In recent years, there has been an increase in fertility treatments for single women, reaching 10% of total treatments. This is due to the elimination of taboos, as well as the delay that exists in our society to look for the first child.
Thanks to advanced assisted reproduction techniques, it is possible to become a single mother.
What are women who decide to become single mothers like by choice?
Women who decide to become single mothers are usually independent women who have the desire to start a family. The profile of a single mother by choice is that of an educated woman, who has grown professionally to reach the economic independence that will allow her to provide the best education for her baby. They are usually women with strong family support.
A woman who wants to become a mother knows that she is facing a life-changing decision, because it will be more difficult for her than for a couple.
Fertility treatments for single motherhood
Before choosing a fertility treatment, it is essential to make an analysis of the fertility status of the mother-to-be. Not all techniques have the same chances of success in all patients.
The most demanded fertility treatments among women without a partner are the following:
- In vitro fertilization or IVF.
A process by which the fertilization of oocytes by sperm is performed in the laboratory. By means of ovarian puncture, the oocytes are extracted to be fertilized with the donor’s sperm.
The embryos will develop in the laboratory until they reach the blastocyst stage (5-6 days of development). The embryos are constantly monitored, which allows embryologists to select the embryo that has the best chance of implantation.
- Artificial insemination
This is a simple and minimally invasive technique that consists of depositing sperm, previously trained in the laboratory, in the mother’s uterus during ovulation. The purpose is to produce the encounter between the egg and the sperm to increase the chances of pregnancy.
The two previous reproductive treatments are the most used for single women who want to become mothers, but there are others such as ovodonation or embryodonation.
How will the process to become a mother be?
A first visit is made with the fertility specialist. During this first visit, the patient will meet the entire team that will be accompanying her during the process.
Ovarian reserve is an important aspect to take into account. It is the quantity and quality of the patient’s oocytes, and it decreases with age. When a woman decides to start a family alone, the decision is usually made after the age of 38, and at that age the probability of achieving pregnancy through artificial insemination is quite low. In order to evaluate the patient’s ovarian reserve, a complete check-up of female fertility is performed, an important step that is carried out during the first consultation.
However, once all the necessary tests have been performed, the fertility doctor will decide on the best treatment for the patient. At that time, the selection of the perfect donor is made.
Sperm donor selection
The donation is performed under Spanish law, which guarantees the anonymity of the donor and the baby, so that their identities will never be known. To guarantee the health of the baby, tests are performed on the sperm donor, such as seminograms and blood tests.
Once the donor is suitable for donation, the choice of donor is made according to phenotypic criteria similar to the mother-to-be.