Courage to Lead: LWC’s Past, Present, and Future of LGBTQ+ Fertility
When London Women’s Clinic became one of the first clinics in the UK to provide IVF to same-sex couples, the tabloids dubbed our clinical leadership, Dr Kamal Ahuja, ‘the gayby doctor’. We were proud to own that label then, proud to own it now, and proud to advocate for the highest standards of LGBTQ+ fertility care, always.
Our Commitment to LGBTQ+ Families
This LGBTQ+ History Month, we were thrilled to have a presence at a crucial event on fertility access for LGBTQ+ people, hosted by the Progress Educational Trust. Our Medical Director, Professor Nick Macklon, presented alongside an array of leading researchers and campaigners for LGBTQ+ parenthood and reproductive justice.
We are not just invested in talking about our role in LGBTQ+ history, in the UK and internationally. We are invested in how we are taking part in that history today, and how we can work with LGBTQ+ people to build the futures in fertility that every individual deserves.
Read on below for some reflections from Professor Macklon’s talk and beyond, on our rich past, present, and the futures we’re working to create. You can watch Professor Macklon's full talk on YouTube.
A Brief History of LGBTQ+ Advocacy at LWC
London Women’s Clinic was the first clinic in the UK to interpret the Welfare of the Child clause of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act (1990) to include same-sex couples, leading the charge in donor insemination for primarily lesbian couples. This move, seen as controversial at the time, is now (happily) ‘routine’ in the UK, and part of the HFEA Code of Practice.
But we certainly did not start or stop there. Over decades of work with the Centre for Family Research, Cambridge, and its pioneering Director, Susan Golombok, LWC drove research behind the change that removed further discriminatory legislation, with the groundbreaking updates to the act in 2008. This meant widespread legal access for lesbian couples to donor conception with automatic parental recognition, new rights for gay men to conceive through surrogacy, and ‘important recognition for [LGBTQ+] parents who [had]… been left in a legal lacuna’.
And we’re proud to have been the clinic, at our Darlington branch, to first trial and establish ‘shared motherhood’. This is the method for same-sex couples famously dubbed ‘Her bun in my oven’, in research published jointly by our team. This reciprocal approach to IVF, in which a fertilised egg from one mother is implanted in the other mother’s uterus, is now widespread around the world, and a meaningful form of family creation for countless LGBTQ+ couples.
Donor Intrauterine Insemination (D-IUI): LWC’s Cornerstone of Equality
For many lesbian couples, D-IUI became the simpler, less invasive first step into fertility treatments. Over a 13-year period (2004–2016), 8,922 D-IUI cycles were performed at LWC, 43% of which were for same-sex couples. Our published research found:
- 11% live birth rate (LBR) per cycle, rising to 30% cumulatively if multiple cycles are pursued
- For patients under 35, 66% ultimately achieved a successful birth if they continued treatment
- After six cycles without success—especially for those over 40—we typically advise moving on to IVF
Today, D-IUI is a recognized mainstay, offering a lower-medication, lower-cost route to parenthood for individuals and couples who qualify.
Shared Motherhood: ‘Her Bun in My Oven’
At the heart of our services for same-sex female couples is shared motherhood, wherein one partner’s eggs are fertilized with donor sperm and implanted into the other partner’s uterus. This unique process was pioneered by LWC more than 15 years ago, has been used in over 1,000 treatments to date, and shows a 60% cumulative birth rate in recent internal studies.
Shared motherhood is a testament to how patient-led innovations—like wanting each partner to have a biological stake in the pregnancy—can become standard medical practice. For many couples, this approach enriches their bond and sense of mutual parenthood.
Surrogacy: Expanding Pathways for Male Couples and Beyond
In the early 2000s, legislative changes opened the door for gay men to build their families via surrogacy. Yet the legal framework remains intricate, requiring a Parental Order post-birth. Even so, LWC has advocated tirelessly for making the surrogacy journey more transparent and supported:
- 201 surrogates treated on behalf of 209 intended parents (2014–2024)
- Resulting in 141 babies
- 46% of LWC’s surrogacy cases involve LGBTQ+ intended parents
Surrogacy demands compassion and precision, and thanks to our integrated network of the London Egg Bank and London Sperm Bank, we can streamline donor selection for intended parents. Meanwhile, robust legal advice helps guide the complex path to formal parenthood.
Trans+ Fertility: Charting New Frontiers
We’ve extended our inclusive ethos to transgender and non-binary individuals, offering fertility preservation (egg or sperm freezing) and advanced pathways like IVF or surrogacy. A recent review of 20 IVF cycles by 13 couples of various transgender-cisgender configurations showed:
- 42 embryo transfers
- 87.5% cumulative clinical pregnancy rate
One remarkable case involved a transgender male who froze his eggs in 2015 and later returned with his transgender female partner to pursue surrogacy—resulting in two healthy births in consecutive years. These success stories demonstrate that with the right support and understanding, trans+ individuals need not compromise their transition journeys or their dreams of parenthood.
LGBTQ+ fertility today
We are proud to be known still as a safe destination for LGBTQ+ people seeking fertility treatments. Our data shows that one in four patients having IVF at London Women’s Clinic Harley Street between 2020 and 2023 were either single women or same-sex couples.
And over this period, the number of same-sex couple treatments grew by 86%, and by 45% for single women, in line above the growth described by the HFEA nationwide, below. We have also seen higher success rates in same-sex couples and single women than in heterosexual couples, with a birth rate of 73% per patient for same-sex couples, and 50% for single women, compared to 48% for heterosexual couples.
We have produced a steady output of influential research, documenting our work and sharing best practice – on success rates in donor insemination, shared motherhood, surrogacy, and most recently on a complex, successful treatment pathway for a trans+ couple. This paper was the first to document successful fertility treatments in a couple where both partners are trans+, and drew on a mixture of egg freezing, embryo freezing, and IVF in surrogacy, without disrupting ongoing experiences of gender affirmation treatment for the parents.
Futures in fertility access
The latest HFEA statistics for fertility treatment in Britain show that same-sex couples (and single women) today have the fastest rates of growth in fertility treatments, as well as the highest success rates of all groups.
But research from Stonewall and DIVA Magazine shows that up to 36% of LGBTQ+ couples face barriers or challenges when starting their families, including unfair practical difficulties and inequitable financial costs. And same-sex couples are still having to make headlines to fight for affordable, high-quality care.
Through Kind iVF and our partnership with London Sperm Bank, Kind Donor IVF, we are proud to be making donor sperm IVF financially accessible for same-sex couples who are likely to need simpler and lower-medication treatment pathways.
Through Egg Freezing at London Women’s Clinic and our You Do You community, we are proud to be expanding a safe, welcoming space for trans+ individuals to preserve their fertility before clinical gender affirmation processes, and to connect with others on the same journey.
And, excitingly, we are proud to be relaunching our seminal ‘Alternative Families Show’ and legendary ‘Inseminar’ programme, once crucial parts of the landscape of widening LGBTQ+ access to fertility and fertility information. On 10th May at the Hilton Doubletree, Brighton, we’ll be bringing together leading experts in LGBTQ+ fertility and parenthood for a free day of events, workshops and panels. This is The Familymakers Show: Raising Tomorrow. Tickets are now available, and we hope to see you there.
All of our blog posts are written, edited, or produced by the London Women's Clinic Content Team. This is a collaboration between our expert writers, health editors, and the leading researchers and senior doctors at our Harley Street clinic.
What Our Patients Say
‘I honestly cannot fault Kind IVF. From start to finish, I have been so incredibly impressed with the care, compassion and professionalism shown by the entire team. Going through IVF can be such an emotional and overwhelming journey, but they have made the whole experience feel so much more reassuring and positive. Every step of the way, I have felt cared for, listened to and supported. The team have been amazing at answering questions, putting my mind at ease and making sure I felt comfortable throughout the process. You can really tell how much they care about their patients, and that makes such a huge difference during a journey that can be so personal and emotional. I am so grateful to everyone at Kind IVF for everything they have done for us. Choosing them has been one of the best decisions we have made, and I genuinely couldn’t recommend them enough to anyone considering IVF. The standard of care has been outstanding, and I cannot thank them enough for helping us on this journey. ❤️ Thank you, Kind IVF, for being so amazing!’
Georgia Burt
22 October 2026, LWC Tunbridge Wells
‘I highly recommend the London Women's Clinic Brentwood. The staff were very supportive, patient, and always available to answer questions. They guided me through an emotional process with clear explanations and genuine care. The staff were always available and happy to help.’
S Begum
21 October 2026, LWC Brentwood
‘Choosing an IVF clinic is such a big decision and I'm so incredibly glad that we chose this one. IVF can be such an emotional and overwhelming journey but having a clinic that offers so much support and genuinely cares for you makes such a difference. The care and kindness that we have received has been exceptional. We can't thank LWC Brentwood enough ❤️’
Laura Keary
21 October 2026, LWC Brentwood
‘I honestly can’t thank London Women’s Clinic enough for helping me achieve my lifelong dream of becoming a mum. It wasn’t an easy journey, but the team were absolutely fantastic and supported me every step of the way. Their kindness, care and reassurance made such a difference during what was a really emotional and challenging time. I always felt supported and in safe hands. A special thank you to Carla, Ana-Maria and Dr Goswami. You have all been absolutely fantastic and I am so grateful for everything you have done for me. I’ll never forget the support and care you have shown me during such an important and emotional journey. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for helping me achieve something I have wanted for as long as I can remember. It means more to me than words can say. I would recommend London Women’s Clinic to anyone going through their own fertility journey.’
Sarah
21 October 2026, LWC Harrow
‘We started our treatment in July, and I have had a very positive experience with this clinic. Lorraine on reception especially made me feel like nothing was too much trouble and always knew me by name which is such a nice personal touch, especially at such a sensitive time. Along with Dr Safwat Ashour he always recommended the best treatment for us and just had such a kind caring attitude towards us while explaining our options and being very honest with us too. One of the nurses (so sorry I can’t remember your name) she only recently started in July and I felt so at home with her and cared for. To finish off we are currently pregnant with our IVF miracle all thanks you this clinic. Thank you all so much, no thanks would ever be enough for the gift you have given us!’
Sophie Jay
21 October 2026, LWC Darlington
‘Very professional and very welcoming, and very clean I was given time to feel relaxed and I didn't feel like I had to rush this made me feel very comfortable.’
Ryan Harmer
21 October 2026, LWC Brighton
‘My wife and I have had a brilliant experience with LWC throughout our fertility journey. We always felt listened to, supported, and in control of the decisions we were making. Our PCC Suzanna, Dr Verstraete, and the nursing team were consistently friendly, responsive, and knowledgeable, which made navigating the shared motherhood process feel so much easier. We’re incredibly grateful for the care and support we received.’
Megan Nelkon
20 October 2026, LWC Harley Street
‘I’ve had a great experience with the clinic so far. From the very beginning, I’ve felt incredibly well cared for and supported throughout my egg freezing journey. Daenira on reception is always so lovely, welcoming and helpful, and Liv, my nurse, has been fantastic! She’s made me feel comfortable, reassured and well looked after at every step. Dr Wade has also been absolutely brilliant and I have complete confidence in the care and guidance I’ve received. I would highly recommend this clinic to anybody considering egg freezing.’
Saffy
20 October 2026, LWC Oxford
‘The most amazing experience with the clinic from start to end Nothing is to much for them They will answer every Question Worry or concern no matter how big or small, My experience and care they have shown in one of the hardest times and most worrying experiences they were there every single step of the way, I honestly couldn’t thank every member I’ve dealt with anymore and would recommend this clinic to anyone thinking about it , hardest decision but best decision every made and all the staff here made this possible for me you are all amazing caring people And I thank you from the bottom of my heart 🙏🏼🩷’
Stephanie
18 October 2026, LWC Brentwood
‘I truly feel blessed and thankful to God that we are in such a wonderful place and in such caring hands during one of the most precious journeys of our lives. The clinic has been outstanding throughout my treatment, making the entire journey feel as smooth as possible. The whole team at the Brentwood clinic is absolutely amazing, everyone is so warm, welcoming and supportive. The treatment has been incredible so far, and we are extremely satisfied with the care, support, and overall service we have received throughout our journey. Fingers crossed, I truly believe that the best news is just around the corner! ❤️🤞 I would wholeheartedly recommend Brentwood clinic for the care and support they provide in parenthood journey.’
Harika
14 October 2026, LWC Brentwood
‘London Women’s Clinic, Reading were fantastic and Nurse Nicky was such a supportive and reassuring professional. Thank you for journeying with me Nicky!’
Sope Adekola
14 October 2026, LWC Reading
‘Where to start… Fertility treatment is the last thing any of us expect to need. But if you find yourself on this journey, Brentwood London Women’s Clinic is where you want to be. Carina’s warm welcome sets the tone the moment you arrive, and every single nurse is wonderful, kind, calm, and reassuring. It’s a complicated and sometimes difficult road, but they walk it beside you. We’ve experienced both joy and heartache here, and through every moment we’ve felt cared for and supported. They truly get to know you, and the care feels personal and bespoke. Today we have our precious 3-year-old, and we will forever be thankful to this amazing team. They are everything you could hope for kind, knowledgeable, and genuinely there for you. We couldn’t recommend them more.’
Sarah Tidey
13 October 2026, LWC Brentwood
‘We honestly can’t thank London Women’s Clinic in Brentwood enough for everything they have done and continue to do for us. They helped us create our now 3 year old, and we are incredibly grateful to be back with them on our journey to hopefully have another little one. Angela and Katie are truly incredible nurses. They go above and beyond to make you feel comfortable, listened to and supported every step of the way. They take the time to explain the process, answer any questions and put your mind at ease, making what can sometimes be an overwhelming and emotional journey feel that little bit easier. It means so much to be cared for by people who genuinely seem to care about you and your family, rather than just seeing you as another patient. Their kindness, compassion and reassurance make such a difference, and we feel very lucky to have them supporting us again. We will always be grateful to London Women’s Clinic for helping us bring our little girl into the world, and we have every hope that they will help us grow our family once more. We couldn’t recommend the team highly enough. Thank you, Angela, Katie and everyone at the Brentwood clinic, for being such a special part of our journey. ❤️ Also a special mention for the smiley face in the reception. Carina, you are great!!’
bethan philp
13 October 2026, LWC Brentwood
‘Came here after my treatment at LWC Darlington as I needed to be part of the failed implantation team. The care and communication was second to none. It was everything and more, no question to my coordinator was never too much. They were extremely accommodating when I had to travel from up north multiple times and were always happy to let me have my then 2 year old son come to monitoring appointments. I’m grateful for their expertise in failed implantation as my 3rd egg collection was successful and my fresh transfer worked first time & I’ve just gave birth to my second LWC baby in September 2026. Would always recommend LWC - especially London Bridge / Harley Street.’
Jeni J
13 October 2026, LWC London Bridge
‘Great experience. Very kind and supportive.’
Jesylin Luka
12 October 2026, LWC Reading
‘My experience with London Women's Clinic Brighton has been wonderful so far. The staff are kind and patient, as well as exceptionally knowledgeable. I have had all my questions answered (and have been encouraged to ask more whenever!), and I feel assured that I'm receiving transparent, evidence-based advice.’
Jess Smith
12 October 2026, LWC Brighton
‘Excellent service, highly recommend!’
Lenka Kalafutova
10 October 2026, LWC Tunbridge Wells
‘Lovely people. Truly!’
Eve Reiser
8 October 2026, LWC Reading
‘My experience was positive throughout. The team at the clinic was friendly at every visit. Suzanna was always very responsive and kind and happy to answer any questions. Dr Verstraete was always empathetic and knowledgeable! Most importantly: the outcome is a healthy baby :)’
Mir
8 October 2026, LWC Harley Street
‘Thank you so much Dr Naware, Linda and Emmanuella’
Moyo T
7 October 2026, LWC London Bridge
‘Going through the IVF journey is always going to be difficult, but the team at London Women's Clinic in Harrow have made it the best experience possible. We've had constant support, check ins, and they have really got to know us and understand our concerns and issues. No question has ever felt like a silly one, and they've been incredibly accommodating when we've needed it too. The whole team have been amazing, but in particular Carla, Ana-Marie and Dr Goswami. We actually relocated away from Harrow 12 months ago, but have continued to go back to the team there as we've built such a great relationship with them, and their support through such a difficult journey has meant the world to us. I can't recommend them highly enough. And probably the important bit for anyone considering going to them - we're expecting our first baby in February!’
Emma Dunning
6 October 2026, LWC Harrow
‘I’d like to say a massive thankyou to everyone at the Cambridge London clinic there all loverly, with out you guys we wouldn’t be were we are today with our little journey of having a baby 😊 not only did they help us with our pregnancy but the amount of support they have given us has been incredible. We had to have a frozen ivf and as you can imagine we were so nervous but we have been lucky enough for ours to work first time and now my partner is 7+weeks 😊 the whole way through this process has been nothing but support and kindness all members of the team that we had dealings with our amazing and it’s actually kind of sad to be leaving but we would love to thank you all from the bottom of our hearts for everything’s that you guys have done for us. If your looking at going through ivf process London clinic Cambridge is the best place for this. Again thankyou so much guys we will miss you all ❤️ (April + Ricky )’
Ricky Watson
5 October 2026, LWC Cambridge
‘We have been with the clinic for 2 months and I’ve never felt more at ease and welcomed, we were so fortunate to have our treatment work first time and be so lucky to conceive first time, the staff here are absolutely amazing and I’m so sad to be leaving to carry on our pregnancy journey! I just wanna say a massive thank you to all the staff here will be so sad to say bye but so so greatful because without them we wouldn’t be having our amazing baby that we have growing now! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!’
April Dearman
5 October 2026, LWC Cambridge
‘After a lot of research at the start of what felt like quite a daunting journey, we chose the London Women's Clinic Bristol and it is one of the best decisions we have ever made. From the very first appointment, we felt genuinely looked after. The team knew our names, remembered our story, and made us feel like so much more than just patients. That warmth and care never wavered - through the uncertainty, the hope, the waiting, and ultimately the joy - and we have now been through this journey with them twice. A truly heartfelt thank you to Ana, who has been the most wonderful expert and support to have by our side through all of this. Her knowledge and her kindness have meant more than we can say. And to Ellie and Kat at reception - always there, always warm, always ready for our questions - nothing would have been the same without you both. We are now a family of four, and we carry so much gratitude for everyone at LWC Bristol & Cardiff who played a part in making that possible. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.’
Coralie Estrade
4 October 2026, LWC Bristol
‘I am incredibly grateful for the care I received. The nursing staff and my coordinator were exceptionally supportive during the two weeks of hormone injections and tracking scans. They took the time to answer all my questions, which made a highly clinical and invasive process feel much more personal and manageable. The medical team during the egg collection procedure was also professional, reassuring, and kind. Big thanks to all of who were part of my journey.’
Chitra Banveer
3 October 2026, LWC 112 Harley Street
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