Infertility affects millions across the European Union, with an estimated 25 million citizens facing challenges in starting or expanding their families. In response, many EU countries have implemented various policies to regulate and fund fertility treatments, though access and coverage still vary widely.
In 2025, Poland marked a significant milestone by welcoming its first baby conceived through in vitro fertilisation (IVF) after a bill restoring public funding for fertility treatments was signed into law by President Andrzej Duda. This move reversed cuts made by the previous conservative government in 2015, ensuring that all EU member states now offer some level of public funding for IVF treatments.
Despite this, only five out of the 27 EU countries provide full funding for up to six IVF cycles, as outlined in the European Atlas of Fertility Treatment Policies 2024. These countries—Austria, Denmark, Estonia, France, and Poland—are leading the charge in offering substantial financial support for fertility treatments. After six cycles, partial funding or reimbursement is available in only a handful of countries, including Austria, Denmark, Estonia, and France.
Waiting times for IVF treatments vary significantly across the EU. Fifteen countries do not have a waiting list for treatments, while in the remaining 12, waiting times can extend up to a year. Denmark, Finland, France, Italy, Malta, Romania, Slovakia, and Sweden all have waiting lists ranging from six to 12 months.
The average cost of an IVF cycle across Europe is between €4,000 and €5,000, according to the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE). However, access to these treatments is not solely determined by financial considerations—sexual orientation also plays a significant role.
Christina Fadler, board member of Fertility Europe, highlighted the difficulties faced by same-sex female couples, who often struggle to access publicly funded IVF treatments. These couples typically face significant barriers, such as the requirement to have a medical condition like blocked fallopian tubes, endometriosis, or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) to be eligible for treatment. As Fadler noted, it can take years to receive a proper diagnosis and gain access to IVF funding.
For heterosexual couples, access to fertility treatment is generally straightforward, with many EU countries allowing treatments using either the couple’s own gametes or donated sperm. However, Germany and Luxembourg are the exceptions, as they do not permit IVF with donated eggs for heterosexual couples.
For same-sex couples, the situation is more restrictive. Only Belgium, the Netherlands, and Romania offer fertility treatments to gay couples. Meanwhile, lesbian couples have broader access, with 15 EU countries providing fertility treatments with donated sperm and 13 offering IVF with donated eggs.
Single women also face varying levels of access. In countries like Austria, the Czech Republic, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia, single women are generally not allowed to pursue IVF with sperm donation. In Croatia, access depends on the specific diagnosis, further adding to the complexity of fertility treatment policies across Europe.
While significant strides have been made in expanding access to fertility treatments in the EU, the landscape remains varied and complicated. With differences in funding, eligibility criteria, and waiting times, many individuals and couples continue to face challenges in accessing the reproductive care they need.
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