The Scotsman

More female same-sex couples using IVF

- By ELLA PICKOVER

A rising number of female same-sex couples and single women are using IVF, new figures have shown.

Data released by the Human Fertilisat­ion and Embryology Authority (HFEA) show that in 2018, 2,151 IVF treatment cycles were recorded for patients in female same-sex relationsh­ips compared to only 320 in 2008.

The fertility regulator’ s latest data also shows a rise among IVF cycles for single women. There were 1,352 IVF cycles for single patients in 2018, compared to 531 in 2008.

Female same-sex couples are more likely to use donor inseminati­on to conceive a baby. But the new data shows that IVF treatments are now becoming increasing­ly common.

In 2008,27 percent of treatment cycles for patients in female same - sex relationsh­ips were IVF. This increased to 45 per cent in 2018.

Figures also show increasing numbers of IV F treatments among single women. For single patients, use of IV F has increased from 41 per cent in 2008 to 57 p er cent in 2018.

Sally Cheshire, chairwoman of the Human Fertilisat­ion and Embr yolo - gy Authority, said: “Since the HF EA was formed nearly 30 years ago, the number of people accessing fertility treatment has increased year on year ... the increase is still small in terms of patient numbers but reflects an increasing shift in society’s changing attitudes.”

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