Want to become a single parent by choice? You are welcome here

In today’s advanced world of assisted reproductive technology, it’s no longer a pipe dream for a man or woman to decide to become a single parent by choice. In fact, the science of reproductive medicine has never been better for making these dreams a reality. For women, the most common path is intrauterine insemination, or IUI with donor sperm. For men, the path to biological fatherhood is donor eggs and gestational surrogacy. Our Connecticut fertility doctor Andrew Levi, MD, is ready to make your dreams of parenthood come true.

If you wish to become a single parent by choice, our caring team of professionals is here to guide you through the process. From ensuring that you are financially prepared for your fertility treatment to navigating unwarranted reactions from others and helping you plan a support system for your future as a single parent, our entire team is ready to walk with you, every step of the way.

How does IUI with donor sperm work?

If you are a woman interested in becoming a single parent by choice, the first step is to make a consultation appointment with Dr. Levi to begin the process for a baseline fertility workup, including bloodwork and imaging studies to ensure that your ovaries, uterus and fallopian tubes are all functioning normally. For women whose fertility testing reveals no issues, IUI with donor sperm is an affordable and effective option.

Here’s how the process works, step by step.

• Select your sperm donor. We can connect you with reputable sperm banks who can ship cryopreserved sperm directly to our lab for use in your IUI procedure.
• Prepare for your IUI cycle. Dr. Levi may prescribe medications to control the timing of your ovulation, so that we can introduce the sperm at exactly the right time in your cycle.
• Come back for monitoring in our office. You will return to our office several times, so that Dr. Levi can monitor the development of eggs in your ovaries.
• On ovulation day, you will return to our office for the outpatient IUI procedure. Our lab team will thaw a sperm sample and “wash” it to remove all but the healthiest sperm. Dr. Levi will insert the sperm through your cervix and into your uterus using a thin catheter.
• Two weeks later, you will return to our office for a blood pregnancy test.

It may take a few cycles of IUI with donor sperm to achieve a pregnancy, just as it would for a couple trying to get pregnant at home. For women facing fertility challenges, IVF with donor sperm may be the fastest path to motherhood.

How can a man become a single parent by choice?

Fatherhood is a lifelong dream for many men. IVF with donor eggs and gestational surrogacy can make becoming a single parent possible without a female partner. Here’s a breakdown of the surrogacy process for single fathers.

• Choose your egg donor and surrogate. We can connect you with reputable egg donation and surrogacy agencies who can help you find the perfect matches.
• Provide your sperm sample. Our lab team will cryopreserve enough sperm to ensure that plenty is available to fertilize your donor’s eggs when the time is right.
• If you work with an egg donation agency, the frozen eggs will be shipped directly to our laboratory. If you choose a fresh donor egg cycle, your egg donor will have multiple appointments with our Connecticut fertility doctor for the egg retrieval process.
• Our lab team will fertilize your donor’s eggs with your sperm. All embryos will be frozen and stored until you and your surrogate are ready to proceed.
• Your surrogate will prepare for pregnancy by taking medications designed to prepare her uterus to receive an embryo.
• At exactly the right time, the highest-quality embryo will be transferred to your surrogate’s uterus.
• Two weeks later, your  surrogate will return to our office for a blood pregnancy test.

We are here to help you achieve your dream of parenthood

Learning about today’s assisted reproductive technology options is the first step toward a lifetime of treasured moments and memories as a parent. It is our honor to help both men and women begin the rewarding journey of parenthood.

If you are considering becoming a single parent by choice, we invite you to make an appointment with our Connecticut fertility doctor, Dr. Levi, to learn more about the process. Contact us to get started.