[First French data on sperm donation requests from female couples]

Objective: The new bioethics law, enacted on August 2, 2021, has expanded access to medically assisted reproduction (MAR) with sperm donation to unmarried women and female couples. The implementation of this law led to a significant influx of sperm donation requests at French sperm banks. This major development in the field of ART in France, and in French society as a whole, prompted us to focus specifically on the requests from female couples.

Method: A retrospective, single-center study was conducted at a gamete donation center in Paris. The data of women in same-sex couples who attended a first consultation with a biologist between October 1, 2021, and October 31, 2022, were analyzed and compared to those of women in heterosexual couples who also requested MAR with sperm donation during the same period. The ART attempts and their outcomes were analyzed up until May 31, 2024.

Results: A total of 117 women in same-sex couples and 75 women in heterosexual couples were included in the study. The profiles in terms of age, ovarian reserve, and history of gynecological conditions did not differ between the two groups. The only observed differences were related to lifestyle, particularly alcohol consumption, which was slightly higher among women in same-sex couples. Additionally, women in same-sex couples appeared to belong more frequently to the category of intermediate professions, but no differences were observed concerning other occupational categories. Regarding the outcomes of ART attempts, cumulative rates of early and ongoing pregnancies were not different between the two groups.

Conclusion: This study thus provides an initial insight into the profile and outcomes for women in same-sex couples who received ART with sperm donation shortly after the enactment of the bioethics law in France. The similarity in profiles and ART outcomes between women in same-sex couples and those in heterosexual couples supports the approach of offering similar medical care, regardless of the couple's configuration.