Your Path to Parenthood: Fertility Options for Single Parents
Choosing to become a parent on your own is a meaningful and empowered decision. Whether you’re a single woman or man, there are a variety of fertility treatments and family-building options designed to help you grow the family you’ve dreamed of—with expert support and compassion at every step.
At Tennessee Fertility Institute (TFI), we’re honored to support single parents on this path, providing personalized care plans, emotional support, and access to advanced reproductive technologies.
Fertility Options for Single Women
For women who are ready to pursue parenthood without a partner, the journey typically involves the use of donor sperm and either Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) or In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). The right option depends on your age, fertility health, timeline, and personal goals.
Donor Sperm
Single women can select sperm from:
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Accredited sperm banks offering anonymous, open-ID, or known donor options
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Known donors, such as a friend or acquaintance, after legal and medical screenings
Most banks provide extensive profiles including medical history, education, personality traits, and sometimes photos. At TFI, we partner with several accredited sperm banks in the area and our team can help guide you through the selection and screening process.
IUI (Intrauterine Insemination)
IUI is often the first-line treatment for single women with no known fertility issues. It’s a relatively simple, low-cost procedure that involves:
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Monitoring your ovulation through bloodwork and ultrasound
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Placing washed donor sperm directly into your uterus during your fertile window
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Offering the potential for conception with minimal intervention
IUI can be done with or without fertility medications, depending on your cycle and reproductive goals.
IVF (In Vitro Fertilization)
IVF may be recommended if:
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You’re over age 35
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You have irregular cycles or underlying fertility conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or endometriosis
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You have a low ovarian reserve (egg quantity or quality)
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You want to create and freeze embryos for future use
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You’re considering genetic testing (PGT) of embryos
IVF involves stimulating the ovaries with medication to produce multiple eggs, retrieving those eggs, fertilizing them in the lab with donor sperm, and transferring an embryo into the uterus.
Fertility Options for Single Men
For single men, building a family typically involves two key components: egg donation and gestational surrogacy. At TFI, we have an in-house donor egg bank and access to MyEggBank, a premier network of donor egg banks across North America. Our team can also connect you to trusted surrogacy agencies who will support you with everything from egg donor matching to surrogate coordination and legal guidance.
Donor Eggs
Egg donors can be:
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Anonymous or known (depending on your preference)
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Sourced through vetted agencies or our internal registry
Donors are carefully screened for medical, genetic, and psychological suitability. They undergo ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval, after which eggs are fertilized in the lab with your sperm to create embryos.
Gestational Surrogacy
Once embryos are created, the next step is to transfer them to a gestational carrier—someone who will carry the pregnancy but has no biological connection to the baby.
The process typically includes:
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Comprehensive surrogate screening (medical, psychological, legal)
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Legal contracts between all parties
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Monitoring of the surrogate during embryo transfer and pregnancy
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Ongoing communication and collaboration with your care team at TFI
Once your surrogate is determined and all the necessary legal agreements are in place, you care team at TFI will complete the embryo transfer process using the donor eggs you’ve selected, as well as all subsequent monitoring.
While the use of donor eggs and a gestational surrogate is a more complex process than IVF or IUI alone, many single men have successfully grown their families through this path.
Fertility Preservation (Optional for Both)
If you’re not ready to pursue parenthood just yet, both men and women can take steps now to preserve their fertility:
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Egg Freezing allows women to preserve younger, healthier eggs for future use
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Sperm Freezing ensures that viable sperm is available if fertility declines or medical treatments impact sperm production
These options provide flexibility and peace of mind for those who want to become parents on their own timeline.
You Don’t Have to Do This Alone
Whether you’re considering sperm donation, egg donation, IUI, IVF, or surrogacy, one thing remains constant: you’ll have a dedicated team to guide you.
At TFI, we support single intended parents with customized treatment planning, legal referrals and support for donor/surrogacy arrangements, access to emotional wellness resources, and transparent communication and compassionate care every step of the way.
Thinking about your next step?
Parenthood starts with a conversation. Book an appointment with us today to explore the best options for your path forward!