Are you ready to start a family or want to grow your existing one? If so, Genea fertility clinics can help make your dreams a reality.
Approaching a fertility clinic for help starting a family is a big step for anyone. But if you’re an LGBTQIA+ person, there’s an extra layer of concern.
Will the clinic be accepting? Will they be supportive? Do they understand the needs of rainbow families and are they well-placed to meet them?
It’s something the team at Genea – one of Australia’s leading fertility clinics – understands.
“We know that accessing fertility care can feel daunting, especially if you’re worried about being judged or misunderstood,” says Dr Chandrika Parmar, a fertility specialist at Genea’s East Melbourne clinic – one of their 21 locations around Australia.
“At Genea, we’re committed to creating a space that feels safe and inclusive. That means no assumptions, no pressure and no one-size-fits-all approach,” says Dr Parmar.
“Our team is trained in inclusive care and we’re proud to support many patients from the LGBTQIA+ community in growing their families, their way. In addition, you have your own doctor and care team right throughout treatment,” she says.
“Understanding the importance of something like choosing a sperm donor and thinking beyond the first child is a conversation we often have with patients – for many, the biological connection between siblings is a key consideration,” Dr Parmar continues.
What Genea offers
Genea is a comprehensive, full-service fertility clinic, providing leading success rates.
It offers several services for same-sex female couples, including a sperm donor bank; intrauterine insemination (IUI), where donor sperm is placed directly into the uterus; in vitro fertilisation (IVF), which can be used if IUI is unsuccessful or if additional medical support is required; and reciprocal IVF – where one partner provides the eggs, while the other carries the pregnancy.
Services for men include male fertility testing and fertility surgery. Genea supports same-sex male couples wanting to start a family by helping them secure an egg donor and arranging surrogacy, which is legal in Australia.
Genea also helps single people who are pursuing parenthood independently or exploring fertility preservation options for the future, such as egg and sperm freezing.
Genetic counselling is a big part of the picture, with support provided each step of the way.
Genea’s genetic counselling team help patients understand the meaning of test results, identify potential genetic health risks, give information about conditions and inheritance patterns, provide emotional support and explain all the options available to clients.
Genea helps couples and single people become parents. Photo: supplied.Jenny’s story
That support has been integral to Jenny*, a lesbian mum who lives in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.
Jenny and her partner have two girls, both conceived using fertility treatments, with the Greek-Australian couple giving birth to one child each.
“Chandrika was my greatest cheerleader and my greatest ally,” Jenny says of Dr Parmar.
“She understood me as a queer person and she understood me as an ethnic person – and that was critical for me to have,” she tells QNews.
“To be honest, I had a challenging fertility process and pregnancy. You need the right doctor once you’re on medication and your brain and heart is doing different things, and your hormones are not helping you think rationally,” she says.
“You need someone supportive who’s really there to take care of you.”
Jenny says having kids has been the greatest experience of her life.
“There’s nothing better than seeing the two kids together and they just adore each other,” she says.
“Your heart doubles in size with each kid. My heart literally feels like it’s floating out of my chest. And I’m saying that as someone in the trenches juggling a job, with sick kids last week and dogs throwing up,” she chuckles.
“It’s chaos, but your heart is so full. Just this morning, the little one walked over to her sister, who was getting ready for school and just hugged her for no reason. There’s nothing like that,” Jenny says.
The joy is also felt by the team at Genea, with Dr Parmar telling QNews the experience of helping create a family is a very special one.
“There’s something truly moving about being part of someone’s path to parenthood, especially when that journey has come with challenges,” Dr Parmar says.
“Watching families grow, sometimes over years, is a reminder of why we do this work. I receive photos, messages and updates from patients long after they’ve moved on from requiring more care from us,” she reports.
“And every baby visit to the clinic is a joy, not just for me but for every single member of the team. These moments mean everything and we all have baby photos hanging in our office.”
“Watching families grow … is a reminder of why we do this work,” says Dr Chandrika Parmar, pictured. Photo: supplied.Accessing help
For couples thinking of starting a family with Genea’s help, the first step is usually an informal chat.
“Don’t be afraid to come in for a chat, even if you’re not ready to take action,” Dr Parmar advises.
While there’s sometimes a fear that a consultation will turn into pressure to start treatment right away, Dr Parmar says that at Genea, it’s always a conversation, never a directive.
“We’re here to help you navigate your options, understand your choices and figure out what feels right for your life,” she says.
“Everyone deserves the opportunity to explore parenthood in a way that’s respectful, inclusive and informed.”
Jenny agrees, encouraging anyone interested in becoming a parent to reach out.
“What’s great now is there’s so much reputable information written by the community, for the community, about how to start a rainbow family,” says Jenny.
“There’s great research and resources available for you.”
To that end, Genea proudly partners with Rainbow Families, the organisation dedicated to supporting LGBTQIA+ parents and their children.
Rainbow Families offers services such as antenatal classes, social events and advocacy to ensure LGBTQIA+ families feel seen, heard and respected.
“If you’ve ever thought about starting a family, my advice would be just reach out and take the first step,” says Jenny.
“That’s how it started for us – and we’re so glad we took that first step because look at us now.
“We’ve got so much love in our life now, it’s incredible!”
Earlier this month, the federal health department accepted an expanded definition of infertility that would allow LGBTQIA+ couples and single people to be able to access Medicare rebates for assisted reproductive technology, including IUI and IVF.
Previously, rebates were generally only available once a medical cause of infertility was diagnosed. The Medicare eligibility expansion came into effect immediately.
If you’re considering starting a family or want to expand yours, book a consult with a Genea fertility specialist today at genea.com.au or phone 1300 361 795.
* Name has been changed for privacy reasons.
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