Starting a family looks different for every couple. For same-sex couples, that journey often involves thoughtful decisions about donor gametes, gestational carriers, and which medical pathway makes the most sense for your specific situation. None of those decisions have to feel overwhelming when you have the right team beside you.

At Hanabusa IVF in San Diego, same-sex couples are treated with the same individualized care the clinic offers every patient. Hanabusa's core philosophy — that one size does not fit all — applies just as meaningfully to family building pathways as it does to stimulation protocols. Your biology, your goals, and your family structure guide the plan. Nothing is assumed.

This article walks through the primary IVF pathways available to female same-sex couples and male same-sex couples, explains how donor gametes fit into each, and describes what makes Hanabusa IVF's approach distinct for LGBTQ+ patients.

For Female Same-Sex Couples: Two Distinct Pathways

Female same-sex couples generally have two paths to building their family through IVF, and the right choice depends on your individual circumstances, your relationship, and the biological factors specific to each partner.

Hanabusa IVF begins every consultation by getting to know both of you — your health history, ovarian reserve, any prior fertility experience, and what matters most to you emotionally and practically. That conversation shapes everything that follows.

You can learn more about Hanabusa IVF's dedicated LGBTQ+ family building resources to understand how the clinic supports same-sex couples through every step.

Using Donor Sperm

The most straightforward pathway for many female same-sex couples is IVF using one partner's eggs and donor sperm. The partner whose eggs are used goes through ovarian stimulation and retrieval, the eggs are fertilized in the lab with donor sperm, and resulting embryos are transferred to that same partner's uterus (or her partner's, depending on what you both prefer).

Choosing which partner to use for egg donation is not purely a personal decision — it also involves a careful look at ovarian reserve, response history, age, and overall reproductive health. More eggs from one partner does not automatically mean better outcomes. At Hanabusa IVF, the team evaluates both partners when relevant and helps you make a genuinely informed choice, not a guess.

Reciprocal IVF: When Both Partners Want a Medical Role

Reciprocal IVF is a deeply meaningful option for couples who want both partners to have a biological connection to the pregnancy. In this pathway, one partner's eggs are retrieved and fertilized with donor sperm. The resulting embryos are then transferred into the other partner's uterus, who carries the pregnancy.

This approach offers a shared biological experience: one partner contributes the genetic material, and the other carries and delivers the baby. It is increasingly common, and Hanabusa IVF supports it with the same careful, personalized evaluation applied to any IVF cycle.

"Reciprocal IVF requires us to look very carefully at both partners — the one who will be stimulated and the one who will carry. We are tailoring two separate protocols at the same time, and both have to be right for the process to work well."

— Dr. Diana LeBlanc, a Fertility Specialist at Hanabusa IVF

The IVF overview page provides more detail on how the full IVF cycle unfolds from start to finish.

For Male Same-Sex Couples: Donor Eggs and Gestational Carrier

Male same-sex couples require both an egg donor and a gestational carrier (sometimes called a surrogate). This pathway is logistically more complex, but Hanabusa IVF's team is experienced in coordinating the various components and helping couples navigate each step with clarity.

The two core components are selecting an egg donor and working with a gestational carrier. Each involves its own considerations, timelines, and screening processes.

Selecting an Egg Donor

The egg donor provides the genetic material for the embryo. Couples typically work with a donor agency or an egg donor bank to identify candidates, and Hanabusa IVF works in coordination with your chosen source to ensure appropriate screening has been completed.

Hanabusa IVF's Egg Donor Program outlines how the clinic approaches donor cycles, including what is evaluated and how the stimulation and retrieval process is managed for the donor.

An important question couples often have is whether to use one partner's sperm or both partners' sperm to fertilize donor eggs. This is a genuinely personal decision, and Hanabusa IVF will support whatever approach you choose. Some couples fertilize a portion of eggs with each partner's sperm to create embryos from both, then make transfer decisions based on embryo quality and genetic testing results.

Working With a Gestational Carrier

A gestational carrier carries the embryo to term. She has no genetic connection to the baby — the embryo is created using the egg donor's eggs and one or both partners' sperm. The gestational carrier undergoes her own medical screening and uterine evaluation before an embryo transfer is planned.

The timing of a frozen embryo transfer to a gestational carrier is coordinated carefully. The carrier's uterine lining preparation is individualized, not templated — because her response to the preparation protocol matters just as much as embryo quality.

"When we are working with a gestational carrier, we are not just focused on the embryo. We are looking at her specifically — her uterine environment, her response to preparation, and what that tells us about the optimal timing for transfer."

— Dr. Lyndon Chang, Medical Director at Hanabusa IVF

Why Protocol Individualization Still Matters

One of the most common misunderstandings about same-sex IVF is that the logistics — finding a donor, choosing a carrier — are the hardest part. The clinical decisions matter enormously too.

For female same-sex couples, the stimulation protocol for the partner providing eggs is not interchangeable with a generic IVF protocol. Her ovarian reserve, age, prior response history (if any), and hormonal profile all influence which approach makes the most sense. More medication is not always better. A protocol calibrated to her biology is what produces high-quality eggs — and high-quality embryos.

At Hanabusa IVF, that calibration is not an afterthought. It is central to everything the clinic does. The "One Size Doesn't Fit All" philosophy means your cycle is built around your body — whether you are the person being stimulated, the person carrying, or both.

Hanabusa IVF also serves patients earlier in their fertility journey, not only those who have experienced prior IVF failures or complex diagnoses. If this is your first time exploring these options, the team will meet you where you are and guide you through every decision at a pace that feels right for you.

Genetic Testing and Embryo Selection

Preimplantation genetic testing is available for same-sex couples going through IVF, and it is worth understanding your options before your embryos are created. Hanabusa IVF offers two primary types of testing.

PGT-A (preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy) screens embryos for chromosomal abnormalities, which are one of the most common causes of failed implantation and early pregnancy loss. Transferring a chromosomally normal embryo improves the chances of a successful outcome and reduces the risk of miscarriage.

PGT-M (preimplantation genetic testing for monogenic disorders) screens for specific inherited genetic conditions when one or both genetic contributors carry a known mutation. This is particularly relevant for couples who have identified a heritable condition they are concerned about passing on.

You can read more about PGT testing at Hanabusa IVF to understand what the process involves and whether it is appropriate for your situation.

Genetic testing is never mandatory, and Hanabusa IVF will walk you through the benefits and limitations honestly so you can make the decision that is right for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can same-sex couples do IVF at Hanabusa IVF?

Yes. Hanabusa IVF welcomes same-sex couples and offers individualized family building pathways for both female and male same-sex couples, including reciprocal IVF, donor sperm cycles, donor egg cycles, and coordination with gestational carriers.

What is reciprocal IVF and how does it work?

Reciprocal IVF is a pathway designed for female same-sex couples where one partner provides the eggs and the other carries the pregnancy. One partner goes through ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval; her eggs are fertilized with donor sperm to create embryos, which are then transferred to her partner's uterus. Both partners have a meaningful biological connection to the pregnancy.

Does Hanabusa IVF work with gestational carriers for male same-sex couples?

Yes. Hanabusa IVF coordinates with gestational carriers as part of the IVF process for male same-sex couples. The clinic manages the medical side of the cycle, including donor egg retrieval, embryo creation, and the frozen embryo transfer to the carrier. The team works in coordination with your legal and agency contacts.

How do we decide which partner provides the eggs for reciprocal IVF?

The decision should be made with input from your care team, not based on assumption. Hanabusa IVF evaluates both partners' ovarian reserve, age, and reproductive health to help you understand which partner is likely to have the best response to stimulation. Sometimes the answer is clear; other times it comes down to personal preference when both partners are medically similar candidates.

Is genetic testing (PGT) recommended for same-sex couples doing IVF?

PGT-A can benefit many IVF patients by identifying chromosomally normal embryos for transfer, which can improve success rates and reduce the risk of miscarriage. Whether it is right for your cycle depends on factors like the age of the egg provider, the number of embryos created, and your personal preferences. Hanabusa IVF will review the options with you during your consultation.

How do we get started?

The first step is a consultation at Hanabusa IVF. Your care team will review your individual situation, answer your questions, and help you understand which pathway makes the most sense for you as a couple. There is no pressure and no single path that is right for everyone.

Every Family Starts With the Right Plan

Same-sex couples bring the same hopes, the same questions, and often the same anxieties to the fertility clinic that any patient does. What they also bring is a unique situation that deserves a care plan built specifically around them — not borrowed from a template designed for someone else.

Hanabusa IVF approaches every couple, every cycle, and every family-building pathway with that individualized focus. Whether you are exploring reciprocal IVF, coordinating with a gestational carrier, or still figuring out which path fits your situation, the team at Hanabusa IVF will work with you to build a plan that reflects your biology, your goals, and your family.

If you are ready to take the next step, schedule a consultation at Hanabusa IVF and start building the plan that is right for you.