Support Access to LGBTQ+ Fertility Care
As more LGBTQ+ individuals and couples pursue family-building, the need for accessible fertility preservation is growing. For some, sperm freezing may be an important step before gender-affirming care. For others, it may be part of planning around cancer treatment or another medical diagnosis. Despite this growing need, many LGBTQ+ individuals face unique barriers to accessing fertility care and reproductive services.
Support fertility access for all by making a donation today.
We aim to support access to medically indicated sperm freezing for anyone that may need financial assistance, and helping LGBTQ+ individuals comprises a core part of our mission.
LGBTQ+ people face unique barriers to fertility preservation and family building.
Cancer & Fertility
LGBTQ+ people face disparities across the cancer continuum, including differences in cancer risk and barriers to screening and care.
Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation and surgery can permanently affect fertility—often making sperm freezing a time-sensitive decision.
Gay and bisexual men face higher rates of certain cancers, including HPV-related cancers and skin cancer.
Anal cancer occurs at roughly 7–14× the rate among gay and bisexual men without HIV compared with the general population.
Gay and bisexual men have reported approximately 25–45% higher odds of skin cancer than heterosexual men.
Gender-Affirming Care & Fertility
Gender-affirming hormone therapy and surgery can affect future reproductive potential.
About 48,000 patients underwent gender-affirming surgery from 2016–2020, more than tripling over the last decade.
Major medical organizations recommend discussing fertility preservation before gender transition and potentially fertility-affecting treatment. Treatments may cause irreversible reproductive changes, and cessation of treatment later on can worsen gender dysphoria.
Despite this growing need, many transgender individuals face unique barriers to fertility care, including cost, insurance gaps, and difficulty finding affirming, knowledgeable providers.
LGBTQ+ Family Building
Many LGBTQ+ people rely on fertility services to build their families and more are utilizing reproductive assistance that can require sperm cryopreservation.
Advances in fertility care, HIV treatment, and earlier access to gender-affirming treatment have increased options for LGBTQ+ people to pursue family building.
According to a recent survey conducted by Family Equality, 77% of LGBTQ+ Millennials (aged 18-35) are already parents or are considering having children.
People living with HIV can face additional barriers to fertility care, including fewer providers equipped or willing to handle and store reproductive specimens, which can compound the already high costs.