There are a number of resources available to help you cope with infertility issues. There is a wealth of information on the web. Our fertility specialists can help direct you to reliable sources of information about infertility.
Founded in 1974, Resolve New England is a patient advocacy organization that provides support and education to couples undergoing infertility evaluation and treatment.
At the Center for Infertility and Reproductive Surgery, we offer a wide array of resources for patients in the LGBTQ community. These include:
For same sex male couples trying to conceive, or female couples who are unable to use their own eggs, we work with the following programs:
Contact Information:
Physician Assistant: Allison Ruhe, (617) 732-4863
Administrative Assistant: Aimee Barona, (617) 732-7907
For same sex female couples trying to conceive we work with the following sperm banks:
Contact Information:
New Patient Coordinator, (617) 732-4222, option 1
While the majority of patients in our Fertility Preservation program are pre- or post-cancer treatment, our Program has a growing number of patients who desire to bank their sperm or freeze their eggs before they begin the transitioning process.
Contact Information:
Coordinating Registered Nurse: Tricia Kennedy, (617) 732-5680
Coordinator: (617) 732-4222, option 1
Adoption is a reasonable option for single individuals or couples who have been unsuccessful with or do not wish to undergo fertility treatments. There are many issues for the prospective parents to consider: the age, ethnicity, or race of the child they wish to adopt, domestic vs. foreign adoption, and whether the couple would be willing to adopt a child with special needs. Many couples find consultation with an adoption counselor to be very helpful in sorting through all the options. The costs of adoption are high, approximately $30,000, for either domestic or foreign adoption, and are not covered by insurance. Costs are less for adoption of children with special needs. RESOLVE New England has a list of adoption resources you may find helpful.
Domestic adoption can be either public (through the Department of Social Services) or private (through an agency or lawyer). Most private domestic adoptions in this state are semi-open, meaning that couples will have some contact with the birth family before the birth and sometimes afterwards. The advantage of domestic adoption is that babies are very young, often right out of the hospital. Disadvantages include the expense and another level of uncertainty around waiting and being "matched" with a birthmother.
Many organizations both in Massachusetts and nationwide help families adopt children from other countries. The children are slightly older in most cases, but are legally (in most countries) considered orphaned or abandoned, so some adoptive parents find this more "certain." The international adoption process varies markedly by country, so it is essential to work with a good agency that can help negotiate the systems both in this country and in the country of adoption. Children of all ages and races are available from many different countries, most commonly in Asia, Latin America, and the former Soviet Union.
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