Fertility treatment bans in Europe require lesbian couples to go abroad

Although there are few restrictions on IVF in the U.S., Australia, Brazil and Canada – experts estimate thousands of Europeans travel to another country each year for help having a baby. France and Italy forbid single women and lesbian couples from using artificial insemination. Austria and Italy are among those banning all egg and sperm donations for IVF. Germany and Norway ban donating eggs, but not sperm. Countries including Sweden require couples to have a stable relationship for at least a year to qualify for fertility treatment. Switzerland, among others, requires couples to be married. And nearly everywhere in Europe except Ukraine, couples are banned from hiring a woman to carry a pregnancy for them. Reasons for the restrictions vary from country to country. Many cite concerns about creating “unnatural” relationships between donors, parents and children. Others are driven by religious or cultural objections.

[via The Republic]