IVF FLORIDA is proud to support the LBGTQ+ community during Pride Month and throughout the year.
Families come in many forms, and at IVF FLORIDA, we believe all people have the right to become parents. For more than 30 years, our fertility clinic has met the reproductive needs of gay, lesbian, and transgender couples with In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), egg donation, sperm donation, and gestational surrogacy.
Read on to learn more about LGBTQ family planning options and resources.
Supporting the LGBTQ community
IVF FLORIDA is a proud supporter of the LGBTQ community and will be attending the Stonewall Pride Parade and Street Festival in Wilton Manors on June 18, 2022. This year marks the 53rd anniversary of the Stonewall Riots and the birth of the Pride movement.
Please stop by our table to say hello and receive more information on how IVF FLORIDA can help you plan your family.
We are proud to celebrate families of all kinds during Pride Month
According to Family Equality Council, there are more than 15.9 million LGBTQ Americans, and 63% of all LGBTQ individuals in the 18-35-year-old range are considering expanding their families in the coming years, either by becoming parents for the first time or by adding more children to their family.
Thanks to advances in reproductive technology, parenthood is possible more than ever before for LGBTQ+ individuals and couples. With the help of donors, gestational surrogates, and reproductive technology, members of the LGBTQ+ community can build the family of their dreams. But what are the options available? In honor of Pride Month, which is celebrated in June, the fertility experts of IVF FLORIDA are here to go over the various family building options available to gay, lesbian, and transgender individuals and couples.
Treatment options for female couples and individuals
One of the easiest and most common ways to achieve a pregnancy for female couples is through Intrauterine Insemination using donor sperm. This is a simple procedure in which sperm is injected into the uterine cavity during ovulation. For women who have no fertility issues, this is often the most common course of treatment. The couple simply has to decide which partner will carry the pregnancy and select a sperm donor to achieve pregnancy.
Another option for female couples is In Vitro Fertilization. This is the option often used when both partners have difficulty conceiving using Intrauterine Insemination, or when both partners want to have a role in conceiving and carrying a child using reciprocal IVF. In this process, it is important to decide which partner will provide the eggs, and if different, which partner will carry the pregnancy to term. The partner providing the eggs will take fertility medications to encourage the production of multiple eggs, which will then be retrieved using a simple outpatient procedure. The eggs will then be fertilized with donor sperm in the lab to create embryos. The best embryo(s) will then be transferred to the partner who will be carrying the pregnancy.
Many female couples who choose to use reciprocal IVF enjoy the fact that both partners have a role in creating their child, with one providing the genetic material and the other being able to carry them to term. To learn more about which options would be best for you, contact us at 954-247-6200.
Family Building for Male Couples and Individuals
Male couples and individuals can build their families through donor egg and a gestational carrier. Partners select an egg donor and decide who will be the biological father. Then the partner will provide a sperm sample, which will be used to fertilize the donor eggs, and create embryos. Once the embryos are created, the couple can concentrate on finding a gestational surrogate who can carry the pregnancy to term. When the surrogate is selected, the best embryo(s) can be transferred into her uterus and carried to term.
Some couples prefer not to know the biological father. In these cases, it is possible to combine the sperm of both partners and use that to fertilize the eggs.
There are many ways to build a family, and for couples who would like children who are biologically related to them, advanced reproductive technologies like IUIs and IVF can help build the family of their dreams.
Treatment options for trans couples and individuals
Our fertility clinic offers fertility preservation and customized solutions for transgender individuals and couples, pre-and-post transition. Because each patient's journey is unique, our team of fertility specialists will work with you to customize a treatment plan so you can achieve your dream of parenthood.
If you would like to learn more about the family building options available for LGBTQ+ couples and individuals, contact us today to schedule an appointment.
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IVF FLORIDA at 3 Jun 2022
IVF FLORIDA is proud to announce that physicians David I Hoffman, Steven J. Ory, Marcelo J. Barrionuevo, and Vanessa N. Weitzman have been named the Boca Raton Observer’s Top Docs of 2022.
Top doctors are independently selected from a prestigious group of local physicians chosen by Castle Connolly, a healthcare research company.
Castle Connolly’s physician-led team of researchers follows a rigorous screening process to select top doctors and dentists on both the national and regional levels. Careful screening of doctors’ educational and professional experience is essential before final selection is made among those physicians most highly regarded by their peers.
IVF FLORIDA physicians are committed to providing compassionate, patient-centered care at a practice that remains at the forefront of innovative reproductive technology. For more information, visit ivfflorida.com or call 954-247-6200.
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IVF FLORIDA at 24 May 2022
Gay couples and individuals who want to become parents are invited to hear guest speaker, Daniel Christie, M.D., of IVF FLORIDA Reproductive Associates address the selection and screening of egg donors on April 30, 2022, during the Men Having Babies Expo and Conference.
Dr. Christie’s presentation is part of the fourth annual Men Having Babies 2022 Southern Surrogacy Conference at the Pride Center at Equality Park,2040 N. Dixie Highway, Wilton Manors. The event features presentations and opportunities to interact with over 20 reputable gay-friendly agencies, clinics, law firms, and other surrogacy providers.
For more than 30 years, IVF FLORIDA has provided individuals and couples—regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, or marital status—compassionate fertility care and treatment options to build the families of their dreams. This year, IVF FLORIDA is an enhanced gold sponsor at the event.
“The Men Having Babies Conference is a great opportunity for IVF Florida Reproductive Associates to connect with South Florida’s LGBTQ+ community and provide valuable information about gestational carriers, egg donation, and other available family building options,” says Dr. Christie. “For gay couples and individuals to have access to a safe space with a wealth of information is a huge benefit, and we are proud to support such a great event”
Dr. Christie received his medical degree from the University of Louisville School of Medicine and completed his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Florida in Gainesville. He then went on to complete his subspecialty training in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Dr. Christie sees patients at IVF FLORIDA’s Pembroke Pines and Margate offices.
This one-day in-person event is open to the public and tickets are available online. Attending the conference requires proof of vaccination, and MHB is implementing extensive COVID-19 protocols to keep attendees safe.
To learn more about fertility options for LGBTQ+ couples and individuals with Dr. Christie or any other IVF FLORIDA physician, schedule an appointment by calling 954-247-6200 or visit ivfflorida.com.
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IVF FLORIDA at 29 Apr 2022
Marcelo Barrionuevo, M.D., a fertility specialist at IVF Florida, has been invited to be a keynote speaker at the Fifth Annual South Florida Fertility Expo on Saturday, April 30, 2022. During the event, Dr. Barrionuevo will be discussing fertility preservation, and family planning using third-party reproduction options, including donor egg, donor sperm, donor embryos, and surrogacy. He will present his keynote discussions in Spanish and English.
The South Florida Fertility Expo is a one-day event that gathers information seekers interested in fertility, health and wellness, and fertility funding options. The event will feature more than 50 exhibitors, interactive workshops, and panel discussions on family building and fertility topics.
A new feature to this year’s program is a Spanish-only workshop, which includes speakers and experts delivering topics for Spanish-speaking attendees. During this workshop, Dr. Barrionuevo will discuss fertility preservation, and the process of using egg donation, sperm donation, and embryo donation to build families. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions about IVF FLORIDA, donor success rates, and choosing a donor.
IVF FLORIDA’s Dr. Barrionuevo is subspecialty certified in reproductive endocrinology and infertility. He earned his medical degree from the University of Buenos Aires Medical School in Argentina. Dr. Barrionuevo completed his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Sinai Hospital of Detroit in Detroit, Michigan. He then completed a fellowship in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at the University of South Florida College of Medicine in Tampa, Florida.
Dr. Barrionuevo received several teaching and clinical excellence awards. He has presented numerous times at national and international meetings and has authored multiple publications. He has also received mentorship and patient care awards, including the 2022 Castle Connelly Top Doctors for Infertility honors. Dr. Barrionuevo sees patients at IVF FLORIDA’s Coral Gables, Pembroke Pines, and Margate offices.
The Fifth Annual South Florida Fertility Expo is open to the public. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit southfloridafertilityexpo.com.
To learn more about fertility and family building options with Dr. Barrionuevo or any other IVF FLORIDA physician, schedule an appointment by calling 954-247-6200 or visit ivfflorida.com.
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IVF FLORIDA at 29 Apr 2022
National Infertility Awareness Week is recognized during the last week of April and is a national movement founded in 1989 by RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association.
During this week, millions of Americans come together to raise awareness and enhance the public’s understanding of infertility needs and the barriers that individuals and couples face when building their families.
“1 in 8 couples has trouble getting pregnant or sustaining a pregnancy, and many more people face barriers to building a family. They are all someone you know. We can all be part of the conversation. We can all raise our voices. We can all change the narrative and truly support people with infertility,” said Barbara Collura, RESOLVE’s President/CEO. “Let’s use NIAW to raise our voices, talk about the issues facing this community, and make sure we continue to support those most in need.”
During the week of April 24 to 30, we encourage you to wear the color orange, which promotes a sense of general wellness and emotional energy. According to the NIAW website, Orange can help a person recover from disappointments, a wounded heart, or a blow to one’s pride.
In addition to donning orange during this symbolic week, here are a few other ways you can raise awareness about infertility and help inspire others:
1) Share your story on your feed or in a Reel about your struggle with infertility. Is it facing barriers with accessing treatment, living without children, adoption, surrogacy, or 3rd party family building?
2) Instead of the anecdotes of telling people who face challenges in building a family, “You should just” use the hashtag #WeCanAll and share some ways we can all change the status quo.
3) Send a supportive message to friends and family members struggling to build a family. A whisper of encouragement goes a long way for someone who needs a lift.
4) Show your support by changing your social media profile picture to an orange heart.
5) Host a virtual event or fundraiser to help raise awareness and break down barriers.
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IVF FLORIDA at 26 Apr 2022