Becoming a single mother by choice through IVF in Spain

More French women are choosing to start a family on their own terms. Since the 2021 bioethics law, single women in France have the right to access IVF — a significant step forward. But in practice, waiting times of 12 to 18 months for donor sperm insemination, and longer for IVF, push many solo women toward Spain.

The good news: Spain is not a complicated detour. It's often the fastest, most medically sound path to parenthood for solo women in France.

What French law allows — and where Spain goes further

In France, single women can access IVF with donor sperm, covered by social security up to 4 cycles. What's not available in France: donor sperm insemination without medical infertility diagnosis used to have a waiting list of up to 18 months (though this is improving); egg donation waiting times remain 3-5 years; and PGT-A (genetic testing of embryos before transfer) is not widely available outside very specific medical indications.

In Spain, the same options are available — with almost no waiting list. Donor sperm from a licensed sperm bank is matched to your profile within 2 to 4 weeks. Egg donation, if needed, is available within the same timeframe. PGT-A is routinely offered to women over 37 or with prior miscarriages.

The process step by step

Step 1: an initial consultation with WoMA and with the Spanish clinic — usually by video call. We review your fertility workup, discuss your options, and help you choose the right protocol (IUI, IVF with your own eggs, or IVF with egg donation). Step 2: choosing your donor. The clinic's donor database is filtered for compatibility — blood group, physical characteristics. You receive an anonymised profile. Step 3: treatment. If you're doing IUI, minimal medication is needed. If IVF, stimulation injections at home for 10-12 days, monitoring ultrasounds in France, and one trip to Spain for the retrieval or transfer. Step 4: CPAM reimbursement. As a single woman, you are entitled to the same reimbursement rights as couples — up to 4 IVF cycles covered, provided the technique is legally permitted in France (IVF, IUI, egg donation are all covered; PGT-A is not).

At WoMA, we support solo women throughout their entire journey — from the first conversation to the positive pregnancy test. Because deciding to become a mother on your own is one of the most courageous choices you can make, and you deserve guidance that's just as strong.

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