About this episode

Robert and Shannon share their journey of donor conception as a trans dad and cis mom, discussing the complexities of building a family and raising a donor-conceived child.

Robert and Shannon are “two regular degular schmegular queers” who went from friends… to dating… to buying sperm in just a few months (yes, it’s as lesbian as it sounds). In this episode, they share what it looked like to build a family as a cisgender woman and a transgender man , including the realities of trans fertility, the complicated emotions around fertility preservation, and the deeply values-based way they chose a sperm donor: not for height or Ivy League degrees — but for happiness . We also talk about raising a donor-conceived toddler with openness from day one, why donor conception is a “muscle” you build with practice (and books), and the moment their two-year-old asked a question that proved it was all starting to click: “Were you there?” Plus: PCOS, the IUI-to-IVF pivot, ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), a successful transfer, and what they’re considering as they think about baby #2. 🏳️‍🌈 Key Takeaways How a platonic co-parent conversation turned into a relationship — and then a baby plan The unique decisions that come up when one partner is trans and family-building involves donor conception Robert’s reflections on fertility preservation and “keeping…

People in this episode

Host: Jaimie Kelton

Guests: Robert, Shannon

Topics covered

• donor conception
• trans fertility
• family building
• parenting
• emotional health
• fertility preservation

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