LGBTQ+ Family Building in Connecticut & New York

Often, yes. Both states have mandates requiring many fully insured plans to cover infertility diagnosis and treatment, and recent updates have widened the definition of infertility in ways that help LGBTQ+ patients.

Coverage still varies by plan, employer, and pathway, since IUI, IVF, and surrogacy are treated differently. Our financial coordinators run a free benefits check before you start so you know exactly what your plan covers.

• Intrauterine insemination (IUI) places donor sperm directly into the uterus around ovulation. It's less invasive, less expensive per cycle, and a common starting point.
• In vitro fertilization (IVF) retrieves eggs, fertilizes them with your partner's (or chosen donor's) sperm in our lab, and transferring a resulting embryo to the uterus.
• Reciprocal IVF (RIVF) is a version of IVF where one partner provides the eggs and the other carries the pregnancy, so both are biologically connected to the child.

Which pathway is right for you depends on age, fertility testing, insurance coverage and budget, and whether you want to share the experience with a partner. Your Illume Care Team will provide personalized guidance to help you make this decision.

It depends on the pathway.

IUI is the least expensive option, IVF and reciprocal IVF cost more, and surrogacy is typically the largest investment because it involves agency fees, gestational carrier compensation, legal work, and medical care.

We regularly publish detailed guides like this cost breakdown for moms-to-be and our surrogacy cost guide, and our financial coordinators always share a personalized estimate after your initial consultation with an Illume physician.

Yes. Egg and sperm freezing are both effective, and they're most straightforward when completed before starting gender-affirming hormone therapy or surgery.

If you're already on hormones, a temporary medically supervised pause, usually three to six months, can usually restore fertility long enough to retrieve and cryopreserve eggs or sperm.

We always coordinate with your prescribing provider so this pause stays as short and well supported as possible.

Yes. Some LGBTQ+ patients choose to use a known donor, a friend or family member, as their sperm or egg source. While many assume that using a known donor is more affordable, it's important to recognize that known donor cycles involve added legal and psychological steps to protect everyone involved, which can add to your total cost.

Our specialized Third Party Reproduction Team manages the process from start to finish.

For IUI, many patients are able to start their first treatment cycle within 4-8 weeks of the consult, depending on fertility testing and donor coordination.

IVF and reciprocal IVF usually take 8-12 weeks minimum before reaching embryo transfer (the final step), sometimes longer if you're banking embryos first.

Surrogacy journeys typically take longer because of egg donor and gestational carrier matching, legal contracts, and other factors, often 12-18 months or more.

Your Illume Care Team will walk you through a personalized timeline and provide updates throughout your journey.