Blog

Fertility treatment options for single people

There is no one ‘right’ way to start or expand a family. Thanks to advancements in assisted reproductive technologies (ART), the available paths to parenthood are more diverse than they have ever been.

This has given options to infertile heterosexual couples, LGBTQ couples and single people, allowing them to realise their dreams of having children.

According to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), the number of single individuals, particularly women, seeking fertility treatment has risen significantly in recent years. If you’re interested in fertility treatment options for single people you’re not alone if you feel overwhelmed. There’s a lot of information and factors to consider.

However, this article is designed to help you understand the family-building routes that are available so that you can feel informed and confident in your next steps.

Fertility treatment for single men

Biological fatherhood is possible for single men via two main treatment options: sperm freezing or intrauterine insemination (IUI)/ in vitro fertilisation (IVF) with a surrogate.

Sperm freezing

Sperm freezing is a fertility preservation option. It is commonly used by men who:

• Are about to start cancer treatment, as chemotherapy and radiation therapy can damage sperm.
• Are undergoing surgery involving the testicles or prostate.
• Are undergoing hormone therapy or surgery as part of a gender transition.
• Have high-risk occupations that expose them to hazardous environments or increase the risk of injury.

However, sperm freezing can also be a viable personal choice for single men who want to become fathers but are not currently in a relationship or have other life circumstances that prevent them from pursuing parenthood, but wish to store sperm while younger, fit and well.

It’s also a good option for men who know they have a low sperm count and will likely need IVF to conceive. It can help ensure there are more sperm available for treatment.

Surrogacy

Single men can also use a surrogate to have biological children. In straight surrogacy, the female surrogate will undergo IUI or IVF with her own eggs being fertilised with your sperm.

Another possibility is gestational surrogacy, in which IVF is carried out with donor eggs and your sperm, with an embryo then transferred to your surrogate. This option allows for the selection of an egg donor that might provide desired specific characteristics such as ethnic background.

Fertility treatment for single women

Whether you’re planning for the future or ready to become a parent now, there are several options available to support your journey to single motherhood.

Egg freezing

Egg freezing allows women to preserve fertility for the future. This is a popular option for single women who aren’t ready to have a child yet but who wish to increase their chances of conceiving later in life when fertility naturally declines.

The process involves hormone injections to stimulate the ovaries, followed by egg retrieval and freezing. When you’re ready, the frozen eggs can be thawed, fertilised with sperm, and transferred via IVF.

Learn more about egg freezing with our partner clinic, London Women’s Clinic. The LSB is also associated with the London Egg Bank, the first and only dedicated egg bank within the UK, which has been successfully freezing and thawing eggs for more than two decades.

IUI with donor sperm

IUI is a relatively straightforward and minimally invasive fertility treatment. It involves placing donor sperm directly into the uterus during ovulation.

This procedure is often recommended for single women with no known fertility issues and can be performed using sperm from a donor, either from a licenced sperm bank or from someone known to the woman. It’s usually one of the first treatment options considered due to its lower cost and minimal medical intervention.

However, its success rates are generally lower than some other forms of fertility treatment and reduce the older a woman is. It typically takes several IUI cycles to fall pregnant.

IVF with donor sperm

IVF may be recommended if you’ve tried IUI without success or if there are underlying fertility issues, such as blocked fallopian tubes or if you are older.

In IVF, eggs are retrieved from the ovaries and fertilised with donor sperm in a lab before being transferred to the uterus. IVF allows for more control over the fertilisation process and can include genetic screening of embryos, which may be important for women with certain health considerations.

IVF with donor sperm and donor eggs

Some single women choose to use both donor eggs and donor sperm for IVF. This might be because of age, medical conditions affecting their egg quality, or simply a personal choice.

This process involves selecting both an egg donor and a sperm donor. The eggs are fertilised in a lab, and the resulting embryo is transferred to your uterus. This option gives women the chance to carry a pregnancy even if they cannot use their own eggs or want to avoid passing on a genetic condition.

Surrogacy

For women who are unable to carry a pregnancy themselves, surrogacy may be an option. This involves another woman (the surrogate) carrying the pregnancy on your behalf, using either your own egg or a donor egg fertilised with donor sperm.

Considerations for single fertility treatment

Pursuing fertility treatment as a single person is a deeply personal and often complex decision, bringing with it a mix of excitement, hope and uncertainty. Without a partner to share the emotional and practical load, every choice can feel more significant. From timing and finances to emotional readiness and future family dynamics, many factors can shape your path.

Success rates

Fertility treatments have different average success rates. In addition, your reproductive health and medical history can influence how likely a treatment is to result in pregnancy. Understanding national success rates and your personal chances of success can help not only in making a decision but also in managing your expectations.

For IVF/ICSI, the live birth rates per cycle using donor sperm from London Sperm Bank are:

• 45% for women under 35
• 33% for women aged 35-37
• 24% for women aged 38-39

For IUI with donor sperm, the live birth rates per cycle are:

• 20% for women under 35
• 14% for women aged 35-37
• 13% for women aged 38-39

(Data from 1782 cycles from 2019–2022, verified against HFEA records.)

Cost of treatment

Fertility treatment can feel expensive, and for single parents, the financial responsibility rests solely on one person. Costs can vary depending on the type of treatment, with IUI typically being the least expensive and IVF with ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) being the most costly.

Additional expenses, including donor sperm or eggs, medication, storage fees, and legal support also need to be considered. Planning ahead and exploring options like fertility loans, savings plans, and all-inclusive or unlimited treatment packages can help make the process feel more manageable.

If you are interested in lower cost options available to certain patients, we would suggest you learn about Kind iVF, our partner clinic that offers more affordable IVF without compromising on outcomes.

Choosing a clinic

Selecting the right clinic is an important decision, as you want to make sure you feel comfortable throughout the process and are confident in the team providing your treatment. Looking at different clinic websites can help. It’s also a good idea to research clinic success rates for the treatment you are considering and whether they have the specialist services relevant for you. Some clinics are highly experienced in supporting single parents or using donor sperm and eggs.

Parental rights

Understanding parental rights when using donor sperm or eggs is important before deciding on any treatment. If you’re female and using donor sperm for treatment at a licensed clinic, the sperm donor has no legal rights or obligations to any child born, and you will be the legal mother.

With surrogacy involving donor eggs, the surrogate is legally the mother of the child until a parental order is obtained. This then makes you the legal parent with parental responsibility and permanently removes the surrogate’s legal motherhood.

Until January 2019, a single man could not have a child through surrogacy and be legally recognised as the only parent. However, they can now apply for a parental order to remove the name of the surrogate, making them the only legal parent.

It’s also worth noting that although donors have no legal parental rights, any donor-conceived children can ask for information about their donor from the HFEA. This could mean that in the future, your children may have a relationship with their donor, and this is something you need to consider.

Emotional support

Undergoing any fertility treatment can be exciting and emotionally intense, and perhaps particularly so for single women and solo parents. Having a robust support network around you before you start can help you through the process.

Most clinics offer counselling before treatment commences, and some will even make it a mandatory component to ensure you feel fully informed and emotionally prepared for your fertility treatment and any implications it has.

There are also online support forums and in-person groups with other people who have already gone through or are embarking on the same treatment path as you. Talking to people who understand your situation can be very helpful.

You may also be able to lean on family and friends as well for emotional and practical support, if you feel comfortable sharing your experience with them.

Choosing a donor

Knowing how to find donor sperm can feel daunting as a single person, but at London Sperm Bank, we are here to guide you through the process.

You can start by browsing our donor catalogue to find your ideal donor based on their physical characteristics, cultural background, education, occupation and personal values.

Once you’ve made your choice, you then select from the donor sample types, based on the type of treatment you are having. Individual vials are available, but you can also purchase multiple vials in case of multiple cycles or to ensure biological siblings.

Your details and treatment will be verified with your clinic before your order is then shipped and delivered to them. You’ll receive regular updates throughout, and you can reach out to our customer service team at any time.

Choosing to pursue fertility treatment on your own is a brave and empowering step. While the journey may come with unique challenges, it also offers the chance to create the future you’ve imagined, on your own terms. If you’re considering donor conception, you can learn more about the London Sperm Bank and the steps to find a donor.

References

Family formations in fertility treatment 2022 | HFEA

Single women | HFEA

Surrogacy: a factsheet

Finding out about your donor and genetic siblings | HFEA

Navigating Fertility Treatment as a Single Parent: A Guide for Prospective Solo Parents – European Fertility Society