Many countries quietly require a male partner for IVF, which leaves single women, often called "single mothers by choice", turned away at home. The good news is that several well-regulated countries welcome single women. The catch is that the rules differ on age, on donor anonymity, and on whether your home country will recognise you as the sole legal parent afterwards.
Which countries allow single women
Here is where single women stand in the destinations we cover. "Allowed" means a single woman can be treated; "restricted" means the law requires a couple (or, for Turkey, a married heterosexual couple).
| Country | Single women | Sperm donation | Max age | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | Allowed | Anonymous (Law 14/2006) | 50 | Eligible as a single woman |
| Portugal | Allowed | Identity-release at 18 (CNPMA) | 50 | Eligible as a single woman |
| Greece | Allowed | Mixed (anonymous or ID-release at 18) | 54 | Eligible as a single woman |
| Czech Republic | Restricted | Anonymous | 49 | Couples only |
| Poland | Restricted | Anonymous | — | Couples only |
| Turkey | Restricted | Banned | — | Married heterosexual couples only |
Max-age figures are clinic-practice or statutory norms and vary; confirm with the clinic. Verified June 2026.
Where it is restricted or banned
The Czech Republic, despite being a major IVF hub with excellent clinics, defines assisted reproduction as care for a man and a woman, so single women are not eligible there. Poland limits treatment to married or cohabiting heterosexual couples. Turkey is the strictest: only married heterosexual couples using their own eggs and sperm, with all donor conception banned, and it is the one country that also prohibits travelling abroad for donor treatment.
Sperm donation rules to weigh
If you are a single woman, you will almost always need donor sperm, so the donor rules matter as much as eligibility:
- Anonymous (Spain, Czech Republic): the child cannot trace the donor.
- Identity-release (Portugal, UK): the child can request the donor’s identity at 18.
- Mixed (Greece): both options exist.
There is no right answer, but it is a decision to make on purpose, because it shapes what your future child will be able to learn.
What it costs for single women
Cost is broadly the same as for couples, plus donor sperm, which is usually a modest add-on compared with the cycle itself. See the full breakdown in our IVF cost by country guide, and use the Finder to estimate your situation against US or UK prices.
Step by step
- Use the Eligibility + Cost Finder to shortlist countries that allow single women at your age.
- Decide anonymous vs identity-release donation; it narrows the list.
- Check legal parenthood in your home country for a single parent using a donor, with a lawyer.
- Request each clinic’s per-cycle success rate for your age (see success rates by age).
- Confirm total cost in writing, including medications and any repeat-cycle pricing.