Subscribe to RSS
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1605380
Co-IVF for Same-Sex Female Couples
Publication History
Publication Date:
26 October 2017 (online)
Abstract
The utilization of assisted reproductive technology (ART), particularly by same-sex female couples (SSFCs), has increased over the past few decades. Alongside the increase in use by lesbian women, there has also been an increase in the number of available treatment options. The process by which SSFCs make the various decisions associated with conceiving and parenting, however, has been largely overlooked. This review provides an overview of the reproductive treatments available to lesbian women and specifically highlights the “biological” and “social” obstacles they must overcome on their journey to parenthood. This review also describes how a relatively novel treatment strategy, co-in vitro fertilization, can give couples greater flexibility and provide them with the unique opportunity of a shared biological motherhood.
-
References
- 1 Carpinello OJ, Jacob MC, Nulsen J, Benadiva C. Utilization of fertility treatment and reproductive choices by lesbian couples. Fertil Steril 2016; 106 (07) 1709-1713.e4
- 2 Fiske E, Weston G. Utilisation of ART in single women and lesbian couples since the 2010 change in Victorian legislation. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol 2014; 54 (05) 497-499
- 3 Hodson K, Meads C, Bewley S. Lesbian and bisexual women's likelihood of becoming pregnant: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BJOG 2017; 124 (03) 393-402
- 4 Nordqvist S, Sydsjö G, Lampic C, Åkerud H, Elenis E, Skoog Svanberg A. Sexual orientation of women does not affect outcome of fertility treatment with donated sperm. Hum Reprod 2014; 29 (04) 704-711
- 5 Somers S, Van Parys H, Provoost V, Buysse A, Pennings G, De Sutter P. How to create a family? Decision making in lesbian couples using donor sperm. Sex Reprod Healthc 2017; 11: 13-18
- 6 Touroni E, Coyle A. Decision-making in planned lesbian parenting: an interpretive phenomenological analysis. J Community Appl Soc Psychol 2002; 12 (03) 194-209
- 7 Bushe S, Romero I. Lesbian pregnancy: care and considerations. Semin Reprod Med 2017; 35: 420-425
- 8 Yeshua A, Lee JA, Witkin G, Copperman AB. Female couples undergoing IVF with partner eggs (Co-IVF): pathways to parenthood. LGBT Health 2015; 2 (02) 135-139
- 9 Chabot JM, Ames BD. ‘It wasn’t “let”s get pregnant and go do it':' decision making in lesbian couples planning motherhood via donor insemination. Fam Relat 2004; 53 (04) 348-356
- 10 Geisler ME, Ledwidge M, Bermingham M, McAuliffe M, McMenamin MB, Waterstone JJ. Intrauterine insemination—no more Mr. N.I.C.E. guy?. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2017; 210: 342-347
- 11 Schorsch M, Gomez R, Hahn T, Hoelscher-Obermaier J, Seufert R, Skala C. Success rate of inseminations dependent on maternal age? An analysis of 4246 insemination cycles. Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd 2013; 73 (08) 808-811
- 12 Marina S, Marina D, Marina F, Fosas N, Galiana N, Jové I. Sharing motherhood: biological lesbian co-mothers, a new IVF indication. Hum Reprod 2010; 25 (04) 938-941
- 13 RMA New York – Infertility Fertility Treatment Clinic IVF NYC – Where Medical Excellence and Compassionate Care Unite. Available at: https://rmany.com/ ; accessed June 20, 2017
- 14 Find a Sperm Donor – California Cryobank. Available at: https://cryobank.com/ ; accessed June 27, 2017
- 15 Bos HM, Gartrell NK. Adolescents of the US National Longitudinal Lesbian Family Study: the impact of having a known or an unknown donor on the stability of psychological adjustment. Hum Reprod 2011; 26 (03) 630-637
- 16 Zeiler K, Malmquist A. Lesbian shared biological motherhood: the ethics of IVF with reception of oocytes from partner. Med Health Care Philos 2014; 17 (03) 347-355
- 17 Pelka S. Sharing motherhood: maternal jealousy among lesbian co-mothers. J Homosex 2009; 56 (02) 195-217
- 18 De Wert G, Dondorp W, Shenfield F. , et al. ESHRE Task Force on Ethics and Law 23: medically assisted reproduction in singles, lesbian and gay couples, and transsexual people. Hum Reprod 2014; 29 (09) 1859-1865
- 19 Pennings G. Having a child together in lesbian families: combining gestation and genetics. J Med Ethics 2016; 42 (04) 253-255
- 20 Greenfeld DA. Reproduction in same sex couples: quality of parenting and child development. Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol 2005; 17 (03) 309-312
- 21 van Gelderen L, Bos HM, Gartrell N, Hermanns J, Perrin EC. Quality of life of adolescents raised from birth by lesbian mothers: the US National Longitudinal Family Study. J Dev Behav Pediatr 2012; 33 (01) 17-23
- 22 Maccallum F, Golombok S. Children raised in fatherless families from infancy: a follow-up of children of lesbian and single heterosexual mothers at early adolescence. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2004; 45 (08) 1407-1419