Sharing the journey: your guide to ROPA IVF at Ferticentro

On this page:

What is ROPA?

Why many couples choose Portugal for shared motherhood

Deciding on your roles

The step by step journey

A real ROPA story: An interview with a Ferticentro couple

Supporting your emotional well being

Frequently asked questions about ROPA

Managing the logistics

The importance of a supportive team

Your next steps

What is ROPA?

ROPA stands for Reception of Oocytes from Partner. You might also hear people call it shared motherhood or partner to partner IVF. It is a treatment specifically for female couples where both partners play a biological role in the pregnancy.

How ROPA allows both partners to be involved

In a ROPA cycle, both partners take part in the pregnancy in different ways. One partner provides the eggs. She is the genetic mother. These eggs are fertilised in our lab using donor sperm. The resulting embryo is then moved into the second partner’s uterus. She carries the pregnancy and gives birth, making her the gestational mother.

It’s a beautiful way for both of you to be physically involved. One of you provides the spark of life through your genetics, and the other provides the home where the baby grows for nine months.

Why many couples choose Portugal for shared motherhood

Equal access to fertility treatment

Portugal is recognised as a welcoming place for all types of families. Since 2016, the law has allowed all women to access fertility treatments such as IVF, regardless of sexual orientation, marital status, or a fertility diagnosis. In practice, this means that same sex female couples and single women can legally and confidently pursue fertility treatment in Portugal.

Legal protection

When you choose ROPA in Portugal, the law is designed to protect your family. Both of you are recognised as the legal parents from the moment your baby is born, regardless of who donated the egg. You don’t have to worry about complicated adoption processes after birth as long as you are married or have been in a civil union for at least two years.

A shared future: flexibility for both partners to carry

Another unique characteristic of the Portuguese system is the flexibility it offers for your future. Both members of the couple are eligible to carry a pregnancy. This means that if you have several embryos from your treatment, one partner can have the first embryo transfer, and the other partner can receive a second transfer from that same set of embryos later on.

Non-anonymous sperm donation

Another important part of the Portuguese system is how we handle sperm donation. In Portugal, sperm donations are non-anonymous.

This means that if your child decides they want to know the identity of the donor when they turn 18, they have the legal right to find out. This focus on the rights of the child is something many parents find reassuring when they are planning their family.

Deciding on your roles

When you decide to start ROPA IVF, one of the first things you will discuss is who will take on which role. This is a very personal decision, and there is no right or wrong way to do it. Some couples feel clear about their roles from the beginning, while others find the decision a bit more complex.

When you meet with our team, we’ll talk through this with you. We look at medical factors to help you make an informed choice. For example, we might look at:

• The age of each partner, as egg quality and quantity naturally change over time.
• Your overall health and medical history.
• How you both feel about the experience of being pregnant.
• Any previous fertility tests you may have had.

Our goal isn’t to tell you what to do but to give you the information you need to feel comfortable with your decision.

The step by step journey

We know that fertility treatments can sometimes feel like they involve many different stages. To help things feel more manageable, let’s break the ROPA process down into clear steps. This way, you’ll always know exactly what is happening now and what to expect next.

If you’d like to get more information on IVF, you can also read our Beginner’s Guide to IVF.

Your first visit and screening

Every ROPA journey starts with a conversation. In your first consultation, we’ll get to know you and your medical history. We’ll perform some initial checks, such as blood tests to look at hormone levels and an ultrasound scan to check the health of the ovaries and the uterus. These checks help us tailor the treatment specifically to your bodies.

Selecting a sperm donor

Because ROPA involves donor sperm, this is a significant part of the planning. At Ferticentro, we have our own sperm bank, and we also work with reputable international banks, so you will have plenty of options to consider.

To make the process easier, our dedicated donor coordinators will guide you through our database. Here is what you can expect when choosing your donor:

• Extensive donor profiles: You’ll get a clear, comprehensive overview of each donor. This includes their physical traits, personality, education, hobbies, and even their aspirations for the future.
• Advanced genetic screening: We prioritise the health of your future child. We can test if you and your donor share any gene mutations (checking up to 2200 genes) to help prevent inherited genetic disorders.
• Personalised matching: We’ll help you find a donor who matches your preferences, including physical characteristics and blood type.
• Donor counselling: We make sure our donors are well-prepared and comfortable with the possibility of being contacted by a child born from their donation once they turn 18. This ensures the process is respectful and transparent for everyone involved.

Our team is here to support you through these choices, providing all the information you need to move forward with confidence.

Ovarian stimulation for the genetic mother

The partner who is providing the eggs will start the process by taking hormonal medication. This is usually done through small injections that you can do yourself at home. Don’t worry if you’re nervous about this. Our nurses will show you exactly how to do it until you feel confident.

The purpose of this medication is to encourage your ovaries to grow several eggs at once. In a natural cycle, the body usually only releases one. By growing more, we increase the chances of finding a healthy embryo. This stage usually lasts about 10 to 12 days. During this time, you’ll come to the clinic for a few scans so we can see how the follicles are developing.

It’s normal to feel a bit of uncertainty before your first appointment, so we have put together a guide on preparing for your first IVF cycle to help you feel more at ease when the time comes.

The egg retrieval

When the eggs are ready, we perform the egg retrieval. This is a short procedure that takes about 15 to 20 minutes. We use light sedation so that you are comfortable and don’t feel any pain. The doctor uses a very thin needle guided by ultrasound to collect the eggs.

You’ll stay with us for a couple of hours afterwards to rest and have a snack. Most people find they can go back to their normal routine by the next day, though you might feel a bit of bloating or mild cramping.

Once the eggs are collected, our embryologists take over. They fertilise the eggs using the donor sperm. We use a method called ICSI, where a single sperm is carefully placed inside each egg.

Over the next few days, we watch the embryos grow in our lab. We are looking for them to reach the blastocyst stage, which happens around day five or six. A blastocyst is an embryo that has developed a specific structure, showing it has good potential to lead to a pregnancy. We use advanced technology to monitor them constantly without having to move them, which keeps them in a very stable environment.

Preparing the gestational mother

While the genetic mother is busy with egg retrieval, the partner who will carry the baby is also preparing. Her role is to get the lining of the uterus ready to receive the embryo.

This usually involves taking oestrogen and progesterone, which help create a thick, healthy environment for the embryo to attach to. We’ll perform ultrasound scans to check the lining. Once it is at the right thickness, we can schedule the embryo transfer.

The embryo transfer

This is the moment many couples find the most emotional. It is a very simple and quick procedure. The doctor uses a fine catheter to place the embryo into the gestational mother’s uterus. It feels very similar to a routine cervical screening test.

You don’t need sedation for this, and you can both be in the room together. You’ll even be able to see the tiny spot on the ultrasound screen where the embryo has been placed. After the transfer, the gestational mother can go about her day as usual, though we suggest taking it easy for the first 24 hours.

The two week wait

This is often the part of the process that people find the most difficult. It is the time between the transfer and the pregnancy test. It is normal to feel a mix of excitement and anxiety during these 14 days.

We encourage you to look after yourselves and each other during this time. About two weeks after the transfer, we’ll do a blood test to check for the pregnancy hormone, hCG.

A real ROPA story: An interview with a Ferticentro couple

Sometimes the best way to understand what ROPA is like is to hear from someone who has been through it. We recently spoke with a couple, Liliana and Raquel, who welcomed their baby through Ferticentro. Here is what they had to share about their experience.

Can you tell us a bit about your journey as a couple before deciding on ROPA IVF?

“Before deciding to undergo ROPA treatment, we had always been very close as a couple and knew we wanted to start a family. We talked a lot about our fears and expectations, and realised that it was possible to make this dream come true in Portugal.”

What made you choose the ROPA method instead of other fertility treatments?

“We chose the ROPA method because it allows us to share motherhood in a unique way: one of us provides the eggs and the other carries the pregnancy. We thought it was the most balanced and meaningful way to live this dream together.”

How did you decide which partner would provide the eggs and which would carry the pregnancy?

“That decision was easy for us. We talked about medical and emotional factors. We considered the age, health, and desire of each of us to be pregnant, and we reached a consensus that made us comfortable with the process.”

What was your experience like with the Ferticentro team during treatment?

“The Ferticentro team was incredible from the very beginning. We felt welcomed, listened to, and supported at every stage of the treatment. Their trustworthiness and professionalism made all the difference.”

Were there any fears or doubts you had at the start and how did you overcome them?

“At first, there was fear of the unknown and the possibility that it might not work. But each consultation, each detailed explanation from the medical team, and mutual support helped us overcome those doubts and move forward with confidence.”

Can you describe the moment you found out the treatment had worked?

“It was a moment of pure emotion and joy. We couldn’t hold back the tears when we saw the positive result. It was the realisation of a dream we had fought for together for a long time, and we felt indescribable happiness.”

How did going through ROPA IVF affect your relationship as a couple?

“The process brought us even closer together. We had to trust each other and support each other every step of the way. It made us stronger as a couple and showed us how much we can count on each other.”

What would you say to other same sex couples who are thinking about ROPA IVF but feel unsure?

“Don’t be afraid to seek information and support. Every couple is unique, but ROPA can be a very positive and transformative experience. The most important thing is to be united and talk openly about expectations and fears.”

Is there something you wish more people understood about ROPA IVF?

“That it is a legitimate and loving way to build a family. It’s not just about medical issues; it’s also about love, partnership, and the desire to create life together.”

Do you have any tips for prospective patients who are planning to undergo ROPA?

“Prepare yourselves emotionally, talk to each other a lot, and trust the medical team. It is a process that requires patience, but every step is worth it.”

Looking back now, how do you feel about your journey with Ferticentro and what it meant for your family?

“We are very grateful for the support and professionalism of Ferticentro, of the entire team without exception, who fought so hard with us and believed that our dream would come true. The journey was hard and intense, but every moment was part of building our family, and we will cherish these memories forever. Without Ferticentro, none of this would have been possible, and we are eternally grateful for the fulfilment of our greatest dream.”

Supporting your emotional well being

As Liliana and Raquel mentioned, the ROPA journey is about more than just medical appointments. It is an emotional experience that can be intense at times.

It is normal to feel a sense of pressure or to worry about the outcome. We want you to know that you don’t have to carry those feelings alone. At Ferticentro, we offer psychological support to all our patients.

Talking to a counsellor can help you navigate the decisions you’re making or give you tools to manage the anxiety of the waiting periods. Many couples find that having a dedicated space to talk about their feelings helps them stay connected and resilient throughout the process.

Frequently asked questions about ROPA

When you’re first looking into shared motherhood, it’s natural to have a lot of questions. Here are some of the things people ask us most often.

How successful is ROPA?

Success rates for ROPA are generally very encouraging. Because the process is similar to standard IVF, the chances of success often depend on the age and the egg reserve of the partner providing the eggs. Our team will give you a clear and honest assessment of your personal chances based on your health checks so that you have realistic expectations.

What are the physical demands?

Both partners will have some physical involvement. The genetic mother will experience the effects of hormonal stimulation and the retrieval procedure. The gestational mother will take medication to prepare her uterus and will, of course, experience the physical changes of pregnancy and birth.

We monitor both of you closely to ensure you are healthy and comfortable throughout. Most women find that they can continue their normal lives during the treatment, though you might want to schedule a bit more downtime during the key phases.

What if we want more than one child?

This is a great question to think about early on. During the egg retrieval, we often collect enough eggs to create several embryos. If you have extra embryos that are healthy but aren’t used in your first transfer, we can freeze them.

This means that if you want to have a second child later, you won’t have to go through the stimulation and retrieval process again. You can simply prepare the uterus for another transfer. Some couples even choose to swap roles for a second child, though this would involve a new stimulation cycle for the other partner.

Managing the logistics

We know that for many people, coming to Ferticentro involves some travel. Whether you are coming from elsewhere in Portugal or from another country, we try to make the logistics as simple as possible.

You don’t need to spend the entire time in Coimbra. We can often coordinate with your local doctor for your initial scans and blood tests. This means you only need to be at our clinic for the most important steps, like the egg retrieval and the embryo transfer. Our patient coordinators are experts at helping you plan your visits so they fit into your life.

The importance of a supportive team

When you walk through the doors of Ferticentro, you’ll meet a lot of different people. Doctors, nurses, embryologists, and coordinators. Every one of us is focused on the same goal: helping you build your family.

We pride ourselves on being approachable. We want you to feel that you can pick up the phone or send an email whenever a question pops into your head. You aren’t just a number on a chart to us; you are a couple on a very special journey, and we feel privileged to be a part of it.

Your next steps

If you are feeling ready to learn more or to start your journey, the next step is to book a consultation. This doesn’t commit you to anything. It is simply a chance for you to meet us, ask your questions, and see how you feel about the clinic.

You can have this first meeting in person or via video call. We’ll talk about your goals, explain the process in more detail, and give you an idea of what your personal timeline might look like.

The ROPA method is a wonderful way to begin your family. It is a path built on shared experience and mutual support. We have seen firsthand how transformative this process can be, and we are here to help you every step of the way.