Sexual orientation of women does not affect outcome of fertility treatment with donated sperm Sexual orientation of women does not affect outcome of fertility treatment with donated sperm

Abstract

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: All clinics in Sweden offering sperm donation recruited patients. Differences in patients' medical history, treatment results and number of treatments to live birth were analyzed using independent-samples t-test, Nor was there a difference in live birth rate between the groups for either fresh or thawed embryo transfer. There was no difference between the proportions of women in either group or the number of treatments needed to achieve a live birth. Heterosexuals had a higher prevalence of smokers (9.2%), uterine polyps (7.2%) or previous children (11.3%) than lesbians (smokers 2.8%, p = 0.03; polyps 1.8%, p = 0.03; child 2.5%, p = 0.003). LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: This study is limited to women living in stable relationships undergoing treatment with donated sperm in a clinical setting and may not apply to single women or those undergoing home inseminations. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: These results may influence healthcare policy decisions as well as increase the quality of clinical care and medical knowledge of healthcare professionals. The data also have important implications for individuals regarding screening, infertility diagnostic procedures and treatment types offered to heterosexuals and lesbians seeking pregnancy through sperm donation