Reciprocal IVF, or Partner IVF, is an option that allows both members of a lesbian couple to be physically involved in their child’s conception. In reciprocal IVF, one partner supplies the eggs to be fertilized with donor sperm, while the other partner is the gestational carrier of the pregnancy.
Identifying the "Patient"
The individual having the egg retrieval (IVF cycle) is the Patient. The other individual in the situation (in this case, the person who is going to have the embryo transfer), will be identified as the Partner, as well as, the Surrogate. This will be set up this way in accordance with SART guidelines by the clinic.
1. The egg provider is set up as the Patient.
2. The individual that will carry the pregnancy is set up as the Partner.
Identifying the "Partner/Gestational Carrier"
The partner/surrogate, by definition, will be the individual that is going to have the embryo transfer and carry the pregnancy.
The partner/surrogate chart can be found in the Gestational Carrier portal.
For detailed instructions on the gestational carrier portal, please read the manual Surrogate Portal.
Linking the Patient and Partner/Gestational Carrier Charts
The patient and partner/gestational carrier chart may have been linked by the clinic.
The third party link can be accessed by clicking on Third Party. If a third party link has not yet been created, the lab can also create the link. For more information on the third party links, please read the manual Link Donors and Surrogates to Intended Parents.
The Patient's IVF Cycle
The patient will have an IVF cycle created for them. This can be accessed from the patient chart or from the Surgical Grid.
Within the patient chart, the cycle will be listed under ART Treatment Cycles. To access the cycle, click on the date or the cycle type.
The stimulation start date under the Cycle Creator tab will be entered in by the clinic.
The information on this tab includes the start date of the patient’s stimulation, trigger date and time, retrieval date and time, transfer date and time (this will be left blank unless the patient will also have a fresh transfer during her IVF cycle), provider, transfer attempted (yes or no) and cycle cancelled (yes or no). The tigger date and time, retrieval date and time and transfer date and time is able to be entered in by the lab.
The Partner's Embryo Transfer (Gestational Carrier) Cycle
The partner’s cycle will be set up under a Gestational Carrier cycle. The cycle can be found in the patient’s chart and the partner/gestational carrier chart. The cycle can also be opened from the Surgical Grid.
Within the patient or partner/gestational carrier chart, click on the Gestational Carrier cycle to open it.
The stimulation start date, gestational carrier name and Egg Provider under the Cycle Creator tab will be entered by the patient’s clinic. The information on this tab includes the start date of stimulation, the partner/gestational carrier name, Egg Provider: fresh from patient (this will be the cycle type selected when the partner is having a fresh transfer from the patient), progesterone start date, transfer date and time, provider, transfer attempted (yes or no) and cycle cancelled (yes or no). The progesterone start date, transfer date and time can be entered in by the clinic.
For more information on the Lab Referral, please read the manual Lab Referral: Notify the IVF Lab of an Upcoming Case. For more information on Change Order, please read the manual Change Order.
***All manuals are compliant with HIPAA regulations. No patient information has been released. All screenshots above were taken from a test clinic with fake patient information.
Tristan Newman
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