Having a child together in lesbian families: combining gestation and genetics

Abstract

The increasing acceptance of lesbian couples in medically assisted reproduction has led to new, unusual requests. This paper discusses the request for egg transfer from one partner to the other. In the first part, different analogies (egg donation, embryo donation, surrogacy and mitochondrial replacement) are made in order to find out whether one of these can help us determine whether this procedure is acceptable. It is shown that there are major difficulties with all analogies. In the second part, two balances are developed between the medical risks and costs of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and intrauterine insemination on the one hand and the medical risks of IVF and the psychosocial benefits on the other hand. The final conclusion is that the disadvantages of the procedure can be compensated by the psychosocial advantages and thus can be accepted.

Naturalness in Ethics of Women's Reproduction: A Viewpoint

“…Furthermore, the development of the so-called IVF-with ROPA (that allows both partners in a female same-sex couple to become biological mothers: one partner provides the eggs (genetic mother), and the other carries the embryo in her womb (gestational mother). IVF-with ROPA allows lesbians to start a stable, functioning and happy family without power inequities in the couple, and, above all, improves their psychological / mental health state [22]. To conclude, when health is conceptualized in its broadest sense, intuitive anxiety about unnaturalness (which scholars still tend to afford considerable moral protection) necessarily loses ground.…”

Co-IVF for Same-Sex Female Couples

“…18 Regardless of the cost-effectiveness, a study published by Pennings argues DIUI is "not an alternative to IVF" when the desires of the couples are to both contribute biologically to the pregnancy. 19 Pennings also compares the risks of IVF to DIUI and argues that "despite the fact that critics of co-IVF claim it to be a riskier procedure, the medical risk of co-IVF in reproductively healthy couples is nevertheless small." 19 Therefore, given the relatively low risks and potentially large psychosocial benefits, co-IVF should be considered in SSFCs.…”

“…19 Pennings also compares the risks of IVF to DIUI and argues that "despite the fact that critics of co-IVF claim it to be a riskier procedure, the medical risk of co-IVF in reproductively healthy couples is nevertheless small." 19 Therefore, given the relatively low risks and potentially large psychosocial benefits, co-IVF should be considered in SSFCs.…”

Ovarian Tissue Cryopreservation / Transplantation for Social Reasons: Between (“Good”) Medicalization and Medical Treatment.

“…Besides, in case of oocytes shared donation between the partners of a lesbian couple ("shared biologic motherhood") [114] there is a combination of biologic and gestational motherhood [115].…”