Single parenthood by choice
RCA helps single intended parents understand donor options, fertility testing, treatment choices, timing, and the support network that can make the path feel manageable.
Fertility paths · Single parenthood by choice
For women building a family on their own, the starting point is an individual evaluation of your health, fertility and goals. Explore six connected options at your own pace.
Your history.
Your goals.
Your timeline.
Donor sperm
Donor sperm can be used for IUI, IVF or embryo freezing. Your care team helps you review sperm-bank or known-donor options, screening, genetic compatibility, counseling and the practical steps before treatment.
Explore donor sperm planning ↗Egg or embryo freezing
Egg freezing preserves eggs at the age they are retrieved. Embryo freezing adds fertilization with donor sperm before storage. Your age, expected response and goals guide the discussion.
Explore fertility preservation ↗IUI with donor sperm
Prepared donor sperm is placed in the uterus around ovulation, with or without medication. Tubal patency, ovulation, age and the broader evaluation help determine whether IUI is suitable.
Explore IUI ↗IVF with your own eggs
Eggs are retrieved and fertilized with donor sperm. A resulting embryo may be transferred or frozen. IVF may be discussed for tubal factors, prior treatment outcomes or other individual considerations.
Explore IVF ↗Donor eggs or embryos
Donor eggs are fertilized with sperm in the laboratory before a resulting embryo is transferred. With donated embryos, an existing embryo is transferred after preparation. Screening, counseling and legal considerations differ between these routes.
Explore egg donation ↗Gestational carrier
A gestational carrier may carry an embryo created through IVF when a medical condition prevents or makes pregnancy unsafe. Medical, psychological and legal evaluation are part of planning. This can accompany an own-egg, donor-egg or donated-embryo route.
Explore gestational carriers ↗Donor sperm is a choice that connects to several treatment paths. These options can overlap: a gestational carrier, for example, can be part of an IVF or donor-embryo plan. Suitability is individualized; no treatment guarantees a future pregnancy.
Donor sperm · Your choice, supported
Donor sperm can be part of IUI, IVF or embryo freezing. Choosing a donor and choosing a treatment are connected decisions, guided by your evaluation and goals.
Discuss sperm-bank and known-donor options, donor information and your preferences with the care team.
Review medical and infectious-disease screening, genetic carrier screening compatibility and any additional evaluation needed.
Counseling can help you consider donor conception and future disclosure. Discuss applicable legal steps, especially with a known donor.
Confirm the appropriate sperm preparation, supply, delivery and storage with your clinic before purchase or treatment.
Bank and known-donor arrangements have different requirements. Your team explains what applies to your plan.
Explore IUI ↗ · Explore IVF ↗ · Explore embryo freezing ↗
Discuss donor sperm →Preservation · Planning ahead
Egg freezing and embryo freezing share the early steps. Choosing donor sperm and fertilization are additional decisions when freezing embryos.
Review your history, age, ovarian reserve, ultrasound findings and personal timeline.
Injectable medication and monitoring help a group of eggs mature. The duration and schedule vary.
Eggs are collected during an outpatient procedure, usually with sedation.
Eggs are vitrified, or fertilized with donor sperm before suitable embryos are frozen and stored.
More than one cycle may be discussed depending on age, response and your goals. Frozen eggs or embryos do not guarantee pregnancy; future use involves additional treatment and costs.
Explore preservation in more detail ↗Conceiving now · Donor conception
Donor sperm may come from a screened bank or a known donor. Screening, counseling and applicable legal steps are reviewed before treatment.
Prepared sperm is placed in the uterus near ovulation.
Often discussed when ovulation and at least one open fallopian tube support this approach. Your clinician considers age and the full evaluation.
Egg retrieval and fertilization take place before embryo transfer.
May be discussed for a tubal factor, earlier treatment outcomes, or an individualized need for IVF. Low ovarian reserve alone does not decide the route.
Embryos are transferred after the uterus is prepared.
May be considered when using your own eggs is unlikely to meet your goals, or as a personal family-building choice. Availability and requirements vary.
Additional choices · Connected support
Your consultation connects medical options with donor decisions, practical planning and the support you want.
Discuss your path →Educational references: ASRM donor conception · ASRM PGT-A guidance
Review bank or known-donor options, infectious-disease screening, genetic carrier screening compatibility and counseling. Legal questions are addressed before treatment.
Discuss whether a carrier is medically appropriate, how embryos will be created, and the screening, counseling and legal steps.
Testing requires embryos created through IVF. Discuss the type of test, potential benefits and limits; PGT-A is not routinely recommended for everyone.
Plan appointments, medication help, transportation, costs and the people you want involved. Counseling can support donor-conception and family-building decisions.
Clear coordination
A dedicated care plan can bring the medical, donor, financial, counseling, and scheduling pieces into one sequence.
When donor eggs are part of the plan, visit RCA Egg Donation for the connected donor and intended-parent experience.
