Cycle monitoring
First, we observe your cycle by ultrasound and hormone levels to determine ovulation precisely. Often this is already the decisive step towards the right timing.
Fertility care for same-sex couples.
We are ready to fulfil your wish for a child with the help of the latest techniques! The amendment to the Reproductive Medicine Act makes it possible.
New possibilities
Amendment to the Reproductive Medicine Act
The changes in the law create new possibilities: on the one hand in the field of preimplantation genetic testing, in which we work together with the renowned geneticist Univ.-Prof. Mag. Dr. Markus Hengstschläger – on the other hand, it is now possible for two women living together in a cohabiting relationship or registered partnership to fulfil their wish for a child.
Our team is always happy to provide you with detailed information. Find out now, free of charge and without obligation, about the changes that benefit you.
For whom
What is possible for female couples in Austria
Two women living together in a marriage, a registered partnership or a cohabiting relationship can fulfil their wish for a child in Austria with donor sperm. You do not have to go abroad for this – and you do not have to explain yourselves to us either. For us, your wish for a child is a wish for a child like any other.
Medically, the same procedures are available as for all other couples: from insemination with donor sperm to IVF and ICSI. Which path makes sense for you is decided by your findings – not by the form of your relationship.
Who carries the child?
One of the first questions you will clarify together is: which of you carries the pregnancy? The decision is often made based on age and egg reserve, sometimes on personal preference, sometimes on professional circumstances. We are happy to examine both women, so that you can make this decision on a reliable basis – and not by gut feeling.
If the egg is to come from the other partner
Some couples ask about the model in which one woman's egg is carried by the other – internationally known as "ROPA". Under Austrian law, the use of third-party eggs is subject to narrowly defined conditions, which is why this model is not provided for in Austria. Please talk to us about this directly: we tell you openly what is possible here and what is not (as of 2026), instead of raising expectations that cannot be fulfilled.
Treatment paths
Four paths we can take with you.
As a matter of principle, we start with the simplest procedure that has realistic prospects – and only escalate if necessary.
Insemination with donor sperm
The prepared donor sperm is placed directly into the uterus at the optimal time. The procedure is short, involves little pain and requires no anaesthesia.
IVF or ICSI
If inseminations remain unsuccessful or further findings are present, fertilisation takes place in the laboratory, followed by embryo transfer.
Frozen embryo transfer
If several viable blastocysts develop, they are frozen. No new stimulation is then needed for a further attempt or a sibling.
The procedure
Your path with us – step by step.
Two steps distinguish your path from that of other couples: the selection of the donor and the notarial counselling. Everything else is ordinary fertility medicine.
1
First consultation – gladly together
We discuss your history, your ideas and the question of who would like to carry the pregnancy. We also clarify questions about the legal framework here.
2
Examinations of both women
Hormone status including AMH value, ultrasound of the ovaries and uterus, assessment of fallopian tube patency, as well as infection serologies and vaccination status. This shows you what starting position each of you brings.
3
Notarial counselling and consent
Before donor sperm is used, in-depth notarial counselling on the legal consequences of the consent is provided for – for both of you. We tell you early on when this appointment makes sense.
4
Selection of the donor
We look for a profile that suits you: blood group as well as external characteristics such as hair, eye and skin colour, height and build. You are involved in the process and can ask questions about the profile.
5
Treatment
Depending on the findings, cycle monitoring and insemination follow, or a treatment with fertilisation in the laboratory. All appointments take place at our institute.
6
Follow-up care
We accompany you through the hormonal support, the pregnancy test and the first ultrasound checks – and remain available for your questions afterwards.
Legal framework
What you should know about the legal situation.
Treatment and donation
Since the amendment to the Reproductive Medicine Act, medically assisted reproduction has been permitted for two women living together in a marriage, registered partnership or cohabiting relationship. Donor sperm may be used for this treatment.
Anonymous donation is not permitted in Austria: from the completed 14th year of age, the child can receive information about the identity of the donor. The donor incurs no legal paternity and no maintenance obligations. Surrogacy is prohibited in Austria.
Parenthood for both of you
Particularly important for female couples: the partner who consented to the treatment is legally recognised as the child's second parent. That is exactly why formally correct consent before the start of treatment is not a bureaucratic side step, but the foundation of your shared parenthood.
As of 2026. Because medical and family law interact here and details can change, we clarify them in the consultation and additionally refer you to the notarial counselling. You can find an overview on our page about the legal framework.
Well prepared
What we think about together before you start
A wish for a child needs planning as well as medicine. We discuss these points with you before you begin:
- Egg reserve of both women: the AMH value and the number of small follicles on ultrasound indicate how much time each of you has. This can influence the decision of who starts.
- If both of you want to carry a child: many couples plan two pregnancies. Then it is worth considering the order early on – often the older woman carries first.
- The same donor for siblings: if genetic connection between your children matters to you, we plan for this from the very beginning.
- Health preparation: vaccination status, thyroid values, iron and vitamin D levels as well as taking folic acid before pregnancy are all part of good preparation.
- Your child's story: because only non-anonymous donation is possible in Austria, we recommend telling the story of how your child came to be in an age-appropriate and matter-of-fact way from the start. Experience shows that children cope well with this.
Our free fertility info evening offers a no-obligation introduction – you can listen there without committing to anything. You can also find background on donation on our page about the sperm bank and sperm donation.
Statement
"The amendment to the Reproductive Medicine Act gives Austria a law at a European level. Many patients who until recently had to seek treatment abroad – because the appropriate treatment was medically indicated but legally not permitted or in a grey area – can now also be treated in Austria."
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Wilfried Feichtinger · Head of the Wunschbaby Institut Feichtinger
Excerpt from the law
Errors and omissions excepted / source: parlament.gv.at (German original; unofficial translation)
§ 2
(1) Medically assisted reproduction is only permitted within a marriage, a registered partnership or a cohabiting relationship.
3. a pregnancy is to be brought about in one of two women living together in a registered partnership or cohabiting relationship
§ 2b
(2) Eggs that are to be used for a third person may only be retrieved from the completed 18th to the completed 30th year of age.
§ 3
(2) The sperm of a third person may exceptionally be used if that of the husband or cohabiting partner is not capable of reproduction, or if medically assisted reproduction is to be carried out in a registered partnership or cohabiting relationship of two women.
(3) The eggs of a third person may exceptionally be used if those of the woman in whom the pregnancy is to be brought about are not capable of reproduction and this woman has not yet completed her 45th year of age at the start of treatment.
§ 7
(4) Medically assisted reproduction must be preceded by in-depth counselling of the registered partners or cohabiting partners by a notary on the legal consequences of the consent (§ 8); for spouses, this only applies if the sperm or eggs of a third person are to be used.
IVF Fund
6. In § 4 para. 4 item 1 reads:
"1. the woman who intends to carry the child has not yet completed her 40th year of age, and the man or the registered partner or cohabiting partner of the woman who intends to carry the child has not yet completed his or her 50th year of age, and"
7. § 4 para. 4a reads:
"(4a) An entitlement to cost coverage under § 2 paras. 2 and 2a exists for
- Austrian citizens,
- citizens of an EEA member state,
- citizens of the Swiss Confederation,
- persons who, as family members of nationals of an EEA contracting state or the Swiss Confederation entitled to freedom of movement, hold a right of residence under EU law pursuant to §§ 54 or 54a of the Settlement and Residence Act (NAG), Federal Law Gazette I No. 100/2005,
- persons who hold residence titles pursuant to § 8 para. 1 items 1, 2, 3, 7 or 8 of the Settlement and Residence Act (NAG),
- persons who hold a "Residence Permit Plus" pursuant to § 55 para. 1 and § 56 para. 1 of the Asylum Act 2005, Federal Law Gazette I No. 100/2005, and
- persons granted asylum pursuant to § 3 of the Asylum Act 2005."
Our own sperm bank, our own laboratory, one place
We have been a pioneer of reproductive medicine in Austria since 1982/83 and co-developed the technique of cryopreservation in 1991. With our own sperm bank, our own genetics laboratory and our locations in Vienna, Baden and St. Pölten, we accompany you from the first question to pregnancy – more than 30,000 children have been born with our help.
Female couples are very welcome at our free info evenings: ask all your questions about sperm donation, the treatment process and the legal situation – online via Zoom or on site, free of charge and with no obligation.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions from female couples.
May lesbian couples be treated in Austria?
Yes. Since the amendment to the Reproductive Medicine Act, medically assisted reproduction has been permitted for two women living together in a marriage, registered partnership or cohabiting relationship – with donor sperm. Treatment abroad is not necessary for this (as of 2026).
Will my partner be legally recognised as the second mother?
The partner who has formally consented to the treatment is legally recognised as the child's second parent. That is why the consent before the start of treatment – together with the notarial counselling provided for – is so important. We discuss the specific formalities with you, and the notary explains the legal consequences to you in detail.
Do we start with an insemination or go straight to IVF?
Can we choose the donor ourselves?
Together with you, we select a suitable profile from our own sperm bank or via one of our partner banks. Blood group as well as external characteristics such as hair, eye and skin colour, height and build are taken into account. Selection based on characteristics beyond this does not take place.
Can we use the same donor for a sibling?
This matters to many couples and is usually possible if we plan for it from the beginning. Please tell us at the first consultation whether you would like more than one child – we then take this into account in the selection and when reserving further portions.
Can both women each carry a child?
Yes, many couples plan two pregnancies – each woman carrying a child from her own egg. That is why we are happy to examine both of you and discuss the order. The older partner often starts, because the egg reserve declines over the years.
Is it possible for one woman to donate the egg and the other to carry the child?
This model – internationally known as "ROPA" – is not provided for in Austria, because the use of third-party eggs is subject to narrowly defined legal conditions. We tell you this openly instead of raising expectations. We are happy to examine your specific constellation in the consultation (as of 2026).
What do we tell our child about how it came to be?
Because Austria only knows non-anonymous donation, your child can receive information about the identity of the donor from the completed 14th year of age. Experience shows that children cope well with this when it has been a topic early on, in an age-appropriate and matter-of-fact way – not as a late secret. We take time for these conversations, gladly more than once and before you start.
Your next step
We fulfil your wish for a child.
Our team is happy to inform you about your options, free of charge and without obligation.
Or call us: +43 1 877 77 75