Same-sex couples
Dear patients, dear advice seekers,
Since ‘marriage for all’ became possible in Germany, rainbow families have been treated equally to heterosexual married couples in many areas. However, there are still a number of hurdles to overcome on the way to having a child, ranging from (medical) realisation and recognition of parenthood to complex adoption procedures. In addition, there are different regulations in the legislation of the federal states, in the guidelines applicable to the treating doctors by the relevant medical association, and in the financial support provided by possible cost bearers.
As your consulting doctors, we provide you with expert guidance through the medical issues involved in having a child. As we are not permitted to provide legal advice, you will find below a number of links that deal with problems and questions from a legal perspective in detail.
The team at the MVZ Pan Institute specialises in the interdisciplinary care of couples who are unable to conceive. Lesbian couples (cisgender female couples) also receive optimal support in starting their own families.
Assisted reproductive therapy procedures:
In addition to the options of becoming a foster family or adopting, artificial insemination is a good option for lesbian couples who want to have a child. There are two different methods of artificial insemination using donor sperm from a sperm bank:
In intrauterine insemination, the donor sperm is flushed directly into the uterine cavity through a thin catheter. The egg is then fertilised naturally. In cases of cycle disorders, hormonal stimulation can be used as an accompanying treatment.
If multiple treatments using intrauterine insemination are unsuccessful, or if the chances of insemination therapy are initially considered too low, artificial insemination using IVF or ICSI can also be considered. In this procedure, the egg cell is artificially fertilised with the sperm cell in the laboratory and the fertilised egg cell(s), then embryo(s), are inserted into the uterus.
During a consultation, these two possible treatment methods are explained in detail – including how they are carried out, the chances of success, risks and side effects, costs and the basic bureaucratic requirements.
First of all, we would like to inform you about the necessary requirements for treatment at our fertility clinic:
You must be married before starting fertility treatment. Before starting fertility treatment, you will also receive notarised family law advice, and we also recommend psychological counselling regarding the medical, emotional and social aspects and challenges of heterologous (i.e. using donor sperm) fertility treatment.
Our counselling, diagnostics and therapy are tailored to your individual situation, wishes and needs, based on national and international medical guidelines and recommendations. We are united by our desire to help you fulfil your dream of having children as soon as possible.
The costs of fertility treatment through artificial insemination are usually not covered by health insurance companies and must be borne by the couples themselves. Other subsidies (e.g. from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia) are also not usually granted.
For artificial insemination as part of fertility treatment for lesbian couples, sperm is donated by a certified sperm bank. Sperm donors must meet strict health requirements (see also the Sperm Donor Register Act https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/saregg/BJNR251310017.html). Before donating, the donor undergoes a comprehensive examination and a thorough medical history is taken with regard to chronic and genetic diseases. Communicable diseases are also ruled out.
We cooperate with the following institutes (only certain, designated donors can be used/ordered from foreign sperm banks in Germany):
Erlanger Samenbank
European Spermbank
Cryos Denmark
During a consultation, all questions are first clarified and patients are informed in detail about the individual steps involved in diagnosis and treatment, as well as the applicable conditions. Once the medical aspects of the procedure have been clarified, contact can be made with the sperm bank to select a suitable sperm donor, and the notarial and psychological consultations can take place.
If you are a cisgender, married female couple and would like to realise your dream of having children through intrauterine insemination or IVF/ICSI (‘test tube fertilisation’) therapy with donor sperm, please feel free to contact us.
We look forward to meeting you!
LINKS FOR FURTHER READING (from the NRW family portal):
The Rainbow Portal is an information service provided by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth. Details on adoption law and other legal framework conditions for rainbow families can be found here: www.regenbogenportal.de
In addition, the Ministry for Family Affairs of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia provides information on this topic: www.mkjfgfi.nrw/lsbtiq
You can find further information on the topic of ‘Experiencing family diversity in childcare’ on the NRW childcare portal: www.kita.nrw.de
Detailed information on starting a family for homosexual couples can be found on the Lesbian and Gay Association website: www.lsvd.de
The Rainbow Family Counselling Competence Portal of the Lesbian and Gay Association offers professionals working in family counselling thematic lectures and day workshops on all aspects of life and counselling for rainbow families: www.regenbogenkompetenz.de
rubicon e. V. offers counselling, health promotion and support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans*, inter* and queer individuals and groups: www.rubicon-koeln.de