Clothing method, the process in which lesbian couples reach successful pregnancy

“La recepción de ovocitos de la pareja (ROPA) es un tipo de fecundación in vitro que les permite a las mujeres que desean ser madres poder tener una maternidad activa. Esto consiste en que a una de ellas se le realiza la estimulación ovárica y a la otra la gestación”, explica José Ignacio Madero, director médico de la clínica Eugin, en Bogotá. “Lo anterior significa que la madre biológica aporta el óvulo, se fecunda con el espermatozoide de un donante y la otra madre será la gestante. De esta forma, las dos madres son participantes del embarazo”.

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Before starting the ROPA method, interested women must undergo several examinations. An assessment of the ovarian reserve will determine who will carry out the gestation. Women's reproductive capacity decreases over the years, especially after the age of 35. After that age, the ovarian reserve enters a stage that can be decisive for the goal of expanding the family.

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"usually, the ones most interested in being moms are over 30 years of age. They both get exams. One of the recommendations we make is that patients should lead a healthy life, with adequate weight, that they avoid toxic substances, cigarette and alcohol, "says gynecologist Madero.

Las pruebas son concluyentes y no deben convertirse en razones para entristecerse en caso de que el resultado sea adverso para una de las dos. A pesar de que la fertilidad sigue siendo un tabú, cada vez más las personas están dispuestas a aceptar su condición y a darle la oportunidad a los métodos de fertilización que logran lo que parece imposible. En este sentido, el método ROPA es una vía para que haya una participación equitativa. Si una de las dos no puede prestar los óvulos, está la opción de que reciba el embarazo a través de un proceso que presenta una efectividad alta.

Couples who resort to ROPA are usually stable. Prior to medical assessments, they receive the advice of a psychology professional, who is in charge of examining whether they are prepared to take this step. In choosing donor semen, doctors take into account the characteristics of the two in order to find physical similarities. "if they are dark-skinned people, we try to find someone who is similar. After the emotional and physical studies have been done, they are given a free way to be treated, "said the doctor Madero.

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Next, we share the summary step by step of the ROPA method: it starts with the supply of medications for the stimulation of ovulation. Around day 11 or 12, the specialists perform a follicular aspiration in which they extract the eggs. Later, in the reproduction laboratory, they are examined under a microscope to differentiate mature and immature. The first are the ones who serve and they are injected with the spermatic material.

"the next day you look at these eggs to see if there is adequate fertilization. On day two we expect it to be an embryo of four cells; on the three, an embryo of eight; on day four it is known as morula and on day five it is already a blastocyst, which is to be placed in the uterus of the receptor," illustrates Dr. Madero.

El proceso continúa en la mujer que recibirá el blastocisto. A la receptora le dan los estrógenos para preparar el endometrio. Alrededor del día once se hace una ecografía para ver cómo se encuentra. En este punto, si todo va de acuerdo con el tratamiento, se le aplica progesterona y a los seis días se realiza la transferencia del embrión. La vida es cuestión de dos y justamente el método ROPA ofrece la posibilidad de que dos mujeres que se aman participen en partes iguales del milagro del embarazo.