Donor Egg and Donor Embryo Programs: Considerations for the LGBTQ+ Community

For many LGBTQ+ couples and individuals, the journey to parenthood is one of both courage and care. Navigating fertility options like egg and embryo donation can bring excitement and questions. Which program is right for you? How do you find an inclusive clinic that truly understands your needs?

At Shared Beginnings, we believe every family deserves compassionate, expert-led support. Our egg and embryo donor programs are designed to make family building accessible, transparent, and affirming for all.

Recently, we spoke with Elaine and Misti, a married couple who built their family through our Donor Embryo Program after a decade-long fertility journey. Their experience shines light on what LGBTQ+ parents should know, and what inclusive fertility care can look like.

Understanding Egg and Embryo Donor Options for LGBTQ+ Families

Choosing between an egg donor program and an embryo donor program depends on your goals, medical factors, and emotional readiness.

After experiencing miscarriages through IVF using their own embryos, Misti and Elaine’s physician, Dr. Susannah Copland, recommended Shared Beginnings’ Donor Embryo Program: a path that offered new hope without starting over.

The Donor Embryo Program can be a more efficient and affordable option for intended parents, especially for LGBTQ+ couples. It eliminates the need for another egg retrieval cycle and reduces both medication and time, while maintaining the experience of carrying a pregnancy.

Inclusive Care Matters: Finding an LGBTQ+ Affirming Fertility Clinic

For Misti and Elaine, feeling supported was as important as successful outcomes.

“From day one, Dr. Copland gave us everything we needed: lawyer names, therapists, every resource,” shared Misti. “We never felt any judgment. Everyone at Shared Beginnings was just focused on helping us build our family.”

At Shared Beginnings, our team is Open Door Certified, because ensuring all intended parents receive care that respects every identity, relationship, and journey is incredibly important to us. From your first consultation, you’ll work with board-certified medical professionals who understand the unique considerations for LGBTQ+ families.

Legal Steps for LGBTQ+ Parents: Protecting Your Family’s Future

Even when one partner carries the pregnancy, some states require additional steps like second-parent adoption to ensure both parents are legally recognized. Shared Beginnings connects families with trusted fertility attorneys who specialize in LGBTQ+ parentage to help simplify the process.

Elaine and Misti took those steps early:

“Even though I carried her, we both went through adoption,” Elaine explained. “It was about making sure no one could ever question that she’s ours.”

Trusting the Process and Your Team

Infertility can test even the strongest relationships, but Elaine and Misti credit their success to one guiding principle: trust.

“It’s not as intimidating as it sounds,” Elaine said. “There’s an incredible team behind you. Trust the process. Trust your doctors. Their goal is the same as yours, to build your family.”

Our programs are designed and delivered by medical professionals, not third-party agents. That means clear expectations, evidence-based care, and an experienced team walking beside you through every step from screening to transfer.

Hope, Perseverance, and Family

After nearly ten years of trying, Elaine and Misti welcomed their daughter, Adelyn, through Shared Beginnings.

“I don’t trust anyone else with my uterus,” Elaine laughed. “These people became family. They laughed with us, cried with us, and never gave up on us.”

Their story reflects what we see every day: the resilience of intended parents and the profound joy of finally holding the child you’ve dreamed of.

How Shared Beginnings Supports LGBTQ+ Intended Parents

Every path to parenthood is unique, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. Shared Beginnings offers:

• Inclusive, affirming fertility care for LGBTQ+ families

• Fully screened egg and embryo donors for safety and success

• Legal and mental health referrals for emotional and practical support

• Nationwide coordination so you can work with your preferred clinic

• Programs developed by medical experts with pregnancy rates above national averages

Begin Your Family-Building Journey

Whether you’re exploring donor options for the first time or ready to move forward, our team is here to guide you with compassion and expertise.

Schedule a consultation to speak with our team, or learn more about our donor embryo programs today.