Russia sees 50% surge in IVF donor pregnancies over four years

A growing number of women in Russia are opting for “solo motherhood,” choosing to have children independently using donor conception.

According to the Telegram channel Baza, the number of women undergoing IVF with donor sperm has increased by 50% over the past four years.

Unlike the legal status of a single mother, a “solo mother” is a woman who consciously decides to raise a child without a partner. Several donor clinics in Moscow report that the service is increasingly popular among healthy single women, most commonly aged between 30 and 45, who have been unable to find a suitable partner to start a family.

It is noted that many of these women are financially secure and often cite difficult past relationships, including infidelity, emotional abuse, or lack of commitment, as contributing factors to their decision.

Sociologist Svetlana Grishaeva said the trend reflects growing mistrust in relationships and a broader shift toward individualisation, with people increasingly seeking full independence from external support systems.