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Assisted conception

Assisted conception enables you to create a family which you may not otherwise have had.

Infertility can be heartbreaking but the birth of a child through assisted conception is nothing short of a miracle.

We are passionate about the work that we do and pride ourselves upon our open-mindedness, excellent client service and friendliness.

Infertility can be a long, exhausting and emotional journey. We aim to support you throughout.  We have worked with clients both locally and nationally.

Michelmores assisted conception team

Vanessa Priddis

Vanessa Priddis

PARTNER

vanessa.priddis@michelmores.com
Rachel Cook

Rachel Cook

ASSOCIATE

rachel.cook@michelmores.com

We are a lesbian couple and a male friend has agreed to impregnate one of us. Is this OK?

If an arrangement such as this is going to be entered into then a parenting agreement should be made. This will assist you in considering all the issues that can arise including potential disputes. For example, will the child have contact to the sperm donor?  Who is financially responsible?  What happens if the lesbian relationship breaks down?  Parenting agreements are not legally binding as any dispute involving a child will require the Court to consider what is in the child's best interests.

What is donor conception?

Donor conception is using sperm, eggs or embryos donated by someone else in your fertility treatment.

Around 2000 babies in the UK are born each year using donated sperm, eggs or embryos.  Usually a clinic recommends donor conception because treatment would be unlikely to be successful if you were to use your own eggs or sperm.

How much does fertility treatment cost?

When it comes to paying for fertility treatment in the UK, you may be eligible for funding from the NHS, or you can pay for your own treatment, i.e. be a private patient. 

NHS funding can cover the costs of in vitro-fertilisation (IVF).  The NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence) Guidelines states that up to 3 cycles of IVF should be available to:

  1. women aged 23-29;
  2. those who have an identifiable cause of infertility;
  3. those who have had more than 3 years of fertility problems.

However, implementation of these guidelines is still occurring across England, meaning the number of fertility treatment cycles you can receive on the NHS varies from region to region.

Assisted conception

You may be one of the one in seven couples experiencing fertility difficulties and want to find out about other ways of becoming a parent. Or, perhaps you are a same sex couple wishing to have a child together. Perhaps you are a woman wishing to have a child on your own.

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