Two women in a relationship having reciprocal IVF treatment

Cryos

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<h2><span class="display-3">What is reciprocal IVF?</span></h2>
<p>Reciprocal IVF is an advanced fertility treatment specifically designed for lesbian couples. During reciprocal IVF, one partner's eggs are retrieved and fertilized using donor sperm. The resulting embryo is then implanted into the other partner's uterus. This unique approach allows both women to participate intimately in the conception process: one as the egg donor and the other as the gestational carrier.</p>
<h3><span class="display-4">How common is reciprocal IVF?</span></h3>
<p>In recent times, the use of reciprocal IVF has increased as a <a href="/en-gb/dk-shop/private/blog/how-do-lesbians-have-a-baby/">pregnancy option for lesbian couples</a>. The growing popularity is caused by a wish for both partners to be biologically and emotionally involved in the pregnancy. Many find the shared experience of reciprocal IVF deeply meaningful.</p>
<h3><span class="display-4">What is the success rate when using reciprocal IVF?</span></h3>
<p>According to a <a href="https://www.progress.org.uk/shared-motherhood-ivf-for-lesbian-couples-is-gaining-acceptance-in-the-uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">study</a>, the success rates of reciprocal IVF treatment are very promising, with a live birth rate of 60% per receiving couple. It is, however, important to note that not many studies have been performed in this area yet, and therefore any future success rates might be different than the one in this study.&nbsp;If you want to read more about success rates in other types of fertility treatment, then follow the links to our pages about <a href="/en-gb/dk-shop/private/faq/fertility-treatment/what-is-ici-treatment/">ICI treatment</a>, <a href="/en-gb/dk-shop/private/blog/iui-treatment-how-it-works/">IUI treatment</a>, and <a href="/en-gb/dk-shop/private/blog/what-is-icsi-treatment-learn-how-it-works-step-by-step/">ICSI treatment</a>.</p>
<h2><span class="display-3">The cost of reciprocal IVF</span></h2>
<p>The cost of reciprocal IVF varies depending on factors such as the country in which you receive treatment and the <a href="/en-gb/dk-shop/private/blog/things-to-consider-before-choosing-a-fertility-clinic/">fertility clinic you choose</a>. Compared to traditional IVF, reciprocal IVF tends to have a higher overall cost as the procedure is more complicated than normal <a href="/en-gb/dk-shop/private/blog/ivf-treatment/">IVF treatment</a>.</p>
<p>It is worth noting that insurance coverage for reciprocal IVF is not always available, and it is important to be aware of the laws and regulations regarding this method of fertility treatment in the country you have chosen to receive treatment. In some countries, reciprocal IVF is not legal, which could force you to have treatment in another country, thus adding extra cost to the price of reciprocal IVF.</p>
<p>Therefore, it is essential to thoroughly research and understand the financial aspect of reciprocal IVF. This can help to ensure that the cost of treatment is manageable and within your budget, making it easier for you to focus on the most important aspect of this journey: building your family.</p>

Woman in fertility treatment injecting herself with hormones

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<h2><span class="display-3">The process of reciprocal IVF - step by step</span></h2>
<p>Reciprocal IVF treatment consists of six steps and is very similar to normal IVF treatment with donor sperm. The only difference is that the eggs are retrieved from one woman and transferred to her female partner. Here below we explain the different parts of a reciprocal IVF treatment:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong><span class="text-theme-blue-700">Step 1 - Choosing a sperm donor</span></strong>: Before the reciprocal IVF treatment can begin, you need to <a href="/en-gb/dk-shop/private/blog/choosing-a-sperm-donor/">choose a sperm donor</a>. There are many things to consider, such as the amount of information accessible and whether your future <a href="/en-gb/dk-shop/private/blog/donor-conceived-children-everything-you-need-to-know/">donor-conceived child</a> will be able to contact their donor in the future.</li>
<li><strong><span class="text-theme-blue-700">Step 2 - Ovarian stimulation</span></strong>:&nbsp;Before the woman can have her eggs retrieved, her ovaries must be stimulated to create more than one mature egg. By stimulating the ovaries with hormones, it is possible to &ldquo;trick&rdquo; the ovary into creating more mature eggs than usual.</li>
<li><strong><span class="text-theme-blue-700">Step 3 - Egg retrieval</span></strong>:&nbsp;Egg retrieval is a crucial step in reciprocal IVF, as the woman not carrying the child needs to have her eggs retrieved for fertilization. After the ovarian stimulation is completed, and multiple eggs have hopefully matured, it is time for egg retrieval. During egg retrieval, a fertility doctor retrieves the eggs using an ultrasound and a small needle.</li>
<li><strong><span class="text-theme-blue-700">Step 4 - Uterus stimulation</span></strong>:&nbsp;Once the eggs are retrieved, the partner receiving the embryo needs hormone stimulation to prepare her uterus for the transfer. By stimulating the uterus, you make sure that the fertilised egg will stick to the uterus wall and hopefully develops into a baby.</li>
<li><strong><span class="text-theme-blue-700">Step 5 - Fertilization and transfer</span></strong>:&nbsp;Once the eggs are retrieved, an embryologist uses donor sperm to fertilize the eggs. After 3 to 5 days, the embryologist can see whether the egg has been fertilized and developed into a 5-day embryo, also known as a blastocyst. If successful, a blastocyst is transferred to the partner who did not provide the eggs. If more than one egg has developed into a blastocyst, the excess blastocysts can be frozen and stored for another attempt or siblings.</li>
<li><strong><span class="text-theme-blue-700">Step 6 - Pregnancy</span></strong>:&nbsp;After the embryo transfer, the fertilized egg hopefully sticks to the uterine wall and evolves into a pregnancy. It is possible to see whether the treatment has been successful about two weeks after transferring the eggs. This period is often referred to as the two-week wait. If you want inspiration on what to do during this period, you can follow this link to our blog post called <a href="/en-gb/dk-shop/private/blog/what-to-do-during-the-two-week-wait/">What to do during the two-week wait</a>.</li>
</ul>
<h2 data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><span class="display-3">Are both parents biologically connected to the baby?</span></h2>
<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">Both parents are biologically linked to the child, but only the mother who provides her eggs shares a genetic connection with the child. The other mother, who carries and gives birth to the child, often forms a special attachment to the child. This bond can be further strengthened through breastfeeding, which creates a unique connection between the child and the birth mother.</p>

<h2><span class="display-3">3 things to consider before choosing reciprocal IVF</span></h2>
<p>If you and your partner are thinking about using reciprocal IVF treatment to fulfil your dreams of a child, then there are a few things you should consider before deciding. Here we have created a list of 3 things to consider before having reciprocal IVF:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong><span class="text-theme-blue-700">The legislation regarding this type of treatment</span></strong>: Reciprocal IVF is illegal in many countries. Therefore, we recommend that you research whether it is possible in your country. If not, you must consider if you are willing to travel to a country that allows it. Travelling to another country to receive fertility treatment is called <a href="/en-gb/dk-shop/private/blog/fertility-tourism-why-travel-abroad/">fertility tourism</a>. If reciprocal IVF is illegal in your country and you do not want to receive treatment in another country, you can read more about <a href="/en-gb/dk-shop/private/blog/ivf-treatment-for-lesbian-couples/">IVF treatment for lesbian couples</a> here.</li>
<li><span class="text-theme-blue-700"><strong>Egg retrieval and pregnancy</strong></span>: Before planning a reciprocal IVF treatment as a lesbian couple, you must decide on who will have her eggs retrieved, and thereby have a genetic relation to the child, and <a href="/en-gb/dk-shop/private/blog/who-should-carry-the-baby-what-to-consider/">who will carry the baby</a> through pregnancy and give birth. In other words, both of you will form some sort of biological connection to the child, which is why this type of treatment is preferred by many lesbians. A lot of factors such as health, age, and will might influence the decision about who does what. Some women might also have a strong preference regarding getting the chance to experience pregnancy and carry the child, while others might prefer to have a genetic relation to the child.</li>
<li><span class="text-theme-blue-700"><strong>Choosing the right sperm donor</strong></span>: What are your criteria regarding the sperm donor? At Cryos, many lesbian couples choose a sperm donor with physical traits similar to a woman who will not be genetically related to the child. However, there can be many reasons for choosing a particular sperm donor, which is why it is a good idea to start discussing this early on. If you would like to see which sperm donors are currently available at Cryos, please follow the link to our free <a href="/en-gb/dk-shop/private/find-donor/search-sperm-donors/">Sperm Donor Search</a>.<br><br></li>
</ul>

<h2><span class="display-3">Frequently asked questions about reciprocal IVF</span></h2>
<h3><span class="display-4">Does reciprocal IVF include both women's DNA?</span></h3>
<p>No, the child only shares DNA with the partner who donated her eggs. However, many women who used reciprocal IVF say that they feel a special connection to their children because they carried and gave birth to them.</p>
<h3><span class="display-4">What are the risks of reciprocal IVF?</span></h3>
<p>The risks associated with reciprocal IVF are minimal, as egg retrieval and following insemination are completely safe.</p>