The number of couples from the LGTB community with children is increasing, and this reality is not limited only to the adoption of minors. New technologies have opened up a range of alternatives for fertility treatments for homoparental couples in Spain.
These possibilities have even opened up to care for trans couples who want to have children. The Assisted Reproduction Techniques (ART) represent a fertility solution for lesbian mothers who want to have their children. In this sense, the Madrid Fertility Institute (IMF) has become a benchmark fertility clinic in these procedures.
What does Spanish law establish?
The director of the IMF, doctor Federico Galera, points out that fertility procedures for single-parent couples are covered by current legislation. “Any woman over 18 years of age and with full capacity to act may be a recipient of Assisted Reproduction Techniques.” The health professional points out that she should only consent to said procedures in writing “freely, consciously and expressly”.
It indicates that the law is clear in stating that your marital status or sexual orientation may not limit access to these treatments. Therefore, this regulation covers fertility care for homoparental couples in Spain. The options are varied and the decision will depend on the particular situation of the patient.
Dr. Galera mentions, for example, intrauterine insemination with donor semen (IAD), In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) or the ROPA method (where one parent will be the surrogate mother and the other the donor mother). There is also the possibility of double egg donation, in cases where the single parent couple lacks them. Finally, the director of the IMF highlights the adoption of pre-embryos donated by another couple.
What is the most frequent method of fertilization?
At the Madrid Fertilization Institute, the methods most requested and used by patients are the IAD and the ROPA method. In the case of the IAD, Dr. Galera explains that the chances of this procedure resulting in pregnancy are 30% and in the ROPA method it would be around 70%. The important thing, the doctor clarifies, is that this option is considered within the woman’s childbearing age.
He explains that in these cases the selection of the donor is at the discretion of the medical team. The tendency is always to look for a person with the most similar phenotype to the partner. He adds that candidates must go through a rigorous selection process and genetic testing. It must be carried out by the same medical team that performs the insemination.
This is a condition that is also established in the law, which -in addition- obliges to preserve the conditions of anonymity of the donor. When the women who make up the single parent couple sign the consent, they will have all the rights and obligations over the baby resulting from the procedure.
Due to this, Dr. Galera recommends seeking information before starting the process; as well as he maintains a permanent realization of talks and disseminates information on his website.
