The first step is to get a semen analysis at a fertility center so that we know what we’re working with. Here are some tips to improve your sperm health. If you smoke cigarettes or marijuana or use other tobacco products, please stop. They all negatively impact sperm. Being a healthy weight is also important for high quality sperm. Men who struggle with obesity have lower testosterone levels, increased insulin resistance, and decreased semen parameters.

Men are also encouraged to take an antioxidant-rich multivitamin. The role for antioxidants (such as vitamin C, vitamin E, co-enzyme Q-10, zinc, selenium, and/or pycnogenol) has been demonstrated to improve various semen parameters; however, their direct impact upon increased live birth rates remains to be proven.

Freezing and thawing of sperm has been done successfully for decades. Using specialized sperm washing techniques along with specific cryo-protectants, men's sperm can be put on hold or frozen until needed. This is especially important when working with egg donors and gestational surrogates because the sperm needs to be FDA-cleared at the time of sperm freezing. This step adds flexibility when undergoing IVF. Men will typically produce a specimen using ejaculation or rarely using sperm retrieval techniques such as TESE depending upon that patient's unique history.

Typically, male couples will use one man’s sperm in conjunction with an egg donor and a separate gestational carrier. The same is true for single gay men who will need to usee both an egg donor and a gestational surrogate. Full clearances are obtained for both the egg donors and the gestational carriers prior to starting any treatment. These include rigorous medical screenings including infectious disease, genetics, psychological assessments, and important legal clearances. Taken together, these pre-treatment requirements help to ensure both the highest level of patient safety and the healthiest outcomes.

Once the egg donor is selected, she will undergo controlled ovarian stimulation with hormonal medications to mature and grow her ovarian follicles and eggs for typically 9 to 12 days. She will then undergo a small procedure under a light anesthetic where the oocytes will be retrieved under ultrasound guidance. Once the oocytes are retrieved they are fertilized with the sperm and then closely monitored in the embryology laboratory. The fertilized egg (or zygote) then undergoes embryo culture for days and is given a grade by the embryologists. Less often now, it is transferred fresh into the surrogate’s uterus whereas more typically it is cryopreserved or frozen and then transferred into the uterus at a later date. The embryo(s) may be screened with pre-implantation genetic testing (PGT) prior to freezing depending upon the patient(s) unique history.

Dr. Norian and our team work with many egg donor agencies and have access to an extensive selection of egg donors. He regularly helps to pre-screen donors and also has an “in-house option” which helps to ensure seamless care. Egg donors are typically between the ages of 21 to 30, have a healthy weight, are non-smokers, have no chronic medical or genetic diseases themselves, are physically and emotionally healthy, and have an uncomplicated family history.

Future Dads are walked through the matching step of selecting egg donors very carefully. Intended parents are shown childhood and adult photographs of the donors, learn about their physical traits (eg., hair color, eye color, height, weight, and ethnic background), and are able to review essays and psychological assessments describing her personality and character traits. Sometimes couples provide their own donors, who may be a family member or friend.

Medically speaking, gestational carriers and surrogates are healthy, have had a prior uncomplicated pregnancy or pregnancies without any or too many prior Cesarean sections, and are of a healthy weight (BMI less than 30 kg/m2). They have also gone through rigorous psychological screenings and live in a stable and supportive home environment without many stressors. Lastly and very importantly all surrogates are required to have detailed legal clearances. Prior successful surrogates may be more experienced with uterine linings that are more predictable. However, first-time surrogates may be another good and slightly more affordable option.

Different states in the U.S. have different laws relating to surrogacy, so having capable professionals and surrogacy agencies involved ensures the safest and healthiest outcomes for the babies and future parent(s). Having legal professionals knowledgeable about different state laws helps to ensure that you will always be the legal parent. It’s important to know that surrogates, who come from all walks of life with different motivations and interests, share a common thread: to help those in need complete their family.