Until recently, fertility services for gay men were lacking as most clinics only provided services to women including lesbian couples. But that is slowly changing across the country — and specifically in Minnesota. Locally, there is a clinic that as recently as two years ago was electing to not provide reproductive services to gay men. They would provide services to single individuals and lesbian couples however. So what changed?

In early October, the Ethics Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) released an opinion on infertility treatment provided to single individuals, lesbians and gay men (either coupled or single).

The ethics committee of ASMR issued the statement which called the practice of discrimination against single individuals, gays and lesbians unacceptable. Further, in order to be compliant with terms of membership to the ASRM, fertility providers and clinics must adhere to the published guidelines.

Locally, the Reproductive Medicine and Infertility Associates, a clinic specializing in infertility and reproductive medicine both in Minnesota and in Wisconsin states the following on its website:

“The research mission of Reproductive Medicine and Infertility Associates (RMIA) is to conduct research in reproduction that incorporates scientific discovery with patient care to maximize pregnancy outcome in women wishing to conceive.”

Dr. Jacques Stassart, who specializes in obstetrics and gynecology at RMIA, has been the director of the In Vitro Fertilization Program since 1999. Dr. Stassart completed his residency at Columbia University, also in New York in 1981. He sub-specialized in reproductive medicine from 1990 to 1992, which he has been practicing since.

Responding to the question of whether RMIA only served women, Stassart stated, “Reproductive medicine is a sub-specialty of the OB GYN specialty, so we treat women. Male Infertility is treated by urologists that sub-specialize in male infertility — it is also a two to three year fellowship after residency… However, in practice, most forms of male infertility wind up being treated through IVF [in-vitro fertilization] with ICSI [intracytoplasmic sperm injection].”

In part, because of the decision made by ASRM ethics committee instructing members of the ASRM not to discriminate against single individuals, unmarried heterosexual couples, and gay and lesbian couples, RMIA has now adopted a new stance on the individuals they will serve.

Stassart identified that as recently as two years ago, RMIA’s standard practice was to provide services to serve lesbian women but but not gay male individuals and couples. But that has shifted recently, even before the decision by ASRM.

“We‘ve been treating single and lesbian women with donor insemination and, sometimes, with IVF (using donor sperm) since I started RMIA in 1999… On occasions, we’ve used the eggs from one woman, and transferred the fertilized eggs (or embryos) to the other one,” said Stassart. “Over the years, we’ve had the occasional inquiry from gay couples, and, after group discussions, RMIA would decline.”

Stassart added, “I was able to change that approach about two years ago, and we’ve since have been approached by a Green Bay couple. Treatment was initiated about six months ago (they used an egg donor AND a gestational carrier, and provided the sperm), but haven’t been successful yet (only one completed attempt).”

Would a single gay male now would be likely to receive clinic services should they choose RMIA? Stassart said “He would be evaluated just like a single woman.”

Change is incremental and continues to move toward full acceptance of GLBT individuals in all areas of life, including fertility. Over the years the assertion made by those who oppose reproduction by single persons or gay or lesbian couples out of concern for the welfare of the child is that the best rearing environment for a child is a two-person, married, heterosexual family.

But the authoritative voice in fertility disagrees. In its October announcement, the ASRM wrote: “The ethical debate over whether a program may —or must— assist single women and men as well as gay and lesbian couples to have children depends on the balance among three important values. The first is the reproductive interest of unmarried and gay and lesbian persons. The second is the protection of the welfare of offspring. The third is whether professional autonomy, combined with prevailing law, provides a limit on the duty not to discriminate on the basis of marital status or sexual orientation.”

It continued, “As a matter of ethics, we believe that the ethical duty to treat persons with equal respect requires that fertility programs treat single persons and gay and lesbian couples equally to heterosexual married couples in determining which services to provide. Other professional organizations have expressed support for nondiscriminatory access to assisted reproduction, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists…”

Thanks to the actions of the ASRM and RMIA, this is no longer reflected in their standard of care. In fact, the ASRM statement says, “There is no persuasive evidence that children are harmed or disadvantaged solely by being raised by single parents, unmarried parents, or gay and lesbian parents.”

For further information about the services provided locally by RMIA go to rmia.com.

Editor’s note: In the interest of full disclosure, this article was written as part of an agreement between Keith Pederson and RTIA as part of sponsorship for an upcoming event, Twin Cities’ Got Talent, being organized by Pederson. The editors of TheColu.mn, with the exception of Pederson, were not involved in that agreement.