For many LGBTQ parents to be, an egg donor can be an integral part of their family building journey. For same sex male couples or single men starting a surrogacy pathway, they will require the help of an egg donor to conceive their child. For same-sex female couples where one or both partners is experiencing fertility struggles, using an egg donor may allow them to complete a family building journey where one or both partners are able to carry a pregnancy.

In our last LGBTQ History Month blog, we reviewed the history of LGBTQ family building, and what’s led us to where we are now. Here’s more on where we’re at in 2019:

By now, you’re probably aware that the journey to parenthood via surrogacy is an expensive process. Although a growing number of companies offer LGBTQ family building benefits that include surrogacy, many dads-to-be still pay for their surrogacy journey(s) out of pocket. To help budget for your surrogacy journey, we want to make it clear what the costs are for a gay dad’s journey to fatherhood.

Most men would agree that their fertility isn’t an everyday curiosity. It’s a topic that can make us feel vulnerable and uncomfortable. Besides, if we aren’t looking to have children right now, then why even consider looking at your fertility in the first place? My name is Kyle Tzanetis, an andrologist at RMA of Connecticut; and I am here to explain why your fertility should be important to you.

How do you pick a sperm donor? Whats the difference between IUI and IVF for moms? In our latest Facebook live, Dr. Cynthia Murdock sat with us to discuss paths to parenthood for LGBTQ moms to be. Click above to watch the video, or read on for a transcription of our chat.

This month, we introduce a new series of interviews: Personal Family Building Stories. We’ll talk with couples who have completed their family building journey as patients of Reproductive Medicine Associates of Connecticut (RMACT), the IVF fertility clinic with whom GayParentsToBe partners with.

Alicia and Julia’s story began as a classic representation of love at first sight. It all happened organically and eventually came together as strangers turned into friends and then ultimately soulmates.

Join Gay Parents To Be and Family Equality Council for an evening at Trumbull Kitchen to discover your family building options and join others who are thinking about starting a family. WHEN: Tuesday, March 7th, 6–8pm 6:00 PM Meet & Greet 6:30 PM Family Building Presentation 7:30 PM Q&A WHERE: Trumbull Kitchen 150 Trumbull Street Hartford, CT 06103 Save Your Spot

You've decided to move ahead with creating your family by working with a gestational carrier. A gestational carrier or gestational surrogate is a woman who has a previously created embryo (using an egg donor and intended parent’s sperm) transferred into her uterus, becomes pregnant, and then carries through birth.

When talking about fertility, pregnancy and having babies; everything in my mind right away goes to pink or blue. Doesn’t yours? When we hear that a friend is pregnant the first question most people ask is, “Do you know if it's a boy or girl?”.

The New Year is in full swing and it’s safe to say that by this point two things are clear to LGBTQ parents: First, getting your kids up and ready for school is not easy when it’s still dark at wake up time. And if you live in the Northeast like us, add snow boots and long johns to the mix!

For gay men and lesbians starting out on a family building journey, many questions arise. As your family building center, we are here to help provide answers and solutions, including what you can expect at your first gay family building consultation.