We hear all the time about families struggling to conceive, but the term “circumstantial infertility” remains fairly new. So, what is circumstantial infertility? Circumstantial infertility refers to the family-building dreams of LGBTQ+ people and independent parents-to-be.

In both cases, biological family building will require assistance from a gamete donor.

What are some options for LGBTQ+ families?  

• Selecting a sperm donor: Those who are a part of the LGBTQ+ community can select a donor from a sperm bank, such as CooperSurgical’s California Cryobank®. The process of donor sperm qualification at California Cryobank is extensive and sets a solid foundation for sperm donor selection built on a stringent, industry-leading screening process.
• Selecting an egg donor:  There are many reasons why an individual or a family might choose to get help from an egg bank, such as CooperSurgical’s Donor Egg Bank USA, including: premature ovarian failure, low ovarian reserve, poor egg quality, history of genetic disease, same sex families, and more.
  Donor Egg Bank USA’s network recruits a wide variety of egg donors who are motivated to help others realize their dream of having a family and works with contributing clinics to help ensure that the donor eggs meet quality standards.