Experts explain the procedure options available to same-sex couples
The company is constantly evolving. Despite the great amount of prejudice that still pervades us, we see minority groups gaining more and more rights. Today, for example, homosexual couples are allowed to have biological children.
“The assisted reproduction of homosexual couples has been legal in Brazil since 2015 thanks to a resolution of the Federal Council of Medicine. And, due to the bureaucracy in the adoption process, the search for human reproduction clinics by this public has increased a lot in the recent years”, explains Dr. Rodrigo Rosa, specialist in human reproduction and clinical director of the Clínica Mater Prime, in São Paulo.
Fertility beyond the taboo
Fertility has also become an increasingly important issue for transgender people, due to the impact of transgender surgeries. gender statement and hormone therapies on reproductive capacity.
“In gender affirmation surgery, which consists in the removal of the testicles or the uterus and ovaries, fertility is irreversibly compromised. But even transgender people who are not subjected to this type of proceduremay suffer from infertility due to the use of hormones”, explains Dr. Fernando Prado, specialist in Human Reproduction, Member of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and clinical director of Neo Vita.
Assisted reproduction procedures
Although it has become more common, the discussion of fertility in LGBTQIA+ people is still surrounded by taboos and misinformation. So, to resolve any doubts on the matter, the experts explain below the options for assisted reproductive procedures available to this population. Watch:
Options for same-sex male couples
Assisted Play for same-sex couples the male tends to be more complicated. This is because, in addition to oocyte donation, intermediated through material banks that guarantee the anonymity of recipients and donors, it is necessary to look for a supportive belly, that is, a woman willing to bear the child.
But there are hard and fast rules regarding belly support, and the woman who wants to give up her uterus for the procedure must be over 18 and be up to the fourth degree blood relative of one of the partners. “Other cases must receive authorization from the Federal Council of Medicine, and if there are no candidates for uterine transfer, the procedure cannot be performed,” says Dr. Rodriguez Rosa.
After finding a supportive belly and egg donor, it’s up to the couple to decide which of the two will be the sperm donor. “Subsequently, the egg is fertilized in the laboratory and inserted into the uterus of the woman who is willing to carry the child. After about 15 days, it is already possible to verify the success of the procedure,” explains Dr. Rodriguez Rosa.
Importance of legal support
Sometimes legal support may be required during this process. “In some cases, in addition to the medical follow-up, it is interesting that the couple also requests legal support, as the woman who has given up the uterus can request custody of the child, since the child has genetic material from all those who participated in the process,” he says. the doctor.
Methods for female homosexual couples
In the case of homosexual couples female, the assisted reproduction process is simpler, since it is only necessary to donate the sperm, which, like egg donation, takes place anonymously through material banks. With sperm, the couple can opt for two methods: in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intrauterine insemination (IUI).
“In vitro fertilization follows the same process as male homo-affective couples, but, in this case, the embryo is inserted into one of the members of the couple. Furthermore, the female homo-affective couple who opt for in vitro fertilization can still carry out a pregnancy , a process in which one of the women gives up the egg while the other is responsible for giving birth,” explains Dr. Rodriguez Rosa.
The other option for same-sex female couples is intrauterine insemination, popularly known as artificial insemination. “The procedure essentially consists in inserting the donated sperm into the uterine cavity during the woman’s ovulation period so that fertilization occur naturally, and, in some cases, it is necessary for ovulation to be stimulated beforehand through a pharmacological treatment”, says the specialist.
Procedures for transgender people
For transgender people who wish to have biological children after hormone treatment, gamete freezing is the best option. “Cryopreservation is a freezing technique that can be performed on eggs, ovarian tissue, sperm and embryos. At a temperature of -196ºC, these structures keep their metabolism completely inactivated, while preserving their vitality,” says Dr. Fernando Prado.
For example, transgender people assigned male at birth can have their semen frozen. “Transgender people designated as female at birth can have their eggs frozen, which are collected, via a needle, directly from the ovaries after a period of hormonal stimulation,” says the expert.
Thus, when the patient is ready to have a child, the gametes can be thawed to be fertilized in the laboratory with the opposite gamete, which can be obtained from a partner or a donation bank, in an in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedure. ). . ).
Attention to the cryopreservation of gametes
Preferably, cryopreservation of gametes should be performed before starting hormone therapy. “Freezing of oocytes and semen can also be done after the start of hormonal therapy, but in these cases the use of hormones has to be stopped for a certain period and even then the quality of the biological material can suffer”, adds the dr. . Ferdinand.
By Guilherme Zanette
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
