Other ways to become a parent
If you decide you want to be a parent someday, but you can’t have biological children or if you don’t want to use your frozen eggs, sperm, or tissue, there are other ways you can become a parent.
Use donated eggs, sperm, or embryos
Finding a donor
Doctors can use an assisted reproductive technology, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) to help make a pregnancy happen with a donor egg, sperm, or embryo.
In IVF, they would:
Using assisted reproductive technology
Combine eggs with sperm in a lab to fertilize them. If the eggs are fertilized, they become embryos. The eggs and sperm can come from you, your partner, or a donor.
Transfer one or more embryos to your or another person's uterus (where babies grow).
Using donated eggs, sperm, or embryos (eggs that were fertilized with sperm) may allow you or someone else to carry a pregnancy for you.
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Ask your fertility specialist about using donated eggs, sperm, or embryos.
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Learn more
If you choose to use eggs, sperm, or embryos from a donor, you could:
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Pay a fee to an egg or sperm bank or donor agency.
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Ask a family member or friend if they will donate an egg, sperm, or embryos.
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Use a gestational carrier to carry the pregnancy
If you or your partner aren’t able to carry a pregnancy, you could use a gestational carrier (also called a surrogate) – someone with a uterus who agrees to have a fertilized egg implanted in their uterus and carry the pregnancy.
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Ask your fertility doctor or nurse about the rules in your state on gestational carriers.
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Learn more
Using a gestational carrier has costs, which can include:
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Legal and agency fees
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Costs for the gestational carrier to get pregnant
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Costs for the gestational carrier's pregnancy and birth, such as doctor visits
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Compensation for the gestational carrier
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Travel costs
How much it costs
A gestational carrier can be someone you know or someone you meet for this.
Adopt children
Many people who have survived cancer have successfully adopted children. But it may be harder or take longer because some adoption agencies have rules about the adoptive parent’s health history.
How much it costs
Adopting a child has costs, which can include:
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Legal and agency fees
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Costs for a home study
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Costs for the birthing parent's pregnancy and birth, such as doctor visits
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Other costs for the birthing parent, such as living expenses
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Travel costs
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Ask your doctor or nurse about adoption rules in your state.
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Contact organizations for cancer survivors.
Learn more
Become a foster parent
Through the foster care system, you may be able to help raise children whose biological parents aren’t able to take care of them.
Contact organizations that provide information about foster care nationally and in your state.
Learn more
Foster parents get paid by the state they live in to help pay for the costs of raising a child.
How much it costs
Marry or partner with someone who has children
In the future, you may meet someone who you want to be with. If they already have children, you may be able to help raise them. This can be a fulfilling option for someone who wants to be a parent.