There has been a doubling in the amount of lesbians and single women seeking fertility treatment over the past decade.
Research by Sundhedsdatastyrelsen carried out in 2021 revealed that out of the 15,500 women who received fertility treatment, 2,721 were single and 595 were members of lesbian couples, compared to 1,316 and 315 in 2012.
A law was passed in 2007 making it possible for both lesbian couples and single women to be inseminated with donor sperm at clinics in Denmark.
Mixed responses
According to Maria Salamon, the manager of Videnscentret Fertility Care, it is more accepted and common in today’s society for single women and lesbian couples to have children through insemination, and it is easier and quicker for them to go to a clinic and have the procedure done compared to before.
There is still a certain amount of stigma associated with the act. Some have voiced concern about how children might be affected by the lack of a male figure in their life.
Lars Dencik, a professor and researcher of social psychology at Roskilde University, believes this could lead to the same kind of longing found among children who are adopted.
However, the majority of people view these family structures as the norm, which helps to explain the rise in numbers.
