Egg donation
Egg donation, also referred to as allogeneic Eizelltransplantation, is one of the methods of reproductive medicine to fulfill the desire for a child with infertility. It is used when no mature follicles in the ovaries of a woman because of advanced age or as a result of a disease. Egg donation is also carried out in the context of surrogacy.
For egg donation from a donor 's ovaries are stimulated with drugs to ripen several eggs simultaneously, then, usually under general anesthesia, can be removed by puncture. These eggs are ( ICSI) by in-vitro fertilization ( IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection with sperm and the recipient transfers ( embryo transfer) or cryopreserved for later transfer.
Legal regulations
Egg donation is regulated differently in Europe. There are countries where it is prohibited, including Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Lithuania, Norway and Turkey. In most other European countries there are no legal provisions to, many times it is tolerated. In the countries where egg donation is practiced (including France, UK, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Ukraine), it is subject to most of regulations that are intended to prevent exploitation of the donor. In Germany all reproductive medical procedures by the Embryo Protection Act ( December 1990) are regulated.
In § 1, paragraph 1 to 3 the following about it:
( 1) A term of imprisonment up to three years or a fine shall be imposed on anyone who
First to a woman a strange unfertilised egg transfers,
Second it takes to fertilize an egg for any other purpose artificial, as to induce pregnancy of the woman from whom the egg comes,
...
6 a woman takes an embryo before completion of its implantation in the uterus to this to be transferred to another woman or to use it for a non- serving its preservation purpose, or
7 it is taking in a woman who is ready to give her child after the birth of a third party to leave on time ( surrogate mother ) to carry out artificial insemination or transfer a human embryo on it.
The Eizellempfängerin without fear of legal consequences
...
( 3) Not to be punished
1 in the case of paragraph 1, No. 1, 2 and 6, the woman from whom the egg or embryo, as well as the woman, to which the egg is transferred or the embryo to be transferred.
It is the gynecologists / Reproductive Centers also banned in Germany, to undertake preparatory measures for egg donation.
Meanwhile, there are lawyers who question the compatibility of the Embryo Protection Act with the Constitution at least questioned. The reproductive specialists are anxious about the relaxation of the legal possibilities.
Effects
Due to the existing legal regulation in Germany will conceive couples are forced to carry out the treatment in another European country or in another country in the world, this phenomenon is called also " fertilization tourism". In the areas adjacent to Germany European countries there are very many reproductive health centers that work together partly with German physicians or be supported by those in charge.
Decision of the European Court of Human Rights
The European Court of Human Rights ruled in April 2010, when a State allows artificial insemination, he must not prohibit the egg donation. The court ruled that it was a " not justifiable on objective and reasonable grounds " unequal treatment when couples who need egg donation, are excluded from the artificial insemination. In November 2011, this decision was reversed by the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights again. A ban is not repugnant to the law on family planning.
Medical Problems
Pregnant have to develop a hypertensive pregnancy disorder regardless of age, multiple pregnancies and the applied reproductive medical procedures, an increased risk for an egg donation. Pregnancies after allogeneic Eizelltransplantation should therefore be closely monitored by physicians pränatalmedizinischer specialization. There is also an increased risk of bleeding in the first trimester of pregnancy.