Reciprocal IVF

IN VITRO FERTILIZATION FOR FEMALE COUPLES

Reciprocal in vitro fetilization (IVF) is a form of IVF that allows both female partners to be physically involved in the conception of their baby. This is an appealing option for many lesbian couples who do not have fertility issues.

Reciprocal IVF works as follows:

• One female partner undergoes ovarian stimulation and her eggs are retrieved.
• The eggs are fertilized with donor sperm.
• The resultant embryo(s) are transferred to the female partner, who then becomes pregnant.

In reciprocal IVF, because eggs from one woman are used to create embryos that are then  transferred into the uterus of another woman, the process has to be treated in the same manner as an egg donation. The partner providing the eggs is screened for infectious and sexually transmitted diseases, which are required by FDA regulations.