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Gynecology & Obstetrics

Fertility Center

Grow Your Family With Us

LGBTQ+ Family Building at Johns Hopkins Fertility Center

We are committed to helping same-sex couples, transgender couples and single individuals of the LBGTQ+ community on their journey to parenthood. Using the latest assisted reproductive technology, we offer a range of treatment options that help you reach your goal.

Our team uses a collaborative approach to fertility care. Our fertility specialists, nurse practitioners, nurses, third-party reproduction coordinators and fellows work together to provide the best care that meets your unique goals and needs.

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Serving the LGBTQ+ Community at the Johns Hopkins Fertility Center

Katherine Cameron, a reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialist and director of third-party reproduction at the Johns Hopkins Fertility Center, talks about serving patients in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer or questioning (LGBTQ+) community.

Read the Article Here
artificial insemination

Family Building at Johns Hopkins: What to Expect

At your initial consultation, you will meet with one of our reproductive physicians to discuss your family building goals and review your medical history, treatment options and financial information. After the initial consultation, your provider will perform diagnostic testing to evaluate your baseline fertility. If applicable, your partner may also undergo testing.

Once the testing is completed, we will review the results with you and develop the most appropriate treatment plan for you and your family. 

Transgender couple smiles at each other while holding baby

Treatments & Services Same-Sex and Transgender Fertility Treatment Options

  • Donor Egg Treatment

    Donor egg treatment is the use of donor eggs to achieve pregnancy. Same-sex male couples, for example, may wish to use donor eggs that they fertilize with either partner’s sperm.

  • Donor Sperm Treatment

    Donor sperm, often used in same-sex female couples, refers to the use of sperm from either a known donor (for example, a friend or partner’s family member) or anonymous donor (usually from a donor sperm bank).

  • Fertility Preservation

    We offer a range of fertility preservation and family-building options, such as sperm banking and egg freezing, for transgender individuals and couples before, during or after medical or surgical transition.

  • Gestational Carrier (Surrogacy)

    A gestational carrier is a person who carries a baby throughout pregnancy for another person. Gestational carriers can be someone you know or someone selected with the assistance of a third-party reproduction lawyer or a gestational carrier agency.

  • Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)

    A lower cost, minimally invasive procedure where sperm is inserted directly into the uterus. It is often the first treatment option pursued in same-sex female couples using donor sperm.

  • In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

    A highly successful treatment option where eggs are fertilized with sperm in a lab and then transferred into the uterus of either the individual or a surrogate.

Our Partnerships with Third-Party Reproduction Agencies

Third-party reproduction is a process wherein couples or individuals can use donor eggs, donor sperm, gestational carriers or traditional surrogacy to achieve pregnancy. Many same-sex and transgender individuals and couples are able to create the families they desire using third-party fertility treatment options.

Our third-party reproduction coordinator will support you throughout the entirety of your treatment process. At your initial consultation, they will provide a thorough overview of your treatment plan, including reviewing any required laboratory tests and consents. They will connect you with the right resources and external agencies, including:

  • Gestational carrier agencies
  • Sperm donor agencies
  • Donor egg agencies
  • Third-party reproduction lawyer/legal specialists
  • Psychologists/counselors experienced in providing FDA-required third-party reproduction implications counseling

It is important that same-sex and transgender individuals and couples be aware that there may be legal challenges involved to ensure the parental rights of all same-sex and transgender persons. The team at Johns Hopkins Fertility Center can provide appropriate referrals to lawyers who specialize in reproductive law to help you ensure that all your legal concerns are addressed.

No matter which path you choose, our team will be there to provide step-by-step support along your journey to parenthood.

Interracial gay male couple playing with son in bed

More resources for transgender patients

Our specialists at the Fertility Center coordinate with the Center for Transgender and Gender Expansive Health to provide services for gender affirming fertility preservation, reproduction assistance and contraception.

Center for Transgender and Gender Expansive Health
Fertility Preservation Innovation Center