Shared motherhood: The ROPA method

Genetic and Biological Mother

• The selection of the egg donor is based on the better egg quality and the higher ovarian reserve in order to optimize the chances of success. Most of the time, this is the younger partner of the couple. She will act as the genetic mother, while the recipient who carries the child will take on the role of biological or biological mother.
• The couple’s preferences are taken into account, but the treating specialist keeps the child’s best interests in mind and ultimately makes the decision. Of course, both partners must agree to the treatment. Only if both women meet the same requirements will the couple decide together which of them will be the genetic and which will be the biological mother.
• However, there is also an alternative option: If both partners meet the health requirements, they can swap roles. This means that they can donate eggs to each other and even to each other at the same time in order to fulfil their desire to have children together.

Concurrent pregnancy

Many lesbian couples choose to travel to Spain or Portugal for the reciprocal cycle. It is important to know that this method is also available in Austria .

In the reciprocal cycle, both partners donate their eggs fertilized with the donor sperm from the other at the same time. If both embryos subsequently implant successfully, both women can become pregnant at the same time. Thus, both partners act as both genetic and biological mothers for both children. The reciprocal IVF cycle thus enables the unique possibility of simultaneous pregnancy for both partners.

Success rate with the ROPA method

The success rate of the ROPA method is generally around 80 percent, which is very high. This is because lesbian couples usually come to the fertility clinic for a reason other than medical and are therefore often younger. As a result, their chances of a successful pregnancy are significantly higher than those of heterosexual couples, who often seek help from specialists late if it has not worked naturally.

Is the ROPA method allowed in Austria?

Yes, unlike Germany, Austria legally approved the ROPA method in 2015. Along with Spain, Portugal and Denmark, Austria is one of the few EU countries where the ROPA method can be used. Since 2021, the procedure has even been possible without a medical indication. Normally, the Austrian Reproductive Act only allows egg donation if it is essential for the desired pregnancy, for example in the case of insufficient egg cell production by the mother. The donor must also be younger than 30 years of age.

Since the ROPA method is a partner donation, this law does not apply. Nevertheless, three legal requirements must be met in order to be allowed to carry out the ROPA method:

1. The partners must be married or in a civil partnership or present a notarial deed of the partnership.
2. There must be a notarial deed for the use of the semen of a third person (= foreign semen).
3. Both partners must undergo the necessary preliminary examinations.

The ROPA method is becoming increasingly popular due to its high chances of success. It is an important option for both the couple and reproductive medicine to be able to choose between high-quality eggs and a suitable uterus.

In the further course we will go into more detail about this treatment method and explain important aspects.

Procedure of the ROPA Method

After contacting and the initial consultation with our fertility clinic in Graz, both women are subjected to a thorough examination in order to identify any possible difficulties or risks for the treatment and the pregnancy at an early stage. In particular, the ovarian reserve, the quality of the oocytes and the condition of the uterus are checked. Based on these results, a recommendation is made as to which of the two women is best suited as a donor or recipient.

The search for a sperm donor begins. In Austria, couples can choose between a private donation or a donation from a sperm bank. However, an open (= not anonymous) donation is always required, in which the donor deposits his data. This gives the child the opportunity to experience the biological father from the age of 14.

Before the treatment can begin, in vitro fertilization with sperm donation must be certified by means of a notarial deed.

The hormonal stimulation and the timing are planned individually in the fertility clinic and discussed in detail. It is possible to synchronize the cycles of the two women, so that a woman’s eggs can be removed and fertilized with foreign sperm, while one or two embryos from the partner are transferred two to five days later. Alternatively, embryos can also be frozen (= cryopreserved) and transferred at a later date.