What is Reciprocal or Partner IVF?

Reciprocal or Partner in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) is becoming increasingly popular for female same-sex couples as it allows both partners to participate in the creation of their baby.

So what does Reciprocal IVF involve?

In the process of reciprocal IVF, one partner donates her eggs to the other, who will carry the pregnancy. Donor sperm is also required to fertilise the eggs.

The donating partner will need to take fertility medications to help her produce a number of mature eggs that will then be collected in an egg retrieval procedure. These eggs will then be inseminated with the selected donor sperm in an IVF laboratory.

The pregnancy carrying partner will have tests and undergo preparations so that her womb is ready for the fertilised egg, called an embryo.

A few days after insemination the best one or two embryos will be transferred to the receiving partner’s womb for implantation.