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Gynecology & Obstetrics

Fertility Center

Take the First Step in Parenthood With Us

Single-Parent Family Building at the Johns Hopkins Fertility Center

If you are considering becoming a single parent, there are many options and resources available to you. The Johns Hopkins Fertility Center offers a range of fertility services to help single individuals build their dream families. Our collaborative team of fertility specialists, nurse practitioners, third-party reproduction coordinators and fellows will work together to provide the best possible care to meet your individual goals and needs.

Contact Us 410-847-3835

 

Let's Start With a Consultation

Your process begins with a consultation with one of our reproductive specialists. We will discuss your family building goals and review your medical history, the potential roadmap and financial options. Your physician will then perform diagnostic testing to evaluate your fertility, including blood work, ultrasound and/or semen analysis. Once the testing has been completed, we will work with you to develop the best plan for you and your family.

single parent families - young woman smiling at doctor in medical office

Family Building Options for Single Individuals

  • Donor Egg

    The donor egg process is the use of eggs from another person to achieve pregnancy. Donors may be considered either “anonymous” meaning from an egg bank or they may be a “known” donor, such as a friend.

  • Donor Sperm

    Donor sperm, refers to the use of sperm from either a known donor (for example, a friend) or anonymous donor (usually from a donor sperm bank).

  • In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

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

  • Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)

    A lower cost, minimally invasive procedure where sperm is inserted directly into the uterus. It is often the first option pursued for women using donor sperm.

  • 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.

  • Elective Fertility Preservation

    We offer a range of fertility preservation and family-building options, such as sperm banking and egg freezing, for single individuals who want to delay parenthood for later.

Pregnancy Options for Single Women

Depending on your goals and fertility status, we can help you achieve your dream of having a baby through several options.

  • Frequently, women choose intrauterine insemination (IUI), during which sperm from a known or anonymous donor is implanted directly into the uterus.
  • Another option is in vitro fertilization (IVF), where eggs are fertilized with donor sperm in a lab and transferred into the mother’s uterus. This option is often pursued if IUI was previously unsuccessful.
  • If you are experiencing health issues that result in infertility, we can help you manage these conditions and help increase your chances of becoming pregnant.

single parent families - woman smiling with baby in bed

Fertility Preservation for Women: Egg Freezing and Other Procedures

If you would like to have children but not right now, our center offers fertility preservation services, including egg and embryo freezing.

The process to preserve fertility in women is similar to an IVF cycle. Your physician will perform an ultrasound and blood work to assess your ovary function and egg supply. Then, we will prescribe injectable medications that increase your egg production and, when available, will surgically remove the eggs from your ovaries. These eggs can be frozen for future use, or can be immediately fertilized with your partner’s or donor’s sperm to be frozen as embryos.

We understand that cost is a major consideration. Our team of financial counselors will work with you to determine your insurance eligibility and estimate your out-of-pocket expenses.

single parent families fertility - closeup of doctor performing ultrasound on woman's stomach

Surrogacy Options for Single Men

IvfAt the Johns Hopkins Fertility Center, we can also help single men become parents using third-party reproduction: donor eggs, a gestational carrier and donor sperm (if needed). Generally, the path to parenthood for single men is a multistep process:

  • First, donor eggs are obtained through in vitro fertilization (IVF).
  • These eggs are then fertilized with your sperm (or donor sperm if needed).
  • A single embryo is then transferred into the gestational carrier, also known as a gestational surrogate. It is a woman who carries a pregnancy for the parent-to-be. This option allows single men to parent their own biological children.

Our center works with a number of reputable third-party reproduction agencies and can help you find the best option for your journey.

single parent families - man holding baby while sitting on a sofa

Our Partnerships with Third-Party Reproduction Agencies

If you are pursuing pregnancy using donor sperm, donor eggs or gestational surrogacy, you will meet with our third-party reproduction nurse coordinator, who will help you navigate this process. He or she will provide a thorough overview of your plan, including any required laboratory tests and consent forms, and then connect you with the appropriate resources and external agencies that may include:

  • Donor sperm banks
  • Donor egg agencies
  • Gestational carrier agencies
  • Third-party reproduction lawyer/legal specialists
  • Psychologists/counselors who provide FDA-required third-party reproduction implications counseling
  • Preimplantation genetic testing (if desired/needed)

single parent families fertility - young woman discussing with another woman