Dr. Geoffrey Sher on May 30, 2021 at 3:54 pm

Absolutely we are open. And you should know that I have a very large Same-Sex clientele.

Gay, lesbian, or transgender individuals experience the same fears as any individual in the world. One of these is trepidation that they might not be able to have children. In the United States of America, same-sex marriage has been legal nationwide since June 26, 2015, when the United States Supreme Court ruled that state-level bans on same-sex marriage are unconstitutional. Same sex couples now have equal right as do straight couples and do not have to fear discrimination based on their gender. Reproductive medicine is for everybody’s benefit, and should not be restricted to heterosexuals.

I have been treating infertile couples for more than three decades, having been involved in the genesis of in vitro fertilization in the US virtually from its inception. During this time, I have helped hundreds of same sex couples go from infertility to family. With very few exceptions, the medical challenges faced by such couples and the family relationships that emerged and evolved following the births of children, have hardly differed from that which affects heterosexual couples undergoing the same treatment. Many of these babies are now adults providing a real life opportunity to observe some of them as they confronted life’s challenges. Based on this experience, it is my opinion that the fact that they were born to same sex couples did not disadvantaged any of them. Furthermore, the commitment made by these same sex parents to one another and to the raising of their offspring seems to me to have been no different than in the case of sexually differing parents. I have concluded that in spite of the enormous pressures imposed on same sex couples by an often bigoted society these couples, recognize their responsibility to maintain a cohesive relationship for the well being of their offspring. Let’s face while there are indeed many enlightened people who are willing to embrace same sex families, the majority of our society is so caught up in confusion caused by entrenched religious and moral ideologies that they are not ready for this. Granted, the preservation of stable, monogamous relationships in same sex couples is subject to more pressure and scrutiny. Yet, once cemented by a profound decision to have a child together, the chance of them falling apart appears to be no greater than for heterosexual partnerships.
There are many options available to same sex couples seeking parenthood.
For female couples: In the case of female couples, the simplest approach is to undergo artificial insemination (IUI) with donor sperm. However in some cases the matter is complicated by the existence of infertility that cannot be adequately addressed through IUI with donor sperm, thus necessitating in vitro fertilization. Regardless of the approach to treatment, stringent FDA guidelines require that all sperm donors whether anonymous or known or recruited from a licensed sperm bank or independently r be tested for potentially lethal transmittable viral infections (e.g. HIV) at the time of producing the specimen and that the sperm specimen then be freeze/stored for several months at which time the sperm provider be retested before the sperm is dispatched for IUI or IVF. Once embryos are generated with donated sperm either female partner will choose to bear the child. Often times, both female partners may wish to share in the biological contribution of a pregnancy where one partner will produce the eggs necessary to be fertilized with donor sperm and the embryos will be transferred to the prepared uterus of the other partner. In some cases the couple will elect to use a gestational carrier (surrogate mother)
For male couples: Ever since the Baby M case more than 2 decades ago where a gestational carrier, who conceived after being inseminated with the sperm of the intended male partner (classical surrogacy), sued for custody and won, we have strongly advocated against the use of IUI and in favor of IVF using donated eggs and thereupon a surrogate in whose uterus the embryo(s) are implanted. In fact, in my practice I confine gestational surrogacy to situations where the carrier has no genetic link to the offspring (gestational surrogacy). Simply stated, I only conduct surrogacy when the egg provider and the carrier are different individuals. This mandates the use of in vitro fertilization rather than artificial/intrauterine insemination (IUI). Surrogacy is surrounded by legal issues, and thus a formal legal arrangement should be sought in order to prevent any future complications and can provide peace of mind. For male same sex couples, the sperm provider needs to be tested among other things for certain viral infections (including HIV, Hepatitis B and C) and the specimen must be held in quarantine for several months before being used.
In Summary: Aside from the effects of social and political pressures, same sex couples experience the same concerns as those in any other relationship. They wonder what the future holds and whether they will be able to fulfill their desire to have children and accomplish the dream of building a family. While at times this may all seem quite overwhelming, in today’s age it is easier than ever for them to experience the joy of parenthood. There is no evidence that there is any harm to anybody from same sex couples having a child. Children need to be brought up in a loving, caring environment and it is the loving care that is most important, not the sexuality of the parent.

Please visit my new Blog on this very site, www. SherIVF.com, find the “search bar” and type in the titles of any/all of the articles listed below, one by one. “Click” and you will immediately be taken to those you select. Please also take the time to post any questions or comments with the full expectation that I will (as always) respond promptly

•Controlled Ovarian Stimulation (COS) for IVF: Selecting the ideal protocol
•IVF: Factors Affecting Egg/Embryo “competency” during Controlled Ovarian Stimulation(COS)
•The Fundamental Requirements For Achieving Optimal IVF Success
•Ovarian Stimulation for IVF using GnRH Antagonists: Comparing the Agonist/Antagonist Conversion Protocol.(A/ACP) With the “Conventional” Antagonist Approach
•Anti Mullerian Hormone (AMH) Measurement to Assess Ovarian Reserve and Design the Optimal Protocol for Controlled Ovarian Stimulation (COS) in IVF.
•The “Biological Clock” and how it should Influence the Selection and Design of Ovarian Stimulation Protocols for IVF.
• A Rational Basis for selecting Controlled Ovarian Stimulation (COS) protocols in women with Diminished Ovarian Reserve (DOR)
•Diagnosing and Treating Infertility due to Diminished Ovarian Reserve (DOR)
•Controlled Ovarian Stimulation (COS) in Older women and Women who have Diminished Ovarian Reserve (DOR): A Rational Basis for Selecting a Stimulation Protocol
•Human Growth Hormone Administration in IVF: Does it Enhances Egg/Embryo Quality and Outcome?
•The BCP: Does Launching a Cycle of Controlled Ovarian Stimulation (COS). Coming off the BCP Compromise Response?
•Blastocyst Embryo Transfers Should be the Standard of Care in IVF
•Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET) versus “Fresh” ET: How to Make the Decision
•Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET): A Rational Approach to Hormonal Preparation and How new Methodology is Impacting IVF.
•Staggered IVF: An Excellent Option When. Advancing Age and Diminished Ovarian Reserve (DOR) Reduces IVF Success Rate
•Embryo Banking/Stockpiling: Slows the “Biological Clock” and offers a Selective Alternative to IVF-Egg Donation.
•Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGS) in IVF: It Should be Used Selectively and NOT be Routine.
•Preimplantation Genetic Sampling (PGS) Using: Next Generation Gene Sequencing (NGS): Method of Choice.
•PGS in IVF: Are Some Chromosomally Abnormal Embryos Capable of Resulting in Normal Babies and Being Wrongly Discarded?
•PGS and Assessment of Egg/Embryo “competency”: How Method, Timing and Methodology Could Affect Reliability
•Treating Out-of-State and Out-of-Country Patients at Sher-IVF in Las Vegas:
•Traveling for IVF from Out of State/Country–
•A personalized, stepwise approach to IVF
•How Many Embryos should be transferred: A Critical Decision in IVF.
•The Role of Nutritional Supplements in Preparing for IVF
•Premature Luteinization (“the premature LH surge): Why it happens and how it can be prevented.
•IVF Egg Donation: A Comprehensive Overview

___________________________________________________
ADDENDUM: PLEASE READ!!
INTRODUCING SHER FERTILITY SOLUTIONS (SFS)
Founded in April 2019, Sher Fertility Solutions (SFS) offers online (Skype/FaceTime) consultations to patients from > 40 different countries. All consultations are followed by a detailed written report presenting my personal recommendations for treatment of what often constitute complex Reproductive Issues.

If you wish to schedule an online consultation with me, please contact my assistant (Patti Converse) by phone (800-780-7437/702-533-2691), email (concierge@SherIVF.com) or, enroll online on then home-page of my website (www.SherIVF.com).

PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT SFS!

Geoff Sher

19,771 Comments

← Older Comments

Newer Comments →

Lauren on June 3, 2021 at 11:17 pm

Hi there,

I did a fresh transfer, tested pos, an 3 weeks pregnant. HCG rising appropriately, progesterone >600. Should I be concerned this pregnancy isn’t viable? I’ve been injecting myself with progesterone since before the transfer of course and will continue until my first OB scan at week 5. Waiting to hear from my physician but worried I won’t be able to sleep tonight. I’ve been researching for some sense that progesterone that high is normal with IVF protocol but I’ve found nothing. Please advise.
- Dr. Geoffrey Sher on June 4, 2021 at 2:49 pm
  
  I would not be unduly concerned!
  
  Good luck!
  
  Geoff Sher
Lacy on June 3, 2021 at 4:53 pm

Hi Dr
First day of last period 04/30
1st hcg on 05/27 :350
2nd hcg on 05/29 : 1126
Is this normal to have such a high hcg in just a month from last period?
Please help I am anxious.
- Dr. Geoffrey Sher on June 3, 2021 at 7:10 pm
  
  Looks promising. Might even e twins??
  
  Good luck!
  
  Geoff Sher
Tammy on June 2, 2021 at 12:23 pm

Hi Dr. Sher. This is Tammy again. Sorry for all the questions! 🙂

I know you mentioned possible ectopic, but wanted to give you some more information.
I have PCOS and have no idea when my last cycle was so the guess on how far along I am is based on the size of the gestational sac.

Beta hcg Levels
5/23 – 4,000
5/28 – 13,673
6/1 – 23,706

Vaginal Ultrasounds:
5/23: gestational sac measuring 5 week 4 day (sac diam3: 1.06cm, mean sac dam .91cm).
5/28: gestational sac measuring 6 week 2 day (not sure the diameter)

At the 5/28 ultrasound they said I more than likely miscarried because they are not seeing a yolk sac, so my hcg levels will start going down, but they keep going up.

Could I be not as far along as my gestational sac (in uterus) is measuring?
- Dr. Geoffrey Sher on June 2, 2021 at 2:24 pm
  
  Only a repeat US in about 1-2 weeks will be able to tell with reliability!
  
  Geoff Sher
Joy on May 30, 2021 at 6:32 pm

Hi doc!

I am 5 weeks and 4 days based on my chart. My 1st hcg was 23600 then after 48 hours was 37200. What is your thoughts about this? I have a mild dull pain on my left pelvic area its been 6 days now. Thank you
- Dr. Geoffrey Sher on May 30, 2021 at 11:08 pm
  
  Have an US in 1 week for a definitive answer.
  
  Good luck!
  
  Geoff Sher
Anecia on May 30, 2021 at 1:36 pm

I would like to know if your office is open for new client? I am looking for IUI or IVF insemination to become a parent. I am a single lesbian female, 41 years of age, I have been wanting a child since I was 35 years old but my Primary doctor was concern about my diabetes so he never moved forward. I have taken tests and I have no obstacles that will prevent me in coming pregnant.
- Dr. Geoffrey Sher on May 30, 2021 at 3:54 pm
  
  Absolutely we are open. And you should know that I have a very large Same-Sex clientele.
  
  Gay, lesbian, or transgender individuals experience the same fears as any individual in the world. One of these is trepidation that they might not be able to have children. In the United States of America, same-sex marriage has been legal nationwide since June 26, 2015, when the United States Supreme Court ruled that state-level bans on same-sex marriage are unconstitutional. Same sex couples now have equal right as do straight couples and do not have to fear discrimination based on their gender. Reproductive medicine is for everybody’s benefit, and should not be restricted to heterosexuals.
  
  I have been treating infertile couples for more than three decades, having been involved in the genesis of in vitro fertilization in the US virtually from its inception. During this time, I have helped hundreds of same sex couples go from infertility to family. With very few exceptions, the medical challenges faced by such couples and the family relationships that emerged and evolved following the births of children, have hardly differed from that which affects heterosexual couples undergoing the same treatment. Many of these babies are now adults providing a real life opportunity to observe some of them as they confronted life’s challenges. Based on this experience, it is my opinion that the fact that they were born to same sex couples did not disadvantaged any of them. Furthermore, the commitment made by these same sex parents to one another and to the raising of their offspring seems to me to have been no different than in the case of sexually differing parents. I have concluded that in spite of the enormous pressures imposed on same sex couples by an often bigoted society these couples, recognize their responsibility to maintain a cohesive relationship for the well being of their offspring. Let’s face while there are indeed many enlightened people who are willing to embrace same sex families, the majority of our society is so caught up in confusion caused by entrenched religious and moral ideologies that they are not ready for this. Granted, the preservation of stable, monogamous relationships in same sex couples is subject to more pressure and scrutiny. Yet, once cemented by a profound decision to have a child together, the chance of them falling apart appears to be no greater than for heterosexual partnerships.
  There are many options available to same sex couples seeking parenthood.
  For female couples: In the case of female couples, the simplest approach is to undergo artificial insemination (IUI) with donor sperm. However in some cases the matter is complicated by the existence of infertility that cannot be adequately addressed through IUI with donor sperm, thus necessitating in vitro fertilization. Regardless of the approach to treatment, stringent FDA guidelines require that all sperm donors whether anonymous or known or recruited from a licensed sperm bank or independently r be tested for potentially lethal transmittable viral infections (e.g. HIV) at the time of producing the specimen and that the sperm specimen then be freeze/stored for several months at which time the sperm provider be retested before the sperm is dispatched for IUI or IVF. Once embryos are generated with donated sperm either female partner will choose to bear the child. Often times, both female partners may wish to share in the biological contribution of a pregnancy where one partner will produce the eggs necessary to be fertilized with donor sperm and the embryos will be transferred to the prepared uterus of the other partner. In some cases the couple will elect to use a gestational carrier (surrogate mother)
  For male couples: Ever since the Baby M case more than 2 decades ago where a gestational carrier, who conceived after being inseminated with the sperm of the intended male partner (classical surrogacy), sued for custody and won, we have strongly advocated against the use of IUI and in favor of IVF using donated eggs and thereupon a surrogate in whose uterus the embryo(s) are implanted. In fact, in my practice I confine gestational surrogacy to situations where the carrier has no genetic link to the offspring (gestational surrogacy). Simply stated, I only conduct surrogacy when the egg provider and the carrier are different individuals. This mandates the use of in vitro fertilization rather than artificial/intrauterine insemination (IUI). Surrogacy is surrounded by legal issues, and thus a formal legal arrangement should be sought in order to prevent any future complications and can provide peace of mind. For male same sex couples, the sperm provider needs to be tested among other things for certain viral infections (including HIV, Hepatitis B and C) and the specimen must be held in quarantine for several months before being used.
  In Summary: Aside from the effects of social and political pressures, same sex couples experience the same concerns as those in any other relationship. They wonder what the future holds and whether they will be able to fulfill their desire to have children and accomplish the dream of building a family. While at times this may all seem quite overwhelming, in today’s age it is easier than ever for them to experience the joy of parenthood. There is no evidence that there is any harm to anybody from same sex couples having a child. Children need to be brought up in a loving, caring environment and it is the loving care that is most important, not the sexuality of the parent.
  
  Please visit my new Blog on this very site, www. SherIVF.com, find the “search bar” and type in the titles of any/all of the articles listed below, one by one. “Click” and you will immediately be taken to those you select. Please also take the time to post any questions or comments with the full expectation that I will (as always) respond promptly
  
  •Controlled Ovarian Stimulation (COS) for IVF: Selecting the ideal protocol
  •IVF: Factors Affecting Egg/Embryo “competency” during Controlled Ovarian Stimulation(COS)
  •The Fundamental Requirements For Achieving Optimal IVF Success
  •Ovarian Stimulation for IVF using GnRH Antagonists: Comparing the Agonist/Antagonist Conversion Protocol.(A/ACP) With the “Conventional” Antagonist Approach
  •Anti Mullerian Hormone (AMH) Measurement to Assess Ovarian Reserve and Design the Optimal Protocol for Controlled Ovarian Stimulation (COS) in IVF.
  •The “Biological Clock” and how it should Influence the Selection and Design of Ovarian Stimulation Protocols for IVF.
  • A Rational Basis for selecting Controlled Ovarian Stimulation (COS) protocols in women with Diminished Ovarian Reserve (DOR)
  •Diagnosing and Treating Infertility due to Diminished Ovarian Reserve (DOR)
  •Controlled Ovarian Stimulation (COS) in Older women and Women who have Diminished Ovarian Reserve (DOR): A Rational Basis for Selecting a Stimulation Protocol
  •Human Growth Hormone Administration in IVF: Does it Enhances Egg/Embryo Quality and Outcome?
  •The BCP: Does Launching a Cycle of Controlled Ovarian Stimulation (COS). Coming off the BCP Compromise Response?
  •Blastocyst Embryo Transfers Should be the Standard of Care in IVF
  •Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET) versus “Fresh” ET: How to Make the Decision
  •Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET): A Rational Approach to Hormonal Preparation and How new Methodology is Impacting IVF.
  •Staggered IVF: An Excellent Option When. Advancing Age and Diminished Ovarian Reserve (DOR) Reduces IVF Success Rate
  •Embryo Banking/Stockpiling: Slows the “Biological Clock” and offers a Selective Alternative to IVF-Egg Donation.
  •Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGS) in IVF: It Should be Used Selectively and NOT be Routine.
  •Preimplantation Genetic Sampling (PGS) Using: Next Generation Gene Sequencing (NGS): Method of Choice.
  •PGS in IVF: Are Some Chromosomally Abnormal Embryos Capable of Resulting in Normal Babies and Being Wrongly Discarded?
  •PGS and Assessment of Egg/Embryo “competency”: How Method, Timing and Methodology Could Affect Reliability
  •Treating Out-of-State and Out-of-Country Patients at Sher-IVF in Las Vegas:
  •Traveling for IVF from Out of State/Country–
  •A personalized, stepwise approach to IVF
  •How Many Embryos should be transferred: A Critical Decision in IVF.
  •The Role of Nutritional Supplements in Preparing for IVF
  •Premature Luteinization (“the premature LH surge): Why it happens and how it can be prevented.
  •IVF Egg Donation: A Comprehensive Overview
  
  ___________________________________________________
  ADDENDUM: PLEASE READ!!
  INTRODUCING SHER FERTILITY SOLUTIONS (SFS)
  Founded in April 2019, Sher Fertility Solutions (SFS) offers online (Skype/FaceTime) consultations to patients from > 40 different countries. All consultations are followed by a detailed written report presenting my personal recommendations for treatment of what often constitute complex Reproductive Issues.
  
  If you wish to schedule an online consultation with me, please contact my assistant (Patti Converse) by phone (800-780-7437/702-533-2691), email (concierge@SherIVF.com) or, enroll online on then home-page of my website (www.SherIVF.com).
  
  PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT SFS!
  
  Geoff Sher

Ask Our Doctors – Archive

19,771 Comments

Join Our Fertility Focus Family!

Begin Your Fertility Journey

Contact

Connect