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Family Building Options for LGBTQ+ Couples in UAE: IVF, Surrogacy, and Adoption

What is LGBTQ+?

LGBTQIA+ is an acronym for individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (or occasionally questioning), intersex, asexual, and others. The "plus" sign stands for several sexual orientations, such as pansexuality and two-spiritism. The acronym's first four letters have been in use since the 1990s. Still, to provide better representation, there has been a growing recognition in recent years of the need to be inclusive of different sexual identities.

Let’s know more about each letter:

L (Lesbian):

A woman or woman-aligned person who is solely attracted to other persons of the same or similar gender is known as a lesbian.

G (Gay):

Gay refers to men or men-aligned individuals attracted to similar genders, including lesbians. Popularized in the 1970s, it is now used by bisexual and pansexual individuals casually discussing their similar gender attraction.

B (Bisexual):

Bisexuality encompasses all genders and has been recognized since the 1990 "Bisexual Manifesto," which included transgender, binary, and nonbinary individuals, addressing misunderstandings of bisexuality as gay.

T (Transgender):

The word "transgender" describes a person whose gender identification differs from the gender ascribed to the sex to which they were born.

Q (Queer or Questioning):

Queer is an umbrella term for non-cisgender or heterosexual individuals. Still, it should only be used by cisgender and heterosexual individuals when referring to someone who explicitly identifies with it. In contrast, questioning refers to those unsure of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

+ (Plus):

The '+' denotes all gender identities and sexual orientations not explicitly addressed by the other five initials.

LGBTQ and Family building:

The LGBTQ+ community is proud of their uniqueness, diversity, individuality, and sexuality. Surrogacy is becoming more and more popular among LGBTQ+ couples and people who want to expand their families.

IUI and IVF are the two options available to LGBTQ couples looking to conceive. IUI, which involves injecting sperm into the uterus, is a less intrusive and expensive technique. In vitro fertilization (IVF) is the process of fertilizing sperm and egg outside of the body and implanting them into the uterus when there are poor odds of conception due to age or low egg count.

In addition to being intersex, LGBT people may also have temporary infertility. Parenthood may give birth to discrimination, but this shouldn't stop people from seeking the childhood they want. That being said, a sizable portion of LGBT people are parents. In comparison to heterosexual couples, same-gender couples are four times more likely to be raising an adopted kid and six times more likely to be raising foster children.

Building a family of their own is entirely possible for the LGBTQ+ community. All they have to do is go for IVF, surrogacy, or adoption.

Parenting choices for a homosexual or transgender person include:

  • Adoption
  • Co-parenting: an arranged, platonic parent-child bond
  • foster parenting
  • using a donor's sperm for insemination
  • IVF
  • Penis-in-vagina intercourse in relationships with transgender partners
  • Reciprocal IVF (one pair donates the eggs, the other bears the pregnancy)
  • using an egg donor and a gestational carrier

Adoption:

The legal procedure of placing a child for the rest of their life with a parent or parents other than their biological parents is known as adoption. When a child is adopted, the birth parent's parental rights and responsibilities are terminated and given to the adoptive parents.

Adopting a child in the United Arab Emirates necessitates finding foster parents or single moms who can financially support the child and other family members. These parents must be able to provide for the child's needs in terms of upbringing, treatment, and overall health. They have to be free of behavioral or mental disorders and contagious infections. The family must provide evidence of their positive behavior. Couples must be at least 25 years old, and single moms must be at least thirty. Unfortunately, adoption for the LGBTQ+ community is illegal in UAE.

Co-parenting:

Co-parenting is when multiple adults decide to have a child and raise them together, usually outside of marriage. It is most commonly used in divorce cases, but in LBGT family building, co-parenting is planned ahead of time. In a co-parenting arrangement, the egg donor, sperm donor, and gestational carrier are all intended parents. Co-parenting arrangements may include a single cis man and a single cis woman, a lesbian couple and a single man, two same/similar gender couples, a three or more partner relationship, or some other combination of people.

Co-parenting is not the same as a "known" gestational carrier or donor situation, as the carrier/donor is not a parent and takes no legal, financial, or emotional responsibilities for the child. All those involved in the arrangement share parenting responsibilities and rights somehow.

Entering into a co-parenting relationship is a huge decision, as it is more binding than marriage to a romantic partner. Maintaining ongoing communication is a must once a child or children is involved. Counseling with an LGBT-friendly therapist and someone familiar with the concept of co-parenting is highly recommended before deciding on co-parenting.

Some co-parenting arrangements may include sex for conception purposes, but more typically, a fertility procedure like insemination is used. For example, in a cisgender lesbian couple and a single trans woman, the single parent provides the sperm, and a fertility doctor performs an insemination procedure to get the intended co-parent pregnant.

What is IVF?

In vitro fertilization, or IVF, is a set of treatments designed to help you get pregnant. It occurs when sperm fertilizes a human egg in a lab. Pregnancy will ensue if the fertilized egg (embryo) successfully implants in the uterus.

The first day of a menstrual cycle involves a blood test. On the second or third day, hormone stimulation therapy starts, which causes follicles to generate several eggs. One way to get the ovary to develop and release an egg is to give it a trigger shot. The eggs are retrieved 34–36 hours after the trigger shot. Healthy sperm and eggs are incubated all night after semen samples are given. Three to five days following egg extraction, embryos are transferred; some are preserved for later use. It takes two weeks after embryo transfer to get a pregnancy test.

Reciprocal IVF:

Reciprocal IVF is a method where both partners have a uterus and want to participate in the biological process of having a baby. One partner contributes eggs through egg stimulation and retrieval, while the other transfers embryos to the uterus. The decision to donate eggs and carry the child may be personal or medical. Age isn't a significant factor in having a baby. Reciprocal IVF is slightly more expensive than conventional IVF due to the need for hormones, fertility drugs, and a sperm donor.

IVF with an Embryo donor:

LGBT parents can choose to use IVF with an embryo donor because the child will not share any genetic characteristics with the intended parent(s). Couples that require both types of donors can utilize this procedure for both egg and sperm donors. One may wish to have a genetic relationship with the intended father.

What is Surrogacy?

An arrangement known as surrogacy occurs when a woman (the surrogate) agrees to bear and give birth to a child on behalf of an individual or the intended parents.

When a woman wants a child with a same-sex male couple, with a single guy, using frozen embryos, or because she cannot conceive because of a hysterectomy, she may want to pursue a surrogacy arrangement.

For gay males and other LGBTQ persons or couples who are ready to have a family, surrogacy is a great choice. Same-sex couples can achieve their goal of motherhood on this road while still having a genetic connection to their offspring. LBGTQ parents can access fertility equality through surrogacy.

Foster care:

Foster care is an option for LGBT singles and couples to parent a child without adopting them. After overcoming difficult times, the goal is to reunite the child with their original parents. Few foster care children are adopted. The relationship is likely time-limited, and sometimes, biological parents may not allow contact with the previous foster care parent. Despite this, foster care is a valuable way to play an essential role in a child's life.

LGBTQ+ community challenges:

Many LGBTQ people who experience bullying and harassment turn to drugs and alcohol as a coping mechanism, which can result in substance misuse. Family members who are unaware of their sexual orientation may reject them as well, which raises the risk of addiction and complicates rehabilitation. Physical and mental injury can result in anxiety and depression. Abuse and trauma can come from a variety of sources, including parents who refuse to accept their child's uniqueness and high school bullies. These conditions can impair relationships, productivity, and general well-being.

MMC IVF with you:

As a leading fertility center in UAE, with our skilled professionals and well-equipped facilities, we are always here for you to lend a hand for your motherhood or fatherhood journey.

Please feel free to contact us any time through our website. We can change your life to the fullest.