Next to cells, hormones are the other important biological components necessary for life. The most crucial for men is testosterone. It is produced by the body starting from about seven weeks after birth and peaks during adolescence. It is responsible for muscle growth, bone development, healthy skin and production of red blood cells. Male attributes…
Mother’s Day and Father’s Day can be a little complicated in same sex parent households. Here, our contributors talk a little bit about what the holiday means to them – the good, the bad, and everything in between. This Sunday, in addition to honoring our own moms, my partner and I will be toasting to…
Many gay and lesbian families, such as gay men who are embarking on the surrogacy process or lesbians who would like to both be biologically connected to their baby, will begin their process by consulting a fertility center that performs assisted reproduction technology (ART). Others, such as lesbian couples, may try at-home insemination with no luck or…
While it’s important to “go local” for other resources on this site, such as doctors, midwives, and lawyers, most lesbian mothers tend to widen their search for sperm banks, simply to consider a wider variety of options. Certain sperm banks may offer more “open-donor” selection, for example, or may cater to gay and lesbian families specifically…
See how top sperm banks for lesbian couples stack up. It’s a bit awkward to shop for sperm, but once you start the process, the options can be overwhelming, time consuming, and a little confusing. Sorting through sperm bank sites to figure out what they offer, and at what cost, and how they compare to…
Cost of Sperm The price of sperm varies depending on the sperm bank you use, what procedure you are planning to use the sperm for, and whether you would like sperm from an open donor or anonymous donor. Sample sperm costs from a sperm bank include: Open Donor Sperm IUI: $500-$700 per vial ICI: $400-$600…
It is a good day for my family and many other same-sex couples across America. Today the Supreme Court ruled the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) unconstitutional and overturned the 17-year old law that banned same-sex couples from receiving federal benefits and otherwise being recognized under federal law. Thirteen states and the District of Columbia…
I was talking with a neighbor the other day while my son played in the common space. He asked me if I thought we would be in North Carolina for the long haul. I replied that the politics of the state are really hard for my family so I don’t how long it makes sense…
So our son will soon be two and I was recently asked why I have never written about his birthday. Not the cake filled, balloon type of birthday, but his actual day of birth. Sure, I have written many pieces leading up to his birth – the meeting of the birth mom, learning to navigate…
Every night my partner and I sit down with our 9-month old daughter, Ava and read her three bedtime stories. The first two vary nightly, but we always end with the same one: “Mommy, Mama and Me.” It is short, cute, and ends with “Mommy and Mama kiss me goodnight” which of course we follow…