Donor conception for single mothers

The NHS commissioners for South East London were forced to apologise recently after it emerged that the organisation’s IVF treatment access policy said single women should not be given funding on the basis that they would be “unable to bring out the best outcomes for the child” and could place a “greater burden on society”.

The apology was prompted by a complaint lodged by a group of single mothers who found the wording offensive and highlighted that research has shown that one parent is just as capable as bringing up a child as two are. The organisation has now pledged to undertake a rapid review of their policy.

There are a number of legal issues that single women who plan to have a baby using donor conception in this country need to consider.

Donor conception involves using a donor to provide sperm or eggs, or both, to conceive. This can either be a through a licensed fertility clinic or, with sperm donation, at home.

A woman may decide to use a registered donor or conceive with the help of a donor they know.

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