Fertility Europe in conjunction with the European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual and Reproductive Rights has developed the European Atlas of Fertility Treatment Policies. The “European Fertility Treatments Policies Atlas 2024” is a comprehensive comparative map that evaluates 49 countries and territories based on their access to equitable, safe, and efficient fertility treatments.
The traffic lights colour-coded map presents the level of access to fertility treatments in each country with dark green indicating excellent access and dark red indicating extremely poor access.
FERTIL-Atlas_EN-2024-no-monthThe criteria selected by the Project Team and evaluated by the Experts are defining a PERFECT COUNTRY and assessing each country against this concept.
PERFECT COUNTRY criteria:
- Legislation: Dedicated ART laws for stable access.
- Data Management: National registers for MAR treatments and for donors.
- Inclusive Access: Treatments and donor services are available to all who need them.
- Genetic Testing: Access to genetic testing for embryos.
- Transparency: Non-anonymous donation with donor identity revealed to children.
- Funding: Full treatment funding for 4 IUIs and 6 IVF/ICSI cycles nationwide.
- Support Services: Funded psychological support as part of fertility treatments.
- Consultation: Policymakers consult patient associations on policies and legal changes.
- Education: State-organized and funded fertility education programs.
MAIN FINDINGS
Legal Situation:
- 42 countries have ART law (Assisted Reproduction Technology)
- 36 countries have national registers of ART activity
- 22 countries have donor register
Treatments availability:
- 49 countries (all) provide IVF / ICSI with own gametes to heterosexual couples
- 45 countries provide IVF / ICSI with sperm donation to heterosexual couples
(ICSI – Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection) - 21 countries provide IVF / ICSI with sperm donation to female couples
- 37 countries provide IVF / ICSI with sperm donation to single women
- 41 countries provide IVF / ICSI with egg donation to heterosexual couples
- 16 countries provide IVF / ICSI with egg donation to female couples
- 6 countries provide IVF / ICSI with egg donation to male couples
- 28 countries provide IVF / ICSI with egg donation to single women
Gamete donation regulations:
- 21 countries make gamete and embryo donation strictly anonymous
- 13 countries offer non-anonymous donation/identity of the donor is revealed to children
- 12 countries offer a mixed anonymous and non-anonymous donation
Public funding:
- 23 countries offer up to 4 funded cycles of IUI (intrauterine insemination)
- 8 countries offer 6 (or more)fully funded cycles of IVF /ICSI / 7 offer partially funded 6 or more cycles
- In 21 countries waiting lists are less than 6 months (combined reports of no waiting lists and under 6 months)
Patients’ perspective:
- In 19 countries patient association gets consulted on public policies
- 10 countries offer funded psychological support for MAR treatment (medically assisted reproduction)
- Only in 4 countries, there is a state-organised fertility education programme (France, Germany, Latvia and the UK)
ATLAS PRESENTATION, 3 DECEMBER 2024, THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
The event was hosted by MEP Merja Kyllönen (The Left, Finland) and Joanna Scheuring-Wielgus (S&D, Poland).
The 2024 Atlas spotlights significant progress in Poland and Ireland since the previous edition of 2021, showcasing how targeted policy changes and advocacy can improve access to fertility treatments for individuals and couples facing infertility challenges. We are also listing in the presentation many changes in other European countries – completed since 2021, in the process or planned for 2025.
ATLAS2024_5December_EPRegisters of MAR activities as well as registers of donors are crucial part of safe access to treatment and information. See the presentation of Professor Carlos Calhaz Jorge, ESHRE about the role of registers and the EuMAR, the European MAR register project.
Atlas-launch-2024-Carlos-Calhaz-Jorge-finalATLAS EXPERT AND PROJECT GROUP
Atlas 2024 Expert Group:
Dr. Carlos Calhaz-Jorge, ESHRE
Hon. Morgana Daniele, MP (Lithuania)
Neil Datta, EPF
Marta Diavolova, UNFPA
Anita Fincham, FE
Dr. Nathalie Kapp, IPPF
Klaudija Kordic, FE
Dr. Veerle Goosens, ESHRE
Dr. Cristina Magli, ESHRE
Atlas 2024 Project Group:
Ofra Balaban-Kasztelanski, FE
Monika Bulmańska-Wingett, FE
Karianne Bye, FE
Marina Davidashvili, EPF
Leonidas Galeridis, EPF
Satu Rautakallio-Hokkanen, FE
Silvia Traina, EPF
Vladislav Veližanin, EPF
Authors
The European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual and Reproductive Rights is a parliamentary network bringing together MPs from across Europe concerned with the spectrum of SRHR issues. For more information contact leonidas@epfweb.org
Fertility Europe is a Pan-European organisation representing patients’ associations dedicated to infertility and enabling a network for those concerned with fertility problems together. For more information contact office@fertilityeurope.eu