Shared motherhood IVF: high delivery rates in a large study of treatments for lesbian couples using partner-donated eggs

Abstract

Shared motherhood IVF treatment is becoming increasingly accepted among assisted reproductive techique practitioners and patients in Europe, although data on its overall efficiency remain scarce. This 6-year retrospective study from a single, private, UK HFEA-regulated centre included consecutive lesbian couples (n = 121) undergoing shared motherhood IVF treatment (141 cycles). Recipients were more parous and had undergone more previous intrauterine insemination and IVF treatments than donor partners, who had slightly higher ovarian reserve markers than recipients. Indications in most cycles (60%) were non-medical. Most (79%) egg-providers were stimulated with gonadotrophin releasing hormone antagonist protocol, and no moderate or severe cases of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) arose. A total of 172 fresh and vitrified-warmed embryo transfers were carried out: 70% at the blastocyst-stage and 58% involved a single embryo. Cumulative live birth rate per receiver was 60% (72/120), and twin delivery rate was 14% (10/72). Perinatal outcome parameters were better for singleton than twin pregnancies, although the latter also achieved generally favourable outcomes. No significant difference in cumulative outcomes were found between synchronized and non-synchronized cycles. Shared motherhood IVF combines ovarian stimulation with single blastocyst transfer to provide a safe and effective treatment modality offering reassuring obstetrical and perinatal outcomes.

Desire for Parenthood and Associated Trends in Czech Lesbian Women

“…The purpose was to examine the trend of development in this area after legalization of the registered partnership of the some sex couples in 2006 and the adoption of antidiscrimination laws in 2009. 15 , 27 , 28 All study procedures were approved by the Ethical Review Board of Centrum MEDIOL.…”

Reproductive Outcomes in Lesbian Couples Undergoing Reception of Oocytes from Partner Versus Autologous In Vitro Fertilization/Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection

“…We primarily compared our ROPA results with previously published data from the UK, Spain, and USA. [6][7][8] Baseline characteristics of participants were quite similar across all four studies. The mean age and age range of the oocyte provider was 35.1 (25-42) in Marina et al, 7 38.1 (34-43) in Yeshua et al, 8 32.4 (20-41) in Bodri et al, 6 and 34.2 (25-45) in our study.…”

“…[6][7][8] Baseline characteristics of participants were quite similar across all four studies. The mean age and age range of the oocyte provider was 35.1 (25-42) in Marina et al, 7 38.1 (34-43) in Yeshua et al, 8 32.4 (20-41) in Bodri et al, 6 and 34.2 (25-45) in our study. Notably, we report a higher live birth rate after the first ET (57.1%) compared with the first ROPA study, 7 as well as the study of Yeshua et al 8 Marina et al 7 reported 1 live birth out of 13 ETs performed, but 3 pregnancies were still ongoing at the time of publication; hence the live birth rate was expected to be between 7.7% and 30.8%.…”

“…ROPA is a relatively recent strategy available to lesbian couples seeking shared motherhood, with only a few reports published so far. [6][7][8] The largest published case series to date is a 6-year retrospective study from a single private center in the United Kingdom, which included 121 consecutive couples undergoing ROPA. 6 Although initial reports suggest that ROPA is safe and provides acceptable results, no study has compared reproductive outcomes after ROPA with those achieved with autologous IVF/ICSI.…”

“…[6][7][8] The largest published case series to date is a 6-year retrospective study from a single private center in the United Kingdom, which included 121 consecutive couples undergoing ROPA. 6 Although initial reports suggest that ROPA is safe and provides acceptable results, no study has compared reproductive outcomes after ROPA with those achieved with autologous IVF/ICSI. We aim to close this knowledge gap and provide further valuable information for counseling lesbian couples considering ROPA.…”