Lesbian women who use their partner’s egg in IVF may face higher medical risks, according to new research.
The study—the first of its kind—found that women undergoing co-IVF, also known as reciprocal IVF, may be more likely to experience complications such as pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes.
Co-IVF allows couples, including lesbians and trans men, to share biological parenthood. In the procedure, one partner provides the egg, which is fertilized with donor sperm, and the resulting embryo is implanted in the second partner, who carries the pregnancy.
Experts said the practice has “increased dramatically” in the UK and emphasized the need for couples to be fully informed about potential health risks for both the mother and baby.
The review, conducted by researchers from King’s College London, Anglia Ruskin University, and the University of Leeds, analyzed data from five studies covering more than 9,000 patients. It compared co-IVF pregnancies with traditional IVF, in which the gestating partner uses her own egg.
The analysis found that co-IVF may be associated with a higher risk of pre-eclampsia, which causes high blood pressure and protein in the urine, and gestational diabetes, which can arise during pregnancy. While live birth rates were higher in some cases, co-IVF was also linked to lower birth weights in infants.
The researchers highlighted the importance of ethical considerations, noting that “patient autonomy and informed consent” must guide decisions around co-IVF.
UK figures suggest IVF cycles among same-sex female couples rose almost sevenfold between 2008 and 2018, from 320 to 2,151. Co-IVF is not routinely available on the NHS but may be offered in certain areas depending on local policies.
Until late 2024, the procedure required enhanced screening for conditions such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and rubella—tests that could cost up to £1,000—but these are no longer mandatory.
Prof. Susan Bewley, co-lead of the study and emeritus professor of obstetrics at King’s College London, said: “It’s important that couples are aware of potential complications that can occur because the baby is genetically unrelated to the pregnant woman. All women deserve full, unbiased information about the extra risks associated with donor-egg pregnancies so they can make informed decisions.”
While the findings, published in the Journal of Homosexuality, are described as “worrying,” researchers caution that larger studies are needed.
Elizabeth Choong, first author and undergraduate medical student at the University of Leeds, said: “With more same-sex female couples choosing co-IVF, it is vital that the risks of this procedure are clearly communicated from the outset.”
Catherine Meads, professor of health at Anglia Ruskin University, added: “These preliminary findings are concerning and must be explored in larger-scale studies to determine the exact additional risks for women undertaking a pregnancy with a donated egg.”
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