24 February 2025

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.

‘We have two beautiful children - our family wouldn't exist without LWC Brentwood. Can't recommend them highly enough; IVF is an emotional rollercoaster regardless of your journey and we were supported at every step. Pricing is transparent and easy to understand, with payment plans available that made accessing any treatment and medication very flexible and affordable. The clinic became such a part of our lives for that short time, the care and support is so important and LWC Brentwood were brilliant. Maybe we will see them again for number 3!’

Victoria Hayman

10 November 2026, LWC Brentwood

‘I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to the entire team for supporting me throughout my IVF journey. I am delighted to share that I had a positive pregnancy test following my very first IVF cycle fresh embryo transfer, and I am now 9 weeks pregnant! The staff at the LWC Colchester satellite clinic are very supportive, approachable and always do their best to help you at every stage of the journey. I would definitely recommend LWC Colchester to anyone considering fertility treatment. A special thank you to Dr Timea Kovats, a highly experienced, knowledgeable and to the wonderful staff Jackie, Annette, Tracey. Their excellent guidance, expertise, care and supportive approach played a significant role in making my first IVF cycle successful. I am truly grateful for their dedication, encouragement and support throughout this journey. I am equally grateful to all the staff at Colchester satellite clinic and the London main clinic for their care and support throughout the entire process. Thank you once again for helping us achieve such a special milestone in our lives. We will always be grateful for your support! ❤️’

jigu

10 November 2026, LWC Colchester

‘Friendly, experienced and professional team. Supported throughout the entire process and would highly recommend.’

Mizzee West

10 November 2026, LWC Brighton

‘The nursing team are so friendly and so supportive. Made everything so much better and easier to go through egg freezing.’

Megan Godber

10 November 2026, LWC Brighton

‘We had a great experience as the team here are very knowledgeable and caring and they made us feel taken care of throughout! Big shout out to Rute & Trianni for their care and support 😊’

Chiamaka Nelson

9 November 2026, LWC Cambridge

‘The team here are very kind and helpful and made the journey completely painless! They kept us informed throughout the process and were always responsive when we had questioned’

Aruna Nelson

9 November 2026, LWC Cambridge

‘They've given us wonderful service very easy to be around. Very good communication, and very good at helping us out with everything they've done so far.’

Jessica Norman

9 November 2026, LWC Oxford

‘We had a fantastic experience with LWC, Dr Rimington’s passion and expertise were second to none and we strongly believe that he is the reason for our success. All the staff were lovely, helpful and kind - we will definitely use LWC again’

Hannah Hale

9 November 2026, LWC Brighton

‘I honestly cannot recommend this fertility clinic highly enough. From the very beginning, the care, compassion and support we received were absolutely exceptional. Going through fertility treatment is an incredibly emotional journey, with so many ups and downs, but the team made us feel supported, listened to and genuinely cared for every step of the way. Nothing ever felt like too much trouble, and every member of staff we encountered was kind, understanding, professional and reassuring. What really stood out was how personal the experience felt. We never felt like just another number. The team took the time to answer our questions, put our minds at ease and guide us through what can sometimes feel like an overwhelming process. We are incredibly grateful for everything they have done for us and will never forget the part they have played in helping us grow our family. We now have our little miracles, and we couldn't be more thankful. If you're considering fertility treatment, I would wholeheartedly recommend LWC. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for helping make our dream come true! ❤️’

Emma Hayman

8 November 2026, LWC Brentwood

‘Had a really positive experience visiting the Oxford Clinic. Nurse Manager Liv, took time to make me us feel at ease and explained how the appointment will go. Thank you!’

Kinga Arcana-Jones

7 November 2026, LWC Oxford

‘Everyone my partner and I have interacted with at the Oxford clinic has been warm, friendly and knowledgeable. They’ve really helped make a very daunting process easier to go through and I’m very glad we chose this clinic!’

Jess Palmer

5 November 2026, LWC Oxford

‘Very friendly staff and a lovely inclusive environment, had a wonderful experience here. Highly recommend for anyone looking at fertility preservation.’

T Ilagan

5 November 2026, LWC Oxford

‘As an LGBTQ couple we found LWC Colchester incredibly supportive, no question was too much. They were friendly and welcoming, with modern facilities, and made your journey feel very personalised. We would highly recommend them for your fertility journey.’

Jasmine Colman

5 November 2026, LWC Colchester

‘A massive thank you to Dom and Dr Vasquez for all of their help throughout the process!’

James Purcell

5 November 2026, LWC Tunbridge Wells

‘Me and my husband can’t thank everyone at London Women’s Clinic enough for all the care and support throughout our recent treatment. Everything went really well, and we are so grateful to all the doctors and the entire team for looking after me. A special thank you to Mimi, Dr Barbara, Caroline, Trina and Elena from Embryology team and the Theatre Team - Rose, Martin and Amy F. Everyone was so kind, helpful and reassuring, and it really made a difference. Thank you all for everything. ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️’

IsadelandCyril

4 November 2026, LWC Harley Street

‘I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to the entire team who supported us throughout our IVF treatment. ❤️ A special thank you to Ana-Maria,our nurse, for her kindness, patience, compassion and professionalism. She was always so caring, understanding and supportive, making us feel reassured and comfortable during such an emotional and challenging journey. We would also like to thank Dr Gill from the bottom of our hearts for his professionalism, dedication, expertise and the confidence he gave us throughout the entire process. IVF is not just a medical treatment; it is an emotional journey filled with hope, challenges and many feelings. Having such wonderful people by our side made everything so much easier. Thank you for your care, support and dedication. We truly appreciate everything you have done for us and would wholeheartedly recommend you to anyone beginning their IVF journey. Thank you for being part of our journey! ❤️’

Alexandru Predescu

3 November 2026, LWC Harrow

‘I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to the entire team who supported us throughout our IVF treatment. ❤️ A special thank you to Ana-Maria,our nurse, for her kindness, patience, compassion and professionalism. She was always so caring, understanding and supportive, making us feel reassured and comfortable during such an emotional and challenging journey. We would also like to thank Dr Gill from the bottom of our hearts for his professionalism, dedication, expertise and the confidence he gave us throughout the entire process. IVF is not just a medical treatment; it is an emotional journey filled with hope, challenges and many feelings. Having such wonderful people by our side made everything so much easier. Thank you for your care, support and dedication. We truly appreciate everything you have done for us and would wholeheartedly recommend you to anyone beginning their IVF journey. Thank you for being part of our journey! ❤️’

Mihaela-Clemansa Predescu

3 November 2026, LWC Harrow

‘Simply Brilliant .’

Ramachandran Jeyamohan

3 November 2026, LWC Colchester

‘I feel so blessed and grateful to have been under the lovely nurse Katie and Dr Kovats’s care. Everyone I encountered in the clinic on or off line was friendly, reassuring, thoughtful, and patient with me. I could feel the genuine care from Katie and Dr Kovats. I feel very reassured knowing they'd be there with me every step of the way; it is a great relief to have medical professionals like them on my side. They listened attentively, were reassuring, explained what I need to know thoroughly and were very approachable. Thank you to Carina, the friendly clinic coordinator, for always answering my emails promptly and being so helpful with all the questions I threw at her. Also, to the lovely staff member with blonde hair (I’m so sorry I forgot your name!) who did the ultrasound scan, thank you for being so attentive and making me feel relaxed. The clinic has a calm, relaxing vibe and is very clean. I have had a wonderful experience with the clinic and would highly recommend the team to anyone on their fertility journey!’

T Yang

3 November 2026, LWC Brentwood

‘We have used London Women's Clinic twice in the last two years for successful egg retrieval and two subsequent frozen embryo transfers. We have always been met with care, compassion and a personal approach. Every step from the initial consultation right through to the 7 week scan has been professional and polite, always accommodating our needs and timings. We can't thank the team enough for giving us such support towards creating our family.’

Lucy Richards

2 November 2026, LWC Tunbridge Wells

‘Myself and my husband owe it all to london womens clinic, they were amazing from start to finish. We previously were under another clinic and decided to make the change due to many reasons and we are so glad we did. They treat everyone as individuals, not everyones fertility journeys are the same. The small team at Colchester make it so personable not to mention how amazing all 4 women are that work here, their knowledge empathy and listening skills simply cannot be found at any other clinic. The list goes on as to why I would recommend LWC but everyone likes a to the point review. They genuinely care they dont treat you like a number and they help you through every hurdle that occurs. Our little boy wouldn't be possible without these 4, each of them play a bigger part than they realise. 💙’

Ellen Turrell

2 November 2026, LWC Colchester

‘Wonderful punch of people, caring, competent, and efficient in all they do. It feels we are all in a mission together and they are invested in the success of our pregnancy. Thank k you 🙏’

Yasmine Mora

30 October 2026, LWC London Bridge

‘I couldn’t speak more highly of the London Women’s Clinic Oxford! From the moment you walk in you are greeted with such a warm welcome. The reception area is bright and welcoming and the receptionist is lovely. All of the staff are so friendly, helpful and polite. Going through this journey can be emotional, so having such a wonderful supportive, caring clinic to visit makes all the difference. Everyone goes above and beyond to make you feel comfortable and looked after. I feel so lucky to have such a lovely team supporting me along the way. Thank you all! 🍀💗’

Louise

30 October 2026, LWC Oxford

‘Incredible service and professionals. They made me feel comfortable and safe the entire journey. Thank you!’

Luciana Lombardi

30 October 2026, LWC Cambridge

‘I had an absolutely amazing experience at LWC from start to finish! There are literally no wait times so we were able to get started pretty much straight away after consultation. The process was seamless, with a lot of flexibility if you need to change appt time. Nurses are amazing and so supportive. Special shout out to Kate and Chris who were so kind and made the whole experience so much better. Also the nurses on the ward were absolutely amazing but I can’t remember their names. I’m now discharged as I’m pregnant from my first try! However I will look forward to returning in the future for my second embryo which is currently frozen 😊’

Kathryn Jessica

27 October 2026, LWC Bromley