Motivations and role allocation in shared motherhood IVF: a study of lesbian-mother families in Spain

For female couples pursuing parenthood through assisted reproduction, the decision about who will carry the pregnancy and who will provide the oocytes is a complex dimension of reproductive planning. This study explored the motivations driving role allocation within the reception of oocytes from partner (ROPA) method. A retrospective survey was administered to 74 women who underwent ROPA in vitro fertilisation (IVF) between 2020 and 2025 at clinics belonging to one private fertility group in Spain. Both members of each couple were invited to respond independently, allowing the capture of diverse perspectives within couples. Participants’ responses and comments suggested that role assignment was most often shaped by one partner’s desire to experience pregnancy, alongside age-related and biological considerations. Participants expressed mixed views regarding role switching in a subsequent pregnancy. Overall, perceptions of the mother-child bond were largely grounded in relational and caregiving experiences rather than genetic or gestational links. Findings provide preliminary insights into role allocation in ROPA and may help fertility professionals better understand these decisions. Potential social desirability effects, retrospective design and the private-clinic sampling frame should be considered when interpreting the results.