Reciprocal IVF, also known as co-maternity, partner-assisted reproduction, shared motherhood, partner IVF, or co-IVF, is a fertility treatment option for lesbian or trans male couples that allows both partners to be intimately involved in the child creation process. In this process, one partner donates her eggs, which are then fertilized with donor sperm, and the resulting embryo is transferred into the uterus of the other partner, who carries the pregnancy. This method ensures that each partner is a biological parent of the child.

The process of reciprocal IVF involves several steps that both partners must go through, including an initial consultation, health screening, ovulation induction, egg retrieval, egg fertilization, and embryo transfer. The cost of reciprocal IVF varies depending on the clinic, medication protocols, and add-on services like genetic testing or sex/gender selection, but it can range from $5,500 to over $30,000 in the United States.

Reciprocal IVF offers the highest chance for pregnancy and a lower risk of a multiple birth. It is a way for lesbian and trans male couples to reproduce and both be involved in the physical process of becoming pregnant. Other candidates for reciprocal IVF include women who can produce healthy eggs but need another woman to act as their gestational carrier or vice versa, and trans men who froze eggs prior to undergoing their transition.

In conclusion, reciprocal IVF is a fertility treatment option that allows both partners in a lesbian or trans male couple to participate in the pregnancy and become biological parents of the child. It involves one partner donating her eggs, which are fertilized with donor sperm, and the resulting embryo is transferred into the uterus of the other partner, who carries the pregnancy. The process offers a high chance of pregnancy and a lower risk of multiple births.