Frequently Asked Questions

I want to build a family, but I don’t know where to start as an LGBTQ+ person. Can you help?

It’s hard to access information on what family building options are available to you as an LGBTQ+ person, partly because reproductive endocrinologists—fertility experts—often do not have special training in LGBTQ+ family building. Because our program is fully dedicated to LGBTQ+ fertility and reproductive care, our reproductive endocrinologist welcomes the chance to consult with you to discuss your family building options—even if you don’t plan to have treatment anytime soon. We also offer virtual new-patient visits and follow-up visits, for your ease and convenience.

How are you different than other fertility or reproductive health clinics?

We provide a new, refreshing take on LGBTQ+ family building and fertility care, since we are probably the first clinic of its kind that is fully dedicated to serving LGBTQ+ people. Many fertility clinics have a hetero-cisgender focus. Our LGBTQ+ family building team is led by a gay, nonbinary medical director and includes LGBTQ+ clinically competent practitioners who understand the special considerations needed to help you build a family. Plus, our entire Fertility and Reproductive Health Services team is cross-trained by us in how to best care for you. We offer gender-neutral restrooms and welcoming signage to help you feel at home. We have many care options irrespective of sexual orientation, gender identity, and relationship status, with care team members readily available.

We are also different in that we exist within the comprehensive fertility and reproductive health umbrella program at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health, with experts who are nationally recognized and who use the most advanced, research-driven care informed by our own Stanford research and also by national guidelines, which we often help inform.

What can I expect at my first visit?

Our goal is to provide care for you in a timely manner. At your new-patient visit, we will start by debunking heteronormative assumptions, misinformation, and fear around your family building journey. We’ll then talk about your personalized care options and the process that you can expect. You will meet a fertility care team that’s unified to provide you with responsive, continuous, multidisciplinary care.

I heard that my insurance won’t cover fertility treatments. Can you help?

It is true that fertility treatments can be hard to afford. However, there is some great news for the LGBTQ+ community. The definition of infertility has been expanded by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), making it more inclusive for LGBTQ+ individuals and single parents by choice. This means it is more likely that your insurance may cover treatments now or in the future. Also, we are working to lower costs where we can; for example, we implemented a lower cost program for IVF. We are also careful to not put you through tests that you do not need.

What are your team’s local, regional, and national efforts?

Our team actively participates in advancing fertility care for LGBTQ+ individuals. For example, our medical director is the chairperson for the LGBTQ+ special interest group of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Because of this, we are often a model for other national programs, helping to translate our care into best practices. Our Q+ Family Building clinic director also leads LGBTQ+ focused research efforts and aims to offer LGBTQ+ specific clinical trials. In addition, we are part of the Silicon Valley Rainbow Chamber of Commerce.

I was assigned male at birth, and I am considering gender-affirming hormone therapy. How can I maintain my sperm in case I want to build a family in the future?

Often the best option is to present directly to a sperm bank for sperm freezing and storage, but we know that our patients wish to talk with a doctor before going to one. That’s why we help you navigate this process and make the decision that is right for you, including accessing semen analysis testing, if desired, and coordinating long term storage options with our community partners (we do not have a sperm bank at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health). We also offer specialty services care through our partnership with reproductive urology to assist in cases where a sample through ejaculation is not possible or not preferred.

I was assigned female at birth, and I am considering gender-affirming hormone therapy. How can I maintain eggs in case I want to build a family in the future?

A part of our services includes egg freezing and banking. If you want to preserve eggs for the future, we can stimulate your ovaries to produce multiple mature eggs, then collect and store them. That way, you have options for family building in the future.

I am trying to conceive, and I am struggling—can you help?

LGBTQ+ people can experience anxiety, sadness, frustration, and depression when facing challenges as they try to build a family. We are here to support you, and we can help you connect with the Stanford THRIVE clinic and the LGBTQ+ Trying to Conceive Group. The support group is open to people in California. Their aim is to offer mental health support to everyone who identifies as an LGBTQ+ individual and is trying to conceive, as well as to their partner(s), with an opportunity to learn basic mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in an affirming virtual space.

What other tailored LGBTQ+ care can you offer me?

We partner with other LGBTQ+ specific programs within Stanford Medicine to provide many types of care. For example, the Stanford Medicine LGBTQ+ Health Program is a holistic medical program that provides personalized primary care, including obstetrics and gynecology. The program also provides support with HIV prevention, PrEP, sexual wellness, hormone management, and gender-affirming surgeries. For teens, our Stanford Children’s Pediatric and Adolescent Gender Clinic offers medical services for gender nonconforming youths and their families in one central location. We also partner with our Positive Care Clinic, which provides HIV specialty care.