Queer Parenthood in the UK (and the World) Has a Long Road to Acceptance
UK LGBTQ+ charity Just Like Us has released a report on the state of schools for queer parents and their children. The results are not great. However, there is a lot to be learned from this report. So check out the article here to see how schools in the UK and around the world can be made more inclusive, and how BabyMoon Family and others can continue the fight for acceptance of rainbow families.
Let’s Talk About ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection)
My husband and I are about to make embryos, and our clinic will be using intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) as the procedure for fertilizing the eggs with our sperm. Because of that, I wanted to do a review of ICSI, covering what it is, how it works, who is it for, and how this all measures up with our own reproductive journey.
Our First Bump in the Road of IVF and Surrogacy
Unfortunately, we have additional delays in our journey to fatherhood. Read more to find out why, and how this has altered our approach to the process and our agency.
What if Cis, Queer Men Could Get Pregnant and Carry Their Own Babies?
It’s been a decade since the first human uterus transplantation that resulted in a successful pregnancy and delivery. Since that time, science has progressed, and researchers have begun discussions about how to approach uterine transplantation (UTx) for transgender women. If transgender women could then get pregnant and carry their own children, what about cis, queer men such as myself? The scientific and ethical implications are discussed in this article.
Navigating Fertility Clinic Success Rates in the United States
Are you starting your journey through assisted reproduction and overwhelmed with how to choose a fertility clinic? After all, how do you know which clinics are ‘good?’ Does ‘good’ to you mean how many procedure they do in a year, or is it more about their success rates? I recently discovered that the U.S. government has a law that requires the approximately 500 fertility clinics in the country to report their data on the patients they work with, the procedures they do, an the success of these procedures in a single database that is curated by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). In this article, I review the database, explain how to approach it, discuss what is missing - specifically for queer intended parents - and share my plans for a more queer-friendly database.
Intrauterine Insemination (IUI): Essential Questions and Answers
Intrauterine insemination (IUI). What is it? Who is it for? How much does it cost? How well does it work? How does it compare to in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracervical insemination (ICI)? So many fertility acronyms, and this article has them all and all the answers to important questions about IUI.
5 Inspirational Quotes and Stories about IVF and Surrogacy
In the last year of researching and writing about IVF and surrogacy, I have come across many inspirational stories. This article highlights five quotes from incredible stories of love, chosen family, and progress for assisted reproduction all over the world.
Queer Dad Social Media Influencers in Brazil
This article reviews a recent publication in the Science & Public Health Magazine of Brazil, which discusses gay dad social media influencers in Brazil. The two rainbow families profiled pursued fatherhood through adoption or assisted reproductive technology (ART). They have overcome tremendous cultural stereotypes and prejudice to share their stories, and their experience and leadership in the face of adversity are shared with queer fathers in the United States and around the world.
Complications with Surrogacy Journeys Outside the U.S.
With the trend of more queer intended fathers pursuing IVF and surrogacy outside the United States, I wanted to cover some of the negative news around journeys in these destinations. This is not meant to describe the universal experience of intended parents pursuing international surrogacy, but rather to highlight and inform regarding the potential challenges and risk with these types of journeys.
Contemplating Life, Death, and Divorce while Reviewing Our Egg Donor Contract
Our journey to fatherhood continues with our latest milestone: The egg donor contract. This contract brought up a lot of interesting topics for my husband and me. We had to contemplate our own mortality, relationship, and future in a way that we haven’t yet. In this article, I reflect on this experience to share it with other queer intended dads.
How to Have an Ethical Surrogacy Journey Outside the United States
Due to financial considerations, more and more queer men are opting to pursue IVF and surrogacy outside the United States. In this article, I describe what I consider to be the minimum requirements for any journey to be considered ethical. My hope is that this can help queer men navigate their options and pursue an ethical journey in any country.
Science Says: Gay Dads are Close to their Adult Children
In this installment of the BabyMoon Family journal club, I review the the first study of adult children of gay fathers to explore associations between timing of sexual orientation disclosure, parent-child relationship quality, and individual well being among adult children. It’s a novel study that has important applications to all queer fathers.
Introduction to Surrogacy for Queer Men
The BabyMoon Family’s version of ‘Surrogacy 101.’ An overview of IVF and surrogacy for queer men, answering questions like ‘What is Surrogacy?’ ‘Where to Go Through Surrogacy?’ and ‘How to Go Through Surrogacy?’ Start your own journey to fatherhood as a queer man here.
The Waiting Game of Having a Baby Through IVF and Surrogacy
Having a baby through IVF and surrogacy as a queer man is a marathon, not a sprint. In this article, I describe the first 1.5 years of my husband’s and my journey thus far. There have been some amazing highs, but there have also been a number of long periods of waiting. Focusing on the journey, not the destination, is one of the goals of BabyMoon Family, and one that I hope to emulate on my own journey to fatherhood.
BabyMoon Family Stories: Rachelle Myers-Nelson’s Surrogacy Journeys with Gay Men and Building Her Chosen Family
Welcome to BabyMoon Family Stories, where I interview someone and discuss their experience with assisted reproductive technology (ART). In this first article, I interview Rachelle Myers-Nelson, who has been a gestational carrier (GC) for four journeys, two of which were for twins. Rachelle has always worked with gay intended fathers, and read more to learn about why she chose this path and how she has expanded her ‘chosen family’ through gestational surrogacy.
I am Writing a Book about IVF and Surrogacy for Queer Men
I am writing a book about IVF and surrogacy for queer men. None exists, and it’s time we have one. In this article, I draft a Table of Contents based on articles I have written, and then I highlight missing content that could be written to fill out the book. Read through and see if there are any topics that are missing or that you would like to have more of in the book.
Not Every Income Situation Has U.S. Surrogacy as an Option
More queer men are turning to IVF and surrogacy abroad. Why? Largely the prohibitive cost of the procedures and journey in the United States. So what are the costs abroad for queer intended dads? What is the future of international IVF and surrogacy for queer fathers? Read more to find out.
Thailand is Reopening for International Surrogacy and Could Set a Precedent for Other Countries
Since 2015, Thailand has banned all international surrogacy arrangements and had very strict regulations on domestic surrogacy for Thai couples. The country is proposing a first-of-its-kind legislation to reopen the country to international intended parents, including queer couples. This could set an interesting precedent for other previously popular surrogacy countries like India and Georgia who also now have international bans in place. Read more to learn the details of the proposed Thai legislation and what it could mean for queer intended fathers all over the world.
As Alabama Essentially Bans IVF, My Husband and I Write a Thank You Letter to Our Egg Donor
The Alabama Supreme Court has taken a huge step in essentially banning IVF in the state by stating that embryos are ‘children.’ This comes at a time when my husband and I are continuing our journey to fatherhood through IVF and surrogacy in California, and we are drafting a heartfelt thank you letter to our egg donor. This juxtaposition highlights the political, social, scientific divide we have in our country and the world at the moment. What is the way forward? For BabyMoon Family and I, it is to fight for gay, bi, queer men to have access to the science that allows them to build the rainbow families of their dreams.
Denmark’s New Surrogacy Laws are a Breath of Fresh Reality
Denmark is consistently ranked as one of the happiest countries in the world. A vibrant economy, strong social fabric, and generous social services that support parents and families are often cited as some of the main reasons for this population’s happiness. However, children born through surrogacy arrangements and their intended parents have not yet benefited from the celebrated Danish system. Until now. The Danish government has announced a new legal framework for international commercial surrogacy and domestic altruistic surrogacy that is the first of its kind in Europe. In this article, I will review the legislation and what it could mean for the rest of Europe.