You have the right to conceive a child artificially, if it is difficult or impossible to conceive a child naturally. This right is protected by the human right to a private and family life.
Artificial reproduction & Private life
Artificial reproduction is the medically assisted artificial fusion of sperm and ovum (gametes) of a donor, or genetic parents, if it is difficult or impossible to conceive a child naturally. Estonian health insurance fund pays for health services involving in vitro fertilisation and embryo transfer from an insured woman of up to 40 years of age who has medical indications for the in vitro fertilisation and embryo transfer.
Your right to conceive a child through the artificial reproduction process is protected by the human right to a private and family life. However, work with human gamete is linked with certain legal and ethical issues, therefore the exercise of this right may be subject to certain conditions and restrictions.
Conditions & Restrictions
The artificial reproduction procedure may be carried out on the basis of an application by a couple or a single woman. You may apply for the artificial reproduction procedure in a medical institution of your choice.
There are also certain restrictions of an ethical nature, for example, the artificial reproduction procedure cannot be used for human cloning. The selection of a child’s gender is also not permitted, except where a child of a particular gender might inherit a genetic disease.
Surrogacy is criminalized and, thus, not allowed in Estonia.
Agreement
You will be required to conclude a specific agreement with a medical institution to undergo an artificial reproduction procedure. The agreement will regulate different aspects of the procedure, for example, the particular method of artificial reproduction and protection of your data.
State financing
The State finances the artificial reproduction procedure if you meet certain requirements:
- you have medical insurance in Estonia
- the prospective mother is not older than 40 years of age
Anonymity
If you have used donated gamete or sperm for artificial reproduction, your identity cannot be disclosed to the donor. In the same way, you will not be able to find out any information about the donor, except for information on genetic and anthropometric data, which cannot reveal their identity.
Read more about the protection of your personal data.