fertility

problemas-fertilidad

Fertility issues

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So, you’ve decided to become a mother. This is a time-consuming decision but once you make it all you want to do is meet your beautiful baby. But what if you don’t get pregnant right away? This is where the fear and doubts start, what if you can’t have children? Are you too old? This is, without a doubt, one of the most stressful situations you will ever experience.

That’s why, in the case of lesbian couples, deciding who will have the baby is one of the most important factors in order to increase your chances of a successful pregnancy. It’s also important that you undergo the different fertility tests that will measure ovarian reserve and the condition of the uterus and Fallopian tubes.

What factors affect fertility?

Hormonal issues

The way that hormone levels fluctuate can affect fertility. Anovulation is when the ovaries are not producing or maturing any eggs. It can be very difficult to get pregnant during early menopause. Another common fertility issue is polycysic ovary syndrome (PCOS) which is when the ovaries have multipe cysts. This commonly occurs when the ovaries or adrenal glands produce more male hormones than usual. A sign of having ovulation issues is when periods are irregular or scarce.

Issues with the Fallopian tubes or the uterus

Some conditions such as myomas which are anomalous growths in the uterine lining or endometriosis which causes endometrial tissue to grow outside the uterus can block the Fallopian tubes which in turn would make it impossible for a fertilised egg to properly attach.

Other factors

Drugs, alcohol and tobacco consumption can also affect fertility. It can also cause early menopause, miscarriages, and early labour. Weight issues (such as over or underweight) can affect the menstrual cycle and therefore reduce your chances of pregnancy.

After 35 fertility decreases considerably and so does the quality of your eggs, so age is a factor as well.

Some unknown factors: emotional infertility

There’s a lot of pressure both internal and external during your fertility journey. Your friends and family might start to ask a lot of questions which makes you feel even more pressure. Then if your first try doesn’t work out you start feeling guilty and upset that perhaps you waited too long to decide to start a family. This pressure and guilt can “block” your possibility of becoming pregnant. 

Eventually, this creates anxiety, low self-esteem, guilt, sadness, insomnia, decrease appetite and it obviously affects your relationship with your partner.

Specialists recommend:

  • Don’t let the treatment affect your daily lives.
  • Try to separate it from that which surrounds you (family and friends) to avoid them (unknowingly) adding undue stress to the situation.
  • Keep the lines of communication open with your partner, tell them how you feel and don’t isolate yourself.

Since the process is long and difficult a lot of people give up due to the anxiety and stress it generates. In fact, it’s the number one cause of stopping treatment. If it gets to be too much for you, don’t hesitate in getting counselling.

This journey is long and difficult, but you shouldn’t give up. Just because the first attempt didn’t work out doesn’t mean that it won’t happen at all. The reward is amazing!

Want to know more? Contact us

What if I don’t get pregnant right away?

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When you start a fertility treatment you might feel that you will fall pregnant on the first attempt. When this doesn’t happen you start feeling doubtful and anxious with thoughts like: do I have fertility issues? Am I sick? These thoughts are common in not just lesbian couples but in any woman that is trying to get pregnant and is having some trouble doing so right away.

The success rate of different fertility treatments varies: artificial insemination is around 20-25% (going up to 60% by the third attempt), in vitro fertilisation is 70% and the ROPA method is closer to 90%. Even though the ROPA method has the highest success rate in fertility treatments, a truly successful pregnancy is linked to other factors such as:

The ovarian reserve: every woman is born with a limited number of oocytes. This number decreases in both quantity and quality after a woman turns 35 which makes becoming pregnant more complicated.

The condition of the uterus: the following fertility tests can be useful for lesbian couples in determining the morphology of their uterus and ovaries: transvaginal ultrasound, hysteroscopy, and endometrial biopsy.

The condition of the Fallopian Tubes: is another reference of your fertility. Appendicitis, peritonitis or varying levels of endometriosis may have affected the fallopian tubes.

There can also be issues with the pregnant mother’s endometrium.

All these risks factors are screened for in the initial fertility tests. There is also genetic testing in order to ensure the highest compatibility with the sperm donor. The sperm’s quality controls are very strict.

There’s no magic wand that will make sure you are successful but you can prepare yourself physically and emotionally for this journey. A well-balanced life and diet is very important. Some things you can do: reduce caffeine and alcohol, get enough sleep and exercise regularly.

If your particular situation is getting the best of you, don’t hesitate in getting in touch with a specialist who can help reduce your anxiety. Undergoing a fertility treatment is an emotional roller coaster. Do things that make you happy: exercise regularly, go for walks, read, do yoga. Avoid any and all situations that produce stress. Treat yourself!

Shall we start project baby? Get in touch with us and we’ll answer all your questions.

fertilidad lesbianas

Fertility in lesbian couples. How to decide which one will be the implanted mother?

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Perhaps you both want to experience motherhood and be biologically involved in the process.

You might also want some advice on who’s having the baby or you may be looking for the best chance of becoming pregnant.

In both cases, fertility testing can be a solution for lesbian couples.

The fertile life

The most fertile window begins at around 20 years old, although ovulation has begun at about 14 years old.

At 30, female fertility starts declining.

First, it does so slowly, and by 36, the process accelerates considerably. So by the time you decide to have children, realise you can afford them, discussed it in depth with your partner and you’re both ready, it may already be too late for your biological clock. That fertile window might have closed.

Not all women are built the same, so if you are shocked by the statistics, keep on reading.

Here are some fertility factors for lesbian couples!

 

Fertility indicators

Ovarian reserve

Since before we are born, we are sexual beings.

In the case of women, we come into the world with a number of oocytes, which we can use during our lifetime. These are the ones that allow us to become pregnant, but they are available in a limited capacity, and we will never be able to produce new oocytes.

Menstruation is proof of how our body is prepared for pregnancy. Regardless of menstruation, contraceptive use or pregnancies, the number of oocytes will decrease over time.

Aging can damage the genetic material of your eggs. It’s a natural process, but if you want to stop the rate at which this happens, you can do a lot of things! You can stop smoking and drinking alcohol and start having better stress management techniques. We suggest you try this sometime.

We are sure you’ll notice it in your physical and mental health too!

 

The state of the uterus

The following fertility tests can be useful for lesbian couples in determining the morphology of their uterus and ovaries: transvaginal ultrasound, hysteroscopy, and endometrial biopsy.

Having a pregnancy plan is important in order to prevent miscarriages or difficulties in embryo implantation due to changes in the uterus. Testing is only one part in achieving a successful pregnancy.

 

The state of the fallopian tubes

Project baby is already underway, so it is important to consider that the fallopian tubes are another reference for fertility in lesbian couples. In fact, it is the first thing that is studied when pregnancy attempts are unsuccessful in heterosexual couples.

Appendicitis, peritonitis or varying levels of endometriosis may have affected the fallopian tubes. The recommended course of treatment is three natural or artificial inseminations before proceeding with a hysterosalpingogram.

This test uses x-rays to assess the level of permeability of the fallopian tubes and uterus. It can be somewhat uncomfortable since it consists of using a speculum in the vagina to clean it, and inserting a tube through it.

 

Now that you know about the fertility tests for lesbian couples, shall we start Project Baby? 

lesmaternity ser madre lesbiana

What you need to know to become a lesbian mother

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The decision has been made and you’re sure of it! You’re going to be lesbian mums together, but where do you start? Where do you go first? What methods are there?

We know you are full of questions and in this post we’re going to solve them all. We’re here for you!

Doctor’s visit

Now that you have made the decision to become a lesbian mother you should start by visiting a medical centre.

During this visit, you will undergo general health tests to measure your overall fitness. They will also test different fertility indicators, paying close attention to the ovarian reserve, which is very important to this process.

To ensure the quality of the oocytes, egg freezing is becoming more and more popular. This procedure guarantees that, regardless of the age at which you decide to get fertility treatments, the oocytes will be good quality.

Which method should you choose to become a lesbian mother?

Now that you know your health and fitness you have to decide which treatment or method to use to become a mom.

Traditional method

The traditional method of having sex with a man is one of the options for becoming a mother. However, it does not ensure effectiveness and is not ideal for lesbians.

Artificial insemination

This involves placing the fertile spermatozoa in the uterus at the time of ovulation. The success rate is between 15% and 30%, which is difficult, but not impossible.

In vitro fertilization

In this method the eggs are extracted from one of the mothers; they are fertilised in a laboratory and then put back into the mother’s uterus. It is complex, but it has a 60% success rate.

This option is the one most likely to succeed.

Reception of Oocytes from the Partner (ROPA)

The ROPA method is the same as in vitro fertilization, but fertilised eggs are introduced into the uterus of the other mother.

Using this method both of you will actively participate in the process of becoming biological mothers: one as a genetic mother and the other as a pregnant mother.

The success rate is 60%, and it gives you both the chance of being involved in the process.

It is certainly the best option to become a lesbian mother with your partner.

Legal advice

The legal aspects are also an important part of becoming a lesbian mother. By law, the donation of eggs and sperm is anonymous.

Since 2005, Spanish legislation has allowed gay marriage; this provides lesbians with the same equal rights as heterosexual couples in matters such as assisted reproduction.

Under law 14/2006 of May 26, all women of legal age, under free consent, may undergo an assisted reproduction technique regardless of their marital status or sexual orientation.

This law was amended to recognise that both mothers are the parents of a child born through assisted reproduction techniques, regardless of the marital status of the couple.

However, in the ROPA method, the couple’s situation is important. Since it is not an egg donation, but the use of your partner’s embryos.

The legislation clearly states that these can only be provided “by the woman or spouse”, and therefore you must be married.

This is not the case with other assisted reproduction techniques. However, the ROPA method carries a higher emotional burden for lesbian mothers than other procedures.

If you have any questions you can contact us or go to an LGBTI association to receive all the legal information on this subject.

What is your decision?

We know that there are many decisions to make, but the most important one has already been made: you want to be mums.

You should choose a method depending on your marital status, but remember that the most important thing is mutual support.

Once you have considered both your medical and relationship status, the next step is to choose which one of you will be the pregnant mother and which will be a genetic mother, or both, if you choose the ROPA Method.

Together you will begin one of the most beautiful journeys. It’s time; you’re ready.

How did you start? Tell us your experience!

Lesmaternity reserva ovarica

Ovarian reserve: what we need to know about our eggs to become lesbian mothers

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The ovarian reserve is considered as the number of eggs that a woman has at any given time, which in turn determines her level of fertility.

If your ovarian reserve is high you are much more likely to become pregnant through gestational methods.

Do you have any questions? We will answer them here.

Let’s start at the beginning

Each woman is born with a specific number of oocytes, close to one million, which is approximately halved at puberty.

In each menstrual cycle, only 400 to 500 oocytes reach ovulation and the rest are lost along the way.

The period of time in which a woman is most fertile (when there are good quality and quantity of oocytes) is between the ages of 16 and 30. From a physiological point of view, this is the ideal time to become a mum.

From 35 onwards pregnancy becomes more complicated as your ovarian reserve decreases eventually exhausting itself around 40 in menopause.

Some factors that can affect ovarian reserve are cancer treatments, obesity, environmental pollution, exposure to pesticides and toxins, stress and an unhealthy lifestyle.

What should we do to improve our ovarian reserve?

Even though our ovarian reserve deteriorates with age, specialists advise us that before becoming pregnant we:

  • lead a healthy life,
  • play sports
  • maintain a balanced nutrition.

We have to prepare ourselves, not only with fertilization methods, but also with good habits in order to become lesbian mothers.

Everything we do affects our bodies and we want our eggs to be in good shape to start an assisted reproduction method with our partner.

In order to increase your chances of becoming pregnant, it’s recommended that the one with the best ovarian reserve be the one who provides the egg in the ROPA method.

How do we measure ovarian reserve?

In order to measure the ovarian reserve women must undergo a hormonal profile:

*FSH: follicle stimulating hormone

A sex hormone that regulates the menstrual cycle, it’s released by the pituitary gland to stimulate ovarian development.

*AMH: anti-mullerian hormone

The ovary releases it where the egg develops.

*E2: estradiol

As the follicles develop, the release of estradiol increases, so by measuring this hormone we can assess the ovarian reserve.

*AFC: Antral follicles count

This test involves a transvaginal ultrasound where the accumulation of liquid in the inner cavity is measured. This gives us an approximate idea of a woman’s ovarian reserve.

Why is it important to measure the ovarian reserve?

Knowing the evolution of the ovarian reserve is fundamental in determining a woman’s reproductive potential.  

This lets us know in what way you will respond to ovarian stimulation treatments.

And if your eggs are great, why not help other moms-to-be? Have you heard of egg donation?

Don’t waste any more time. Shall we begin?

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