Single Parenting

Being a single person doesn’t have to be a barrier to parenthood. If you’re single and wish to have a child, visit Jie Deng, MD, PhD, HCLD, FACOG, and her colleagues at Think Fertility in Bellevue, Washington. They offer assisted reproduction options to suit everyone, using the most advanced techniques and technologies. Call Think Fertility to request an appointment or complete the online booking form today.

Why might I consider single parenting?

Single parenting may be a choice for some people when they don’t have a partner, don’t want a partner or a beloved partner passes away.

The decision to take on the challenge of single parenting is a uniquely personal choice and one that should never be taken lightly. However, if you prepare well and have the financial, emotional, and practical support needed to raise a child, you can enjoy parenthood without needing a partner.

How do I conceive a child as a single parent?

Women seeking single parenthood have several choices, including:

Intrauterine insemination (IUI)

IUI is the primary treatment for single women wanting to start a family. It involves injecting prepared sperm into the uterus.

Medication IUI involves taking oral drugs early in your menstrual cycle to stimulate egg growth, followed by an injection to trigger ovulation. Injectable IUI requires low-dose injected medication to produce additional eggs, while natural cycle IUI is a medication-free option.

Donor eggs

If fertility is an issue, you could use fresh or frozen donor eggs and fertilize them with donor sperm using in vitro fertilization (IVF). Some women choose to freeze their eggs when young in case they need them in later life. Egg freezing is a great option if you’re not ready for a family but want a better chance of having a baby in the future.

Donor embryos

IVF often produces spare embryos that some parents generously donate.

Gestational carrier

If you can’t carry a child yourself, you could use a gestational carrier — a woman who bears the child and then gives it to you after the birth. Surrogacy is the only viable option for single men wishing to have a child using their own sperm.

How do I get started with single parenting?

Before you consider single parenting, visit Think Fertility for comprehensive fertility testing. That way, you can find out if there are any barriers to pregnancy, such as:

• Low ovarian reserve (few eggs)
• Irregular ovulation
• Lack of follicles on your ovaries 
• Sex hormone imbalances
• Uterine lining disorders
• Blocked fallopian tubes
• Uterine fibroids
• Thyroid or other hormone disorders
• Genetic conditions

Men’s tests involve a sperm count and sperm quality assessment to determine fertility.

Once you know what issues you face, your Think Fertility provider discusses the options so you can make an informed choice before proceeding with single parenting.

Call Think Fertility or schedule a consultation online today if you’re considering single parenthood.