Greece is one of the most popular holiday destinations. Millions of tourists visit the country every year, spend their holidays on the beach, enjoy the culinary specialties or discover the country’s rich cultural heritage. However, many people do not know that Greece is also a top address regarding fertility treatment. One reason for this is undoubtedly the country’s progressive, liberal legislation.
Overview of Greek legislation
With Law 3089/2002, ‘Medical Assistance in Human Reproduction,’ and in 2005, with Law 3305/2005, ‘Application of Methods of Medically Assisted Reproduction,’ the legal basis for infertility treatment in Greece was created that followed by further amendments that made more treatment options possible.
- Cohabiting, married or unmarried couples, single women, and lesbian couples are entitled to fertility treatment.
- The age limit for fertility treatment is 54 years.
- Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis at the blastocyst stage is permitted. Still, it is subject to certain conditions (maternal age, history of miscarriage, abnormal karyotype, genetic mutations).
- Anonymous and open egg donations are allowed. Greek legislation has allowed since this year eponymous egg donation, which now also benefits women couples.
- Regarding surrogacy, under Greek law, it is permissible for a woman (relative, friend, or stranger) to offer to transfer an embryo of the couple.
The international comparison
What makes Greece the better place for your fertility treatment? The advantages are many, and differences can be found on issues such as pre-implantation genetic diagnosis, treatment for single women and couples, egg donation, and surrogacy.
Regarding sperm donors, different countries have different approaches: 5 insist on anonymous donation (Belgium, Denmark, France, Portugal, and Spain), while others require non-anonymous assistance (Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Austria, Italy, and the United Kingdom).
Greece has a unique position here, with the possibility of anonymous but also open egg/sperm donation; it offers couples all options.
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