The same rights given to heterosexual couples on registering the birth of a child conceived as a result of fertility treatment, has now been awarded to same sex couples (females).

Changes will be made to the Registration of Births and Deaths Regulations 1987 from 1st September, according female civil partners conceiving a child via fertility treatment, the same treatment as married couples, with names of both female parents' recorded on the birth certificate.

The section of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 conferring legal parenthood on the mother's female partner was legislated on 6th April 2009. According to the Act, couples who were not in a civil partnership at the time they underwent fertility treatment and wishing a female partner to be regarded as one of the child's parents, must give written consent to the UK clinic, where they received the treatment.

In addition, female couples receiving fertility treatment, but not in a civil partnership can also register as parents, just like unmarried hetero-sexual couples.

In both cases, the female partner of the mother can be recorded as a parent in the birth or still-birth registration and any other certificates issued, if all relevant conditions are met.

Before this change to the Act, the mother's female partner could not be registered as a parent.

Registrar General James Hall approved the changes to the regulations earlier this year, following Royal Assent for new parenthood provisions contained in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008. However, it is important to remember the Act's provisions only apply to female couples who have fertility treatment on or after 6th April 2009. However, critics say the change will prove detrimental to family values.

According to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, 728-lesbians underwent invitro fertilisation (IVF) between 1999 and 2006., while 5,211-lesbian females in the same period, received donor insemination (DI) treatment.

Sperm donors will continue to be allowed to opt in or out of having their name on the birth certificate. However, if both mothers want their name on the birth certificate, the sperm donor cannot be registered in the same way.