Many California couples and individuals have fertility issues. To start families, they need to rely on fertility assistance. One type of such assistance is third-party reproduction.
Third-party reproduction fertility assistance
Third-party reproduction means that when a couple or individual needs fertility assistance, they are able to get donor eggs, sperm or even embryos. After the donation, the couple or individual then relies on assisted reproductive technology (ART) to conceive or uses a gestational carrier to carry the pregnancy to term.
Why people rely on third-party fertility assistance
Depending on their situation, the couple or individual may only get donor eggs, only donor sperm or only donated embryos or both donor eggs and donor sperm. They might also rely on surrogacy. For example, a gay couple wants to start a family, but both partners have low sperm counts and obtain donor eggs and donor sperm while using a gestational carrier.
Breaking down the available options
Egg donation is a highly sought-after type of third-party reproduction option. Donor eggs often come from an unknown donor. This option can help women or couples to have a child when the woman is unable to conceive naturally. This could be due to menopause, repetitive in-vitro fertilization (IVF) failure, premature ovarian failure, genetic abnormalities or poor quality eggs.
Women and couples often rely on sperm donation to start their families. The donor is sometimes known but often anonymous. Often, when donor sperm is used in third-party reproduction, the woman undergoes intrauterine insemination (IUI) or IVF to conceive.
Embryo donation is also sometimes used by individuals or couples who have fertility problems. It can be used with IVF or surrogacy while using a gestational carrier.
Fertility issues don’t have to prevent you from having the family you’ve always wanted. These options might help.
