Single mothers by choice

We define "single mother by choice" the woman who freely wishes to become pregnant, through some technique of assisted reproduction, without the help of a known partner.

It is an absolutely legal option, recognized in the Assisted Reproduction Law, currently in force in Spain. They are women who recognize being of a first pregnancy, but for different reasons do not have a stable partner, and do not want to postpone their decision to be a mother.

Usually they are women with a stable economic situation, an age close to 35 years, and a medium or medium-high cultural level.

Artificial insemination

Depending on the situation, they can opt for a pregnancy through an insemination with donor sperm. This option is appropriate when there are no biological problems to get pregnant (there are no problems with the gynecological device or general health) and the decision to get pregnant is immediate. The aim is to locate the ovulatory moment of the woman, usually through serial ultrasound examinations and proceed to an insemination.. It is the most economical procedure and the simplest technique of the possible options.

In vitro fertilization

If the desire is a pregnancy deferred in time, but the age of the woman begins to be compromised (more than 35 years of age), you can choose to perform an in vitro fertilization, and fertilize the oocytes extracted with semen from the bank and vitri fi them to use them later or to vitri fi er the oocytes without fertilizing, waiting that later the ideal pair could appear, with whose semen the oocytes could be fertilized, to transfer them.

Of the two, the first technique is more successful, since embryos (fertilized and evolved oocytes) are more resistant to the vitri fi cation and devitri fi cation processes, with respect to the unfertilized oocytes, which are more labile.. On the other hand, the first option requires the selection of bank semen, while the second option provides the opportunity to choose it in the future..  

Choosing one or the other option will depend on whether the time to start a pregnancy is current or should be postponed. There are more variables such as the age of the patient, her ovarian reserve, the family support she may have, etc.. The gynecologist can help the woman choose the best option.

The questions that a woman should ask to initiate a consultation in this sense are:

Do I want to get pregnant?

I have a couple?

Is the time right?

The experience of Gine3, in this type of situation, has made us evaluate that it is very important the support that the woman has on the part of her direct family (father and mother), and in less importance of her circle of friends. The greater proportion of women who have undergone these techniques, when they already have their son, look for a partner to consolidate their family, since it can make their education more bearable, and can help a better evolution.