Assisted reproduction in same-sex couples

Social relationships have evolved over the years and, with them, couple and family models. In addition to the traditional ones, there are single-parent families (with only one father or one mother) and families with same-sex parents.

That is why assisted reproduction has become a fundamental piece for all these couples to be able to meet their goal.

Shared motherhood in female couples

Shared motherhood allows couples formed by two women to actively share the process of gestation and reproduction. In this model, both participate in the process of having a child through an assisted reproduction procedure in homosexual couples.

One of the most widely used techniques is the ROPA Method, which allows both women to contribute biologically to the gestation process, one of them providing her egg and the other carrying the baby.

This concept breaks with traditional models of motherhood, offering a way for both women to be biologically involved in parenting from the beginning.

Assisted Reproduction Options for Gay Couples

Artificial Insemination (AI)

In this procedure, donor sperm is introduced into the uterus of one of the women in the couple. It is a simple technique that facilitates conception without the need for sexual intercourse.

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

It involves extracting eggs from one of the women, fertilizing them in the laboratory with donor sperm, and then transferring the resulting embryos into the uterus.

ROPA Method

The ROPA Method is an assisted reproduction technique that allows two women to actively participate in the biological process of having a child. In this method, one of the women contributes her eggs, which are fertilized with the sperm of a donor, while the other woman carries out the gestation of the future baby in her uterus.

This means that two mothers can have a biological child, since one of them is the genetic mother and the other is the surrogate mother, thus achieving a shared pregnancy.

What does the ROPA Method consist of?

The objective of this technique is for both women to contribute significantly to the conception and gestation of the baby. The process is divided into different phases:

• Ovarian stimulation: One of the women (the one who will provide the eggs) undergoes ovarian stimulation treatment to produce several eggs, which are then extracted by follicular puncture.
• In vitro fertilization (IVF): The retrieved eggs are fertilized with sperm from an anonymous donor in the laboratory.
• Embryo transfer: Once the eggs have been fertilized and have given rise to embryos, they are transferred to the uterus of the other woman so that she can carry the baby.
• Gestation and follow-up: The woman who receives the embryos follows the gestation process with the usual care.

Can the baby have the genes of both mothers?

The baby will only have the genes of the mother who provides the egg and the sperm donor. The other mother does not contribute genetically, but she plays a vital role in carrying and delivering the baby.

In fact, babies from egg donation can often resemble their mothers. This is due to what is called epigenetics, the science that studies changes in the function of inherited genes that cannot be attributed to alterations in the DNA sequence.

But, in addition, other factors such as the choice of a donor with the same phenotype as the recipient woman also play a role. It should also be noted that babies imitate gestures and sounds of their parents during their growth.

What should/can be known about the sperm donor?

In Spain, sperm donation is an altruistic and anonymous act, so the recipient couples cannot know any information about the donor, although this varies depending on the laws of the country. In some countries, it is allowed to choose between a known or anonymous donor.

Nonetheless, intended parents can rest assured, as the quality of the semen is always guaranteed. Each donation undergoes a series of medical tests such as a semen analysis, microbiological culture or serology, to rule out sexually transmitted diseases and other circumstances that may affect the assisted reproduction process.

Legal requirements

Legal requirements may vary by country. In Spain, the couple is required to be legally married or registered as a common-law partner to access treatment.

It should be noted that, depending on the place where the treatment is carried out, the legislation may differ in terms of filiation rights, that is, who will be legally recognized as the baby’s mothers. Therefore, it is essential to inform yourself about local regulations before starting the process.

Who will carry the baby in the ROPA Method?

In the ROPA Method, the woman who does not provide the egg will be the one who carries out the pregnancy and gives birth to the baby. To decide what role each of them will adopt in this process of shared motherhood, it will be necessary to take into account not only the preferences of the couple, but also the medical assessment of the specialists.

It will be the experts who will report on the real chances of pregnancy of each of them based on criteria such as their age or state of health.

Up to what age can the ROPA Method be performed?

The age to perform the ROPA Method will depend, on the one hand, on the woman who provides the eggs, since the quality decreases over time, although this does not have to affect the process if a previous oocyte cryopreservation process has been carried out.

On the other hand, the age of the pregnant woman will also influence the success of the treatment, so it is recommended not to delay the treatment excessively.

What to consider before receiving treatment

Before undergoing the ROPA Method or any other assisted reproduction treatment, it is important to consider some key aspects:

• Medical evaluation: Both women should undergo medical examinations to assess their overall health and fertility.
• Emotional and psychological aspects: the process can be stressful for some women, so it is advisable to have psychological support to help you cope better.
• Legal and ethical decisions: It is crucial to educate yourself about the legal rights and obligations of both mothers before starting the process.
• Costs: in addition to the cost of treatment, the birth of a baby involves an extra expense for the couple that you have to be able to assume.
• Clinic selection: It is advisable to choose a clinic with experience and specialized professionals and high success rates, in addition to the latest in state-of-the-art equipment and technology.