Lesbian pregnancy – exploring the options

Many lesbian couples dream of starting a family and wonder about their pregnancy possibilities.

At Diers Fertility Clinic, we often receive questions from same-sex couples about having a biological child together. While it’s not currently possible for two women to share genetic contributions to a child, there are several effective options for achieving pregnancy.

In this blog, we’ll explore the most common fertility treatments for lesbian couples and highlight exciting scientific advancements that may make shared genetic parenthood possible in the future.

Let’s dive into the options available today and the possibilities ahead.

Fertility treatment options to reach pregnancy

What are the fertility treatment options for two women wanting a baby?

IUI and IVF, including Reciprocal IVF (the ROPA method) is the most commonly used options for lesbian pregnancy.

So fortunately, there are various fertility treatments available that can help two girls in a same-sex relationship have a baby.

Lesbian pregnancy via IUI

What is IUI?

IUI is short for IntraUterine Insemination. IUI with donor sperm is the most common method used by lesbian couples to reach pregnancy. During IUI, donor sperm is inserted into the uterus of one of the female partners during her ovulation period. The sperm can fertilise an egg and result in a pregnancy.

IUI is a simple and non-invasive procedure that has a higher success rate than natural conception. Read more about the IUI treatment process step by step.

With IUI, you normally won’t have to undergo hormone treatment which can be hard for both body and mind.

Diers Fertility Clinic’s founder got pregnant through IUI treatment

Since 2006, Diers’ IUI department has specialised in assisting lesbian women in fulfilling their dream of pregnancy.

Led by our clinic founder, Liza Diers, who herself became a proud parent of three donor children through IUI treatment in the clinic, we understand the considerations and emotions you’re going through. Read Liza’s story.

Handpick a sperm donor that resembles you and/or your partner

Read more about the choice of sperm donor.

It is also an option to use a known donor, such as a friend or a family member who is not closely related to the mum-to-be.

Feel free to contact us should you have any questions regarding lesbian pregnancy or guidance on the choice of donor.

Benefits and considerations regarding lesbian pregnancy via IUI treatment

What are the benefits of lesbian pregnancy via IUI treatment?

1. Simplicity and natural approach: IUI treatment offers a streamlined and natural fertility solution, contrasting with more intricate methods like IVF.
2. Minimal preparations: With IUI, minimal preparation is needed, often enabling a swift start in the next menstrual cycle.
3. Affordability: In comparison to the pricier IVF procedure, IUI generally presents a cost-effective choice.
4. Genetic half-siblings: By utilising the same sperm donor for both partners, lesbians can reach pregnancy and have babies that are genetic half-siblings – fostering a profound biological and genetic connection.
5. Tailored donor selection: The option to meticulously select a sperm donor who aligns with the couple’s values enhances both emotional and biological bonds.

What are the considerations regarding lesbian pregnancy via IUI treatment?

1. Specific fertility issues: For individuals facing fertility obstacles like blocked fallopian tubes or moderate/severe endometriosis IUI is not the right choice.
2. Alternatives like IVF: In cases where IUI isn’t recommended due to fertility concerns, more advanced alternatives like IVF might be a more appropriate and affordable choice.

Read in-depth information on the IUI treatment procedure, who can benefit from IUI, and the risks and side-effects involved.

How to get started with IUI

3 Simple steps

The process includes the following 3 steps:

1. Consultation (online or in person),
2. Preparation (e.g., blood tests and donor selection),
3. Come to Diers Klinik for IUI insemination treatment when the ovulation test is positive.

We are open every day of the year with no waiting time. You have the flexibility to book appointments for both consultation and treatment on a day-to-day basis.

Book an initial consultation about IUI - it's free and unbinding

Lesbian pregnancy through IVF and Reciprocal IVF (ROPA)

What is IVF?

IVF (In Vitro Fertilisation) is another option to reach lesbian pregnancy. IVF (In Vitro Fertilisation) is an assisted reproductive technology.

The process involves stimulating the ovaries to produce multiple eggs, retrieving the eggs surgically, and combining them with sperm in a laboratory dish for fertilisation. The resulting embryos are then carefully monitored, and after a few days, one or more embryos are transferred to the woman’s uterus.

What is reciprocal IVF – ROPA?

ROPA (Reception of Oocytes from the Partner) or reciprocal IVF is a form of IVF treatment. This method allows both partners to be involved in the conception process and for the baby to have a biological connection to both parents.

The ROPA technique involves two fundamental roles:

1. The egg provider
2. The gestational carrier.

Let’s explore each of these roles and the corresponding steps involved:.

What is the egg provider in reciprocal IVF?

In a ROPA arrangement, one partner assumes the role of the egg provider. This partner will undergo ovarian stimulation, a process involving the administration of fertility medications to stimulate the production of multiple eggs. This is usually done to increase the chances of a successful IVF cycle.

Once the eggs have matured, a surgical procedure called egg retrieval is performed under anesthesia. During this procedure, a needle is guided through the vaginal wall to the ovaries to collect the mature eggs. The retrieved eggs are then fertilised in the laboratory using donor sperm.

What is the gestational carrier in ROPA?

The second partner in the ROPA process is the gestational carrier – the lesbian partner who carries the child through pregnancy. She will undergo the embryo transfer procedure, where the fertilised embryos from the egg provider are transferred to her uterus.

Prior to the transfer, the gestational carrier may need to prepare her uterus with hormonal medications to create an optimal environment for implantation.

If the embryo successfully implants into the uterine lining, lesbian pregnancy can occur. Throughout the pregnancy, the gestational carrier will carry the foetus to term, giving birth to the child. It’s important to note that the lesbian partner who is the gestational carrier does not have a genetic connection to the child, but plays a vital role in the pregnancy journey.

Benefits and considerations regarding lesbian pregnancy though Reciprocal IVF (ROPA)

What are the benefits of lesbian pregnancy though Reciprocal IVF (ROPA)?

1. Reciprocal IVF allows both lesbian partners to participate in the actual conception process and share the experience of pregnancy and childbirth.
2. The method gives the baby a biological connection to both parents.

What are the considerations regarding lesbian pregnancy though Reciprocal IVF (ROPA)?

1. The method can be a complex and expensive process.
2. Reciprocal IVF generally involves et bit more risk and side-effects compared to IUI. ROPA involves a surgical IVF procedure, both during the egg retrieval and when the fertilised egg(s) (embryo) are transferred to the uterus. As a part of the IVF procedure, the doctor will also normally prescribe fertility medicine, including hormonal drugs. 
3. The method may not be available in all fertility clinics or countries. In such cases, IUI with donor sperm may be a more accessible and legally permissible option for lesbian couples to reach pregnancy. In Denmark however, a law change means that egg cell donation between lesbian partners will be legal for all from 1 January 2025.

Therefore, we offer reciprocal IVF for all our lesbian patients from from the beginning of 2025. 

Book an initial consultation in our IVF department to learn more - it's free and unbinding

Can lesbians reach pregnancy with a baby that carries both partners’ genes?

No, two females cannot have a biological child together with the same genes. At the moment, there are fundamental biological limitations that prevent lesbian pregnancy with both female partners’ genes.

The process of reproduction requires the involvement of two types of sex cells, or gametes: Sperm and egg. In order for fertilisation to occur, a sperm cell must unite with an egg cell. However, both females in a same-sex relationship possess only eggs, and not sperm. Without a sperm cell, there is no chance for fertilisation and for lesbians to reach pregnancy with a child biologically related to them both.

Is lesbian pregnancy with a biological child a possibility in the future?

Yes, maybe. Stem cell research has offered hope that in the future we may be able to create embryos from the cells of two men or two women.

Especially two techniques in the landscape of reproductive science stand out: Gene Editing and a technology called IVG (In Vitro Gametogenesis). They offer a ray of hope for those seeking to conceive a child that carries both partners’ genetic legacy.

Gene technology may allow lesbian pregnancy with a biological child in the future

Remarkable advancements in gene editing technology have ignited a glimmer of hope for same-sex couples dreaming of starting a family with them both as genetic parents.

Scientists are exploring ground-breaking techniques. These could potentially enable two individuals of the same sex to have a child who carries both parents’ genetic material. Let’s take a look into the world of gene editing and discover the possibilities it holds for same-sex couples.

Unlocking new frontiers through Gene Editing

Scientists are investigating a process called gene editing that could revolutionise reproductive possibilities of lesbian pregnancy with a biological child.

Imagine taking ordinary cells from two individuals and transforming them into stem cells through gene editing techniques. These stem cells can then be carefully directed towards becoming specialised sex cells. Cells from one partner could be used to make eggs. While cells from the other partner could be used to make sperm. Then in vitro fertilization (IVF) could be used to make a baby with the same genes as both partners.

IVG: Expanding the horizons of reproductive science

While gene editing presents a promising avenue, an emerging technology called In Vitro Gametogenesis (IVG) also holds potential for lesbian women longing to achieve pregnancy with a child with both parents’ genetic contributions.

IVG enables scientists to generate eggs and sperm not only from regular cells but also from skin or blood cells. This ground-breaking capability offers the possibility of creating a baby who shares the genes of both lesbian partners. This could bring the dream of biological parenthood within reach like never before.

Challenges on the road to realisation

Despite these incredible advancements, there are many scientific obstacles to overcome before lesbians can achieve pregnancy and have a baby with the same genes as them both. The road to widespread implementation of fertility treatment with gene editing and IVG technologies still faces numerous engineering hurdles.

Furthermore, ethical considerations, safety concerns, and regulatory frameworks must be carefully addressed. This is to ensure the responsible application of these transformative technologies.

The prospect of biological babies from same-sex parents has moved a step closer. Gene editing and IVG offer hope for conceiving a child that carries both partners’ genetic legacy. The boundless potential of these technologies inspire optimism for a future where biological parenthood knows no boundaries.

However, many hurdles remain before the technologies of tomorrow allow lesbian couples to get pregnant with biological children. Reality it that is not likely to become an option in fertility clinics in the near future.

Let Diers Fertility Clinic help you reach lesbian pregnancy and have a baby

Bringing a child into the world is a transformative decision that many couples and individuals face. Unfortunately, for same-sex couples, the decision is not always as straightforward.

Even though it is not possible for lesbians to get pregnant and have a baby with the same genes, luckily, two women with a dream of having a baby together have several other attractive fertility treatment options.

On this page, we have given you an insight into IUI and IVF (including ROPA). These are fertility treatment options available for you today as a lesbian couple.

All fertility treatment methods have their own unique pros and cons, and it’s up to each couple to weigh them and decide which option is best for them.

Get inspiration from other lesbian couples

It’s important to remember that the decision to have a child is a deeply personal one, and there is no one “right” way to do it. 

On our blog, you can read several inspiring personal stories about lesbian pregnancy.

• For instance, the lesbian couple, Jeruscha and Lisa’s story about being pregnant at the same time.
• You can also read about Danielle and Sophie who felt pressured into IVF treatment in UK and went to Denmark for a more natural IUI treatment. Their story was also published in The Birmingham World.

If you have any further questions regarding lesbian pregnancy or need more information on the treatments we offer at Diers Fertility Clinic, feel free to contact us.