More and more lesbian couples are having babies thanks to a super cool fertility treatment known as 'shared motherhood'. What's cool about it? Both women are involved in the process, as one's eggs are used, and the other carries the child. I know, science is awesome.

New research carried out by The London Women's Clinic, has revealed just how successful and efficient shared motherhood fertility treatment is proving to be. So here's everything you need to know about the process. Plus, a success story from a couple who've become parents this way.


How does shared motherhood work?

"Shared motherhood is an increasingly popular fertility option for lesbian couples," Professor Nick Macklon explains, "and the process involves one partner going through the IVF process to produce eggs, which are then fertilised with a donor's sperm, before the embryo is implanted into the womb of the other female partner who carries the child." The outcome? One woman is the biological mother of the child while the other is the gestational mother.

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"Also known as partner assisted reproduction, inter-spousal egg donation, ROPA or reciprocal IVF, the treatment was pioneered by consultants at the London Women's Clinic more than 20 years ago, to allow lesbian couples to share the motherhood experience from the stage of conception."

How effective is it?

In the 6-year retrospective study, published in the journal Reproductive Biomedicine Online, 121 lesbian couples undergoing shared motherhood IVF treatment (141 cycles) were analysed from August 2011 – December 2016. A total of 172 fresh/frozen-thawed embryo transfers were performed and the live birth rate per receiver was 60% and the twin delivery rate was at 14%.

Hopefully, these stats will assure any prospective mums-to-be that shared motherhood is a safe and viable option, "which leads to successful pregnancies and healthy live births".

What are the benefits?

The study, which is the largest of its kind ever, also looked into why couples were motivated to pursue the treatment. "These [reasons] largely centred around the desired to equally share the motherhood process," Professor Macklon explains.

"Shared motherhood comes with a number of social, emotional and psychological benefits to both partners. It allows both women to experience motherhood, and allows both women to feel 'equally related' and build a bond with the child, something that, while a common experience of heterosexual couples, hasn't previously been possible for lesbian couples," he says. Plus, their research found many couples then went on to have a second child, and reverse their roles.

If one partner is older and her eggs are of a lower quality, she has the option to carry the child using their younger partner's fertilised egg. "This ensures the chances of a healthy, live birth are high," Dr Macklon says. "And they are still heavily involved in the development of the embryo."

If married lesbian couples go through the process, they can also register their child as having two mothers on the birth certificate.

Why has shared motherhood been criticised before?

Prior to the study, some practitioners considered the treatment risky and not cost-effective. This could be put down to the fact it's a relatively new procedure with little research surrounding success rates and success.

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How much does it cost?

Shared motherhood treatment is currently only available at private fertility clinics in certain countries that legally allow the procedure and same-sex marriage. Costs vary but tend to be in the region of £6,000.


"I wouldn't have had a family unless I could carry Sarah's baby"

Emma and Sarah Burdett were 31 and 34 when they opted for shared motherhood treatment in 2016. Emma explains...

"We can't really pinpoint the moment we decided we wanted a family, but I was certain of one fact: I would not have a family unless I could carry Sarah's baby. We had attended a seminar at the clinic at the beginning of 2016. We attended another one once shortly after, and signed up for a consultation the same day. From then, we decided there was no need to discuss it, we both wanted a family.

"The tests weren't daunting like at a regular hospital, and the nurses and sonographers talked us through all the procedures, tests and medications. I only had to take tablets, Sarah had to have injections, which wasn't fun but we knew the end result would be worth it. We also had a counselling session to prepare us for what was to come.

"My Nan died not long after we started our tests, and it was on her funeral day that we found out when we would be going in for egg harvesting and implantation. I took that as some sort of sign that we were destined to have a child - we said farewell to one loved one, and were getting ready to (hopefully) welcome another. We picked our sperm donor not long after. We picked physical and personality traits that were similar to both of us: brown hair, hazel eyes and creative. You have to be quick, donors disappear off the website fast.

"It was perfect that we could both be there at conception"

"At the beginning of October, Sarah had 29 of her eggs harvested, 18 of which were fertilised. Five days later we were told we had seven embryos. The best one would be implanted and three of the others were frozen. I was told the implantation procedure would be like having a 'slightly longer smear test'. Luckily, Sarah was allowed in the room with me, which was a comfort. It was perfect that we could both be there at conception.

"Then came the agonising two-week wait. I did the pregnancy test alone as I wanted to be able to let Sarah down gently if it hadn't worked. I was so pleased when those two lines appeared. We had an eight-week scan at the Harley Street clinic, and heard our son's heartbeat for the first time. On July 2, Grayson was born. He's our happy little smiley chappy."

From: Cosmopolitan UK