Insemination & IVF for lesbian couples

Lesbian couples are able to seek financial support from the IVF fund, just like heterosexual couples.

So how can we help you get pregnant? Lesbian couples can seek the help of fertility treatment if they want to have children. By means of insemination or in-vitro fertilisation (IVF), we can fertilise your eggs and help you become a mother. We are also happy to assist you in your search for a suitable sperm donor.

Sperm donation for lesbian couples

If homosexual couples have an acquaintance available to them as a private sperm donor, we can induce pregnancy for the couple desiring children by means of artificial insemination using the sperm of this acquaintance.

Otherwise, women in a partnership have the opportunity of seeking use of sperm donation from a sperm bank. These donations are made anonymously, however physicians and biologists assign a suitable candidate. The selection is made according to the couple's desired criteria. It goes without saying that donors are examined both with respect to their health and genetics, and must undergo an extensive vetting process. Many lesbian couples have taken advantage of this option via TFP Austria.

The law states that the conceived child has the right to know the name of the donor at the age of 14. If the couple wishes to have a second child from the same donor, sperm from the same man can be reserved for the desired second pregnancy. 

What to do in the case of infertility?

If the partner who wants to carry the pregnancy is potentially infertile, due for example to endometriosis or other causes, we must first identify the cause for this infertility. Once a diagnosis is reached, we can discuss possible fertility treatment options. In case the infertility issue cannot be solved, it is worth noting that lesbian couples in Austria can also get help in the form of egg donation. 

The Austrian Reproductive Act stipulates that egg donors may not be older than 30 and that the egg recipients cannot be older than 45. Furthermore, donation cannot be performed anonymously. And here, too, the conceived child again has the right to obtain information about the donor once he/she has turned 14.

Legal recognition of lesbian partnerships

It is also worth noting that Austrian law requires documentary evidence of your partnership, as a same-sex couple or as a heterosexual couple. This, of course, may vary from case to case, for example where lesbian couples travel from outside of Austria to receive fertility treatment. Where marriage or civil partnership certificates are not available, notary documentation proving you are a couple is sufficient.

More information?

Fertility treatment is a personal matter. We are always at your disposal offering detailed information.