Comparing the Outcomes of In-Vitro Fertilization in Same-Sex Female Couples Using Their Partner's Egg Versus Their Own Egg: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Reciprocal IVF (or co-IVF) is increasingly a reproductive option for same-sex female couples. No systematic reviews have compared outcomes of co-IVF using a partner’s egg to IVF with own egg. This systematic review determined outcomes of mother and child comparing co-IVF, and IVF with own egg (single, heterosexual, lesbian, trans men), reported using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Databases including Embase, Medline, PsycInfo, Scopus, Cochrane were searched to November 2024. Inclusion, extraction, and quality assessment were conducted by two reviewers. Meta-analyses used Revman 5.4 software. Five retrospective cohort studies (3 USA, 2 Spain, 2021–2023) were included (from 625 papers identified, 30 full-text articles examined). Meta-analysis showed higher clinical pregnancy and live birth rates for co-IVF compared to IUI, heterosexual IVF, single women, or own-egg lesbian IVF, but lower birthweights. One study reported higher rates of hypertensive disorders (23.8% vs. 12.9%) and gestational diabetes (9.5% vs. 1.6%) in co-IVF. None reported on ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, child development and other mother and child outcomes. Larger scale and more diverse studies are needed urgently to assess safety, establish guidelines, and inform couples considering co-IVF.