Also known as “shared motherhood”, Reciprocal IVF allows both partners to be involved in the fertility treatment process. One partner will donate an egg for fertilisation, and once it has been fertilised it will be implanted into the womb of the second partner. This means that one partner will share a biological connection with the child or children born from the procedure, and the other will be able to bond with the baby through the experience of pregnancy.
If you are both interested in being physically and clinically involved in the fertility treatment process, then Reciprocal IVF may be the right option. By choosing this route to parenthood, you will both have a biological or gestational link to your child or children.
Donor insemination, which you might also see shortened to “DI”, involves tracking your cycle to find out when you are at your most fertile. Once these days have been identified, you will be invited to attend our clinic and donor sperm will be placed through your cervix and into the uterus. The sperm used can be from a known or unknown donor of your choice.
If you have decided that you would like the fertility treatment you undergo to be as natural as possible, then donor insemination may be the option for you. This treatment is also considered less invasive than other treatment options. Because of this, it’s often the first step on the road to parenthood for lesbian and female same-sex couples.
In-vitro fertilisation, commonly known as IVF, using donor sperm is another option for female same-sex couples. This treatment option involves one partner going through the process; this means undergoing stimulation and egg collection, the eggs being fertilised in a laboratory setting using donor sperm, and the embryo’s being transferred back into their womb.
This will depend on what you would like out of your fertility treatment. If only one of you wants to be clinically or biologically involved in the treatment process, this type of IVF might be the right option. This is also sometimes the next step for lesbian or same-sex female couples who have previously undergone an insemination cycle but have not been successful.
When you choose to use donor sperm in treatment, there are several different forms that we may need you to complete. These forms help to ensure that you will both be the legal parents of any children born as a result of undertaking the procedure.
Our team has worked hard to support couples and help them create the families they have always wanted for many years. We will be glad to do the same for you, and part of this involves guiding you through consent forms and answering any questions you might have about legal parenthood and parental responsibility.
Stonewall UK has information on donor insemination and fertility treatment. You may find it helpful to read this before you begin.
Many more female same-sex couples than before are choosing co-parenting as their preferred route to parenthood. This can take place alongside both donor insemination and IVF treatments and gives you the option of putting an agreement in place with a male friend and donor – so that you can all be involved in the upbringing of the child.
Although parental responsibility and legal parenthood may differ depending on your marital status, co-parenting arrangements can be a wonderful way of forming your family. Agreements will need to be in place before treatment starts, however, and we would always recommend that you liaise with a specialist family lawyer when drawing up these agreements.
To help you find out more about your fertility before you begin your journey to parenthood, we will be happy to offer you and your partner a Couples’ Initial Consultation Package. This cost-effective package is designed to save you money, compared to getting your assessments done separately, and offers the basic investigations (blood test and ultrasound scan) required before you can start your fertility treatment. It’s also perfect for people who simply want a better idea of their fertility potential – even if a family isn’t currently in their plans.
This package will be completed in two steps:
Both partners will be invited to our clinic for:
An Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) blood test, which predicts ovarian reserve and is a reliable indicator of fertility potential.
A complete Fertility Scan with an Antral Follicle Count, which uses the latest technology to provide an assessment of the egg reserve, as well as blood flow to the ovaries and follicles.
When your results are ready, you will spend some time in consultation with an experienced Fertility Specialist. They will review your medical history, taking into account any conditions or previous gynaecological issues, and fertility history, and discuss the results of your blood test and ultrasound scan. You will also have the opportunity to discuss potential changes to your lifestyle that might improve your fertility potential.
If you would like to learn more about any of the fertility treatments or care options we can provide for lesbian or female same-sex couples, or if you now know that you’d like to attend one of our free patient information evenings or mini-consultations, please contact our coordinator, Karin. This can be done by emailing karin@city-fertility.com, or you can get in touch by phone at 020 8209 3226. Alternatively, you can also fill out the contact form below and one of our team members will get back to you as soon as possible.
