genetic material is an altruistic gift; however, you and the family who you will be donating must agree upon the expectations for your relationship and any relationship to the child. You should also be prepared to deal with a sometimes frustrating court system when you are relinquishing your legal rights to any child born with your genetic material.

Additionally, our third-party reproduction team has extensive experience helping patients navigate the sperm donation process. We’ve built relationships with many top sperm banks throughout the United States and abroad. Sperm banks offer pre-screened frozen specimens which can be purchased from these banks and shipped to our state-of-the-art inhouse laboratory. We are able to safely store the sperm until the patient is ready to use it.

Finding a Surrogate

Gestational surrogacy is an arrangement in which an individual carries a pregnancy for another person or couple. The gestational carrier undergoes the transfer of an embryo created through in vitro fertilization (IVF) using the egg and sperm of the intended parent(s) and/or a donor. The gestational carrier does not contribute eggs to the creation of the embryos and therefore is not genetically related to the child. 

Gestational surrogacy is suitable for families who do not have a prospective parent with a uterus who is willing or able to carry a pregnancy to term. You can use a known or unknown donor. At Main Line Fertility, we can help you make the ideal choice for your family, as well as navigate all legal and financial considerations.

How Can Partners Be Involved in this Process?

At Main Line Fertility, we are eager to include partners at every step of the process. As you are selecting an egg or sperm donor, work together to decide which characteristics or qualities you most desire. There are several mobile apps that can be used for selecting donors or picking a baby name. Partners can also do a lot of the logistical and emotional labor involved in a conception process. They can call to book appointments, pick up prescriptions, ensure sperm is transported safely, and more! Fertility processes go well when both partners feel equally engaged and invested in the process. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from your partner, to offer help to your partner, and to ask for what you need.