Selected Podcast
Reciprocal IVF
Sara Reid, MD, REI, shares information on reciprocal IVF, including how the process works and the best candidates for this procedure.
Featuring:
Her research includes metabolic disease in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), ovarian aging and the ethical use of reproductive technologies. Dr. Pittenger Reid’s special medical interests include fertility preservation and fertility treatment for the LGBT community.
In her free time, Dr. Pittenger Reid enjoys food, travel and anything outdoors. She loves exploring everything Northern California has to offer with her family.
Sara Reid, MD, REI
Sara Pittenger Reid, M.D. received her fellowship training in Reproductive Endocrinology at the University of California, San Francisco. She is board-certified in reproductive endocrinology and infertility.She earned her medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine and completed her residency training at the University of Pennsylvania hospital. She completed a Masters of Translational Medicine during her fellowship training at UC Berkeley. Dr. Pittenger Reid is a Junior Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and a member of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine.Her research includes metabolic disease in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), ovarian aging and the ethical use of reproductive technologies. Dr. Pittenger Reid’s special medical interests include fertility preservation and fertility treatment for the LGBT community.
In her free time, Dr. Pittenger Reid enjoys food, travel and anything outdoors. She loves exploring everything Northern California has to offer with her family.
Transcription:
Bill Klaproth (Host): What is reciprocal IVF, and is it right for you? What are the main benefits? Let's find out, with Dr. Sara Reid, Co-Director of a Third Party Program at Reproductive Science Center, San Francisco Bay.
This is Fertile Edge by Reproductive Science Center, San Francisco Bay. I'm Bill Klaproth. Dr. Reid, thank you for your time. Let's start here. What is reciprocal IVF?
Dr. Sara Reid (Guest): Reciprocal IVF is this really interesting treatment option that we have when we have a couple where both partners have female reproductive organs — uterus and ovaries. Essentially, what it is is an IVF cycle that is shared between the two partners. One partner provides the eggs for the cycle from their ovaries that are then fertilized with typically donor sperm. The other partner carries the pregnancy in their uterus and then has the chance to actually carry the pregnancy and deliver the baby. Essentially, it's an opportunity for both partners to contribute biologically to the same pregnancy.
Host: That's really interesting. Reciprocal IVF — one woman supplies the eggs, and the other woman carries and delivers the baby?
Dr. Reid: Exactly.
Host: Pretty cool, so you both get to participate in the creation of the child.
Dr. Reid: Exactly.
Host: Who is a good candidate for this when it comes to the two female partners? Who is this for?
Dr. Reid: Primarily, we're seeing same-sex female couples who come to us. We also will sometimes see couples who are — where one member of the partnership is transgender, or both are transgender — again, it all comes down to what physical reproductive organs do you have to be able to contribute to a pregnancy? It's an option for a lot of our patients. I think it's something that's really exciting for couples to undertake together because then they really get to feel like they're both participating.
Host: Doctor, let me ask you this, it sounds like the main benefit of this is clear, but is it as successful as IVF where one person provides both eggs and carries the pregnancy?
Dr. Reid: It is. This is a really neat thing about IVF that the success of the pregnancy doesn't necessarily depend on whether the eggs come from the same person as the person who's carrying it. We have a healthy embryo, and we're placing it in the uterus at the proper time in the cycle. The probability of that embryo doing well in the uterus that's the same as the body where the eggs came from versus a different uterus is exactly the same. Your IVF doctor's role in all of this will be to assess both partners from a medical standpoint to see if there is anything that alters your chance of success. Once we have that nice embryo, and once we're placing it into a good uterine environment, the chances of success with reciprocal IVF are the same as with IVF where one person is providing eggs and carrying the pregnancy.
Host: As we're talking about this, I'm thinking this seems like such a really good idea. Is this a fairly new, reciprocal IVF?
Dr. Reid: I wouldn't say it's new. It's something that fertility practices which have been caring for members of the LGBTQ community have been offering for a while, as long as we have been doing IVF — the mainstream IVF process, which is a little over 35 years. We've also encountered situations where people needed the egg from somebody else or donor egg IVF. Reciprocal IVF is sort of an offshoot of that donor IVF process except the donor is known and perhaps, your partner. This is something that we've been doing for quite some time and is something that as more members of the LGBTQ+ community are seeking care is gaining in popularity as people are learning this is an option for them.
Host: Mm-hm. And is there anything else we should know about reciprocal IVF?
Dr. Reid: I think like any fertility treatment or any path to parenthood, the first step is to just sit down with your provider, talk through what your goals and desires are, talk through your medical history, and really understand what is going to be your best option. If this is something that you're very interested in, know that it can be a great experience for couples and one that many people are very excited about.
Host: Yeah, I can see. Really good topic. Dr. Reid, thank you so much for your time today. I really enjoyed speaking with you.
Dr. Reid: Thank you, it was a pleasure for me.
Host: And if you want to get connected with Dr. Reid or another physician, please visit RSCBayArea.com, that's RSCBayArea.com. And if you've found this podcast helpful, please share it on your social channels and check out the entire podcast library for topics of interest to you. This is Fertile Edge by Reproductive Science Center of San Francisco Bay. I'm Bill Klaproth. Thanks for listening.
Bill Klaproth (Host): What is reciprocal IVF, and is it right for you? What are the main benefits? Let's find out, with Dr. Sara Reid, Co-Director of a Third Party Program at Reproductive Science Center, San Francisco Bay.
This is Fertile Edge by Reproductive Science Center, San Francisco Bay. I'm Bill Klaproth. Dr. Reid, thank you for your time. Let's start here. What is reciprocal IVF?
Dr. Sara Reid (Guest): Reciprocal IVF is this really interesting treatment option that we have when we have a couple where both partners have female reproductive organs — uterus and ovaries. Essentially, what it is is an IVF cycle that is shared between the two partners. One partner provides the eggs for the cycle from their ovaries that are then fertilized with typically donor sperm. The other partner carries the pregnancy in their uterus and then has the chance to actually carry the pregnancy and deliver the baby. Essentially, it's an opportunity for both partners to contribute biologically to the same pregnancy.
Host: That's really interesting. Reciprocal IVF — one woman supplies the eggs, and the other woman carries and delivers the baby?
Dr. Reid: Exactly.
Host: Pretty cool, so you both get to participate in the creation of the child.
Dr. Reid: Exactly.
Host: Who is a good candidate for this when it comes to the two female partners? Who is this for?
Dr. Reid: Primarily, we're seeing same-sex female couples who come to us. We also will sometimes see couples who are — where one member of the partnership is transgender, or both are transgender — again, it all comes down to what physical reproductive organs do you have to be able to contribute to a pregnancy? It's an option for a lot of our patients. I think it's something that's really exciting for couples to undertake together because then they really get to feel like they're both participating.
Host: Doctor, let me ask you this, it sounds like the main benefit of this is clear, but is it as successful as IVF where one person provides both eggs and carries the pregnancy?
Dr. Reid: It is. This is a really neat thing about IVF that the success of the pregnancy doesn't necessarily depend on whether the eggs come from the same person as the person who's carrying it. We have a healthy embryo, and we're placing it in the uterus at the proper time in the cycle. The probability of that embryo doing well in the uterus that's the same as the body where the eggs came from versus a different uterus is exactly the same. Your IVF doctor's role in all of this will be to assess both partners from a medical standpoint to see if there is anything that alters your chance of success. Once we have that nice embryo, and once we're placing it into a good uterine environment, the chances of success with reciprocal IVF are the same as with IVF where one person is providing eggs and carrying the pregnancy.
Host: As we're talking about this, I'm thinking this seems like such a really good idea. Is this a fairly new, reciprocal IVF?
Dr. Reid: I wouldn't say it's new. It's something that fertility practices which have been caring for members of the LGBTQ community have been offering for a while, as long as we have been doing IVF — the mainstream IVF process, which is a little over 35 years. We've also encountered situations where people needed the egg from somebody else or donor egg IVF. Reciprocal IVF is sort of an offshoot of that donor IVF process except the donor is known and perhaps, your partner. This is something that we've been doing for quite some time and is something that as more members of the LGBTQ+ community are seeking care is gaining in popularity as people are learning this is an option for them.
Host: Mm-hm. And is there anything else we should know about reciprocal IVF?
Dr. Reid: I think like any fertility treatment or any path to parenthood, the first step is to just sit down with your provider, talk through what your goals and desires are, talk through your medical history, and really understand what is going to be your best option. If this is something that you're very interested in, know that it can be a great experience for couples and one that many people are very excited about.
Host: Yeah, I can see. Really good topic. Dr. Reid, thank you so much for your time today. I really enjoyed speaking with you.
Dr. Reid: Thank you, it was a pleasure for me.
Host: And if you want to get connected with Dr. Reid or another physician, please visit RSCBayArea.com, that's RSCBayArea.com. And if you've found this podcast helpful, please share it on your social channels and check out the entire podcast library for topics of interest to you. This is Fertile Edge by Reproductive Science Center of San Francisco Bay. I'm Bill Klaproth. Thanks for listening.