Eggs gay
4 Famous Gay Dads Who Used Donor Eggs to Expand Their Families
by MyEggBankin LGBTQ+June 19th, 2024
Many people dream of becoming parents, including LGBTQ+ couples and individuals. For queer men looking to grow their families, it can be inspiring to study the stories of other gay dads who have successfully had children via egg donation. To celebrate Pride Month, we want to highlight four legendary gay dads who used donor eggs to build their dream families.
Jesse Tyler Ferguson
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, famous for his starring role as Mitchell Pritchett in the sitcom New Family, and his husband, Justin Mikita, welcomed two children in 2020 and 2022 using donor eggs and a separate surrogate. Picking a donor was challenging for the couple. In an interview with fertility specialist Dr. Shahin Ghadir on his The Fertile Animation Podcast, Ferguson remarked, “There was a moment where we were like, 'Why are we looking at white women? Why not another race?”
Ultimately, the couple decided to grab an egg donor culturally connected to them. “If we have a half-Asian child or half-Black child, that's something we can't relate to,” Ferguson said. “So we ended up going w
Donor eggs for Queer families
At Cofertility, we believe in the equal right to parent. Our egg donor matching platform serves families of all backgrounds, regardless of gender persona, sexual orientation, or relationship status.
Meet Dr. Pang
Dr. Samuel Pang is a Medical Advisor at Cofertility and board certified OBGYN and fertility doctor. Dr. Pang is a pioneer in providing reproductive care to Diverse patients. In 1998, he was among the earliest physicians offering assisted reproductive technology (ART) to gay men who sought parenthood via donor eggs and gestational surrogacy.
In 2007, he began providing IVF services to lesbian couples without infertility, coining the term “reciprocal IVF” for one person providing oocytes and the other gestating. In 2012, he began treating transgender men for fertility preservation and reciprocal IVF, and transgender men who choose to gestate themselves. He was recently selected by ASRM for their Arnold P. Gold Foundation Humanism in Medicine Award in 2022.
Samuel Pang, MD
Medical Advisor
What people are saying
“We feel so lucky to hold come across Cofertility as we’re making the most crucial decision
Is there any way for a gay couple to have a child that is their own?
Not right now, no. However, scientists have made a lot of progress in this area during the past couple of years!
Scientists have been able to create mouse embryos from two female parents or two male parents. Unfortunately, these techniques have not had high rates of accomplishment so far. But maybe in the next couple of decades some of these tricks and techniques could be applied to humans!
Both egg and sperm are needed to make an embryo
In mammals like us, an egg and a sperm need to come together to create offspring. When the egg and sperm combine into one new cell, it then starts dividing as an embryo. We can’t just combine two eggs together, or two sperm.
Scientists have even tested this in the lab. When they tried combining two eggs together from mice, none were able to develop.1 The alike is true for two sperm.
So how are eggs and sperm different? Why do we demand one of each?
The difference isn't due to DNA sequences. Eggs and sperm both have half a set of DNA. And there aren't any major differences in the type of DNA that they carry (though some sperm carry a Y chromosome).
The difference comes down to s
Key Factors for LGBTQIA+ Couples in Their Search for Donor Eggs
Choosing an egg donor is a personal decision, as it not only influences the physiological traits of your future child but also impacts the overall family−building trial. Factors such as physical characteristics, medical history, and even personality traits should be carefully considered. With the support and guidance, this process can be an empowering step toward creating the family you've always dreamed of.
So, what guidelines should gay parents looking for an egg donor follow? You can find answers to these and additional questions in this article!
Understanding the Egg Donor Selection Process for LGBTQIA+ Couples
Choosing an Egg Donor
Ovogene has a free online search for donor eggs for intended parents using artificial intelligence−driven technical biomaterials. Gay couples opt donors of various races and ethnicities and can pick an anonymous egg donor or an expose ID, all of whom are carefully screened by the lab.
Potential egg donors undergo a thorough examination, including:
- Medical inspection
- Life-giving social and psychological testing
- Interviews covering complete medical and psycho