Being single or a lesbian is no longer a barrier to being a parent. You can become pregnant using known donors or anonymous donors and you also have equal access to fertility clinics.
These days it is quite common for women without male partners to access fertility services. In Australia, lesbian and single women have access to the same range of fertility treatment as other women. Women can also access donor insemination using clinic-supplied donor sperm or screened sperm from a donor they have selected.
In Victoria, lesbian couples who are in a de facto relationship are recognised as equal parents of their children so long as the non-birth mother has given her consent to the treatment (including home insemination). The donor, whether through a clinic or home insemination, is not recognised as the baby’s father unless the birth mother actually had sex with him. In Victoria, a child also has the right to information about their donor which they can access after they turn 18 or earlier with their parents’ permission. Information is stored at the Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.
It is important note that parenting rights change depending on the state you live in. This information is relevant to Victoria only.
Related information
- Fertility treatment and clinics at the Women's
- See also: Preparing for pregnancy for things to consider before you get pregnant
- Provide feedback about the content on this page
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