Fertility Treatment Options for Single Men
Most people consider fertility treatment as a solution for couples who are having difficulty conceiving. Yet fertility services can be beneficial to individuals as well. The Los Angeles Reproductive Center is a fertility center that is dedicated to helping all patients grow their family, including single men.
Single men may seek out fertility treatment if they are ready to start a family but have yet to find a partner to have a child with. Individuals in Encino, Bakersfield, Los Angeles, CA, and surrounding areas can find a number of fertility treatment options for single men at our fertility center.
Where the Fertility Process Begins
Prior to starting fertility treatment, there are several key questions that single male patients must consider:
- Who will donate eggs for fertility treatment?
- Who will carry the child?
- What fertility treatment will be used?
Our team of doctors can offer guidance and advice regarding all of these key questions.
Egg Donation
A single man can choose to have a child without a partner, but biologically speaking, he will need an egg to make that choice a reality. Fortunately, there are numerous women who are willing to donate eggs so that others can start their family.
Single men always have the option to work with a known egg donor, such as a close friend or family member. There are also reputable egg donor centers for those who opt to work with anonymous donors.
Picking an Egg Donor
Choosing an egg donor is an incredibly personal decision. Even when someone is working with an anonymous donor, they have the opportunity to learn about the donor, so that they can select one who best matches their personal preferences.
Most agencies provide information about the donor’s ethnicity, education, appearance, personality, and interests, as well as photos of the donors as children (and possibly as adults). These extensive profiles help patients select the donor that feels best-suited to them.
Surrogacy
In addition to an egg donor, single men will need to choose a surrogate to carry the pregnancy. Again, men have the option to work with a known surrogate, or to choose one from an agency. There are two types of surrogates to consider: a traditional surrogate or a gestational surrogate. The type of surrogate that a patient chooses to work with may also have an impact on their fertility treatment options.
Traditional Surrogate
Traditional surrogates serve as both egg donor and surrogate, meaning that they are biologically related to the child.
Gestational Surrogate
A gestational surrogate acts as the carrier only. This means that they carry an embryo that has been fertilized with the intended father’s sperm and an egg donor’s egg.
Treatment Options
Two fertility treatments are suitable for single men: intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
During IUI treatment, the chosen surrogate undergoes ovarian stimulation to encourage the production of multiple mature eggs. The intended father provides a sperm sample which is washed and concentrated. The collected sperm is injected into the surrogate’s uterus at the time of ovulation, in hopes that sperm will fertilize one of the eggs.
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
IVF is a more involved treatment that consists of several steps. For this treatment, an egg donor undergoes ovarian stimulation. At ovulation, the eggs are collected through an egg retrieval process. The intended father provides a sperm sample which is used to fertilize collected eggs in a laboratory setting. Successful embryos are chosen for transfer and are implanted into the surrogate’s uterus, in hopes that the embryo will implant and result in pregnancy.
Contact Our Fertility Clinic
If you’d like to learn how fertility treatments can help you start a family, we’d be happy to provide you with more information. To get in touch with our fertility specialists, send us a message at your earliest convenience, or call the Los Angeles Reproductive Center at (818) 946-8051.
