DeGeneres and De Rossi plan a family

Lesbian couple Ellen DeGeneres and Portia De Rossi are considering cementing their romance by becoming first-time parents.

Comedienne DeGeneres refuses to go into details about whether the couple plans to adopt or go for a natural birth, but she admits she's beginning to think about motherhood - and she's aware she has to act fast.

She tells America's People magazine says: "I think we should do it (have a child) soon… When I'm around babies, I just melt. It's a big responsibility."

But before they could plan parenthood, DeGeneres had to fight America's strict anti-gay marriage laws to make sure her partner would be well looked after if anything should happen to her.

She explains: "If it were legal, we would be married, but it's not legal. I hate politics, but I think everyone should be treated equally.

If I die tomorrow, everything's taken away. We've taken precautions for that and she's taken care of, but, because we're not married, the taxes could take everything."