ROPA — Reception of Oocytes from Partner — lets both partners in a female same-sex couple be biologically involved in a single pregnancy: one contributes the egg, the other carries. It's a distinct protocol worth understanding on its own terms.
How it works, step by step
- One partner undergoes ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval, exactly as in a standard IVF cycle
- Retrieved eggs are fertilized with donor sperm in the lab
- The resulting embryo is transferred into the other partner's uterus, which is prepared with hormonal support ahead of the transfer
- The carrying partner experiences the pregnancy from transfer through birth
ROPA means one partner is the genetic parent and the other is the gestational parent — both biologically connected to the same pregnancy in different, specific ways. This is a meaningful distinction for couples deciding how they want to structure the process.
Who's a good candidate
Both partners need a baseline fertility workup — the egg-providing partner for ovarian reserve and egg quality, the carrying partner for uterine health and readiness to carry. Age matters for the egg-providing partner specifically, similar to standard IVF.
Legal documentation
Both partners' involvement should be clearly documented through the clinic's legal partner network to support parental rights recognition in your home country — see our broader legal guide for same-sex couples for what that process typically involves.
Timeline
ROPA follows a timeline close to standard IVF — the egg-providing partner's stimulation and retrieval phase, followed by a transfer once the carrying partner's uterine lining is ready. Many couples complete this within a similar 3-week window to a standard fresh cycle.
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