In Germany, the Embryo Protection Act (ESchG) regulates what is permissible in the context of reproductive medicine – in order to ensure the conscientious handling of the creation of human life and to prevent abuse. For you as a couple wishing to have a child, this also affords peace of mind.
Under the Embryo Protection Act, the following are permitted:
• Performance of In-Vitro Fertilisation and Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection by doctors specially trained in reproductive medicine.
• Transfer of up to three fertilised eggs or embryos into the uterus during a treatment cycle.
• Transfer of a partner’s sperm (insemination).
• Transfer of donor sperm under special conditions.
• Freezing egg cells in the pronuclear stage (cryopreservation).
Under the Embryo Protection Act, the following are not permitted:
• Using more than three eggs.
• Using donor egg cells.
• Surrogacy.
• Using semen from somebody who is deceased.
• The misuse of human embryos e.g. for experiments.