Question 1

Is sperm donation legal in Latvia?

Accepted Answer

Sperm donation is legal in Latvia and is regulated by the Sexual and Reproductive Health Law, enacted in 2002, alongside specific regulations from the Cabinet of Ministers.

The practice is permitted for heterosexual couples and single women, and some clinics may offer treatment to women in same-sex relationships, potentially requiring one partner to be registered as single. Latvian law mandates strict anonymity for sperm donors, preventing potential parents from accessing identifying information, though non-identifying details like genetic data, physical characteristics, and education level are available to recipients.

Men between the ages of 18 and 45 can become sperm donors in Latvia, provided they meet stringent health requirements, including thorough medical and psychiatric evaluations, and infection screenings. Regulations also limit the number of children that can be born in Latvia from a single donor to a maximum of three, excluding cases of multiple births.

Question 2

Can lesbians do IVF in Latvia?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Latvia permits IVF treatments for lesbian couples, including access to donor sperm.

Latvian law allows IVF for single women and female same-sex couples, and some clinics treat lesbian couples by registering one partner as single. While same-sex marriage is constitutionally banned, civil unions are recognized, granting similar rights except for adoption and inheritance. Donor sperm is legally available, and parents can access genetic and anthropometric data about the donor.

Recent legal developments have extended parental rights to same-sex partners, including parental leave and state-guaranteed allowances, though joint adoption is not permitted. The legal framework for reciprocal IVF is less defined, potentially requiring a post-birth adoption process for the non-carrying partner.

Question 3

Is embryo donation legal in Latvia?

Accepted Answer

Embryo donation is legal in Latvia and is offered to both single women and infertile heterosexual couples.

Latvian law, specifically the Sexual and Reproductive Health Law enacted on July 1, 2002, permits medical impregnation using donated gametes or embryos. Donors are required to provide written consent, and they retain the right to revoke this consent before the procedure, leading to the destruction of their gametes. Donors undergo comprehensive medical, genetic, and psychological evaluations.

Embryo donation in Latvia is conducted anonymously, with the Ministry of Health maintaining a national donor registry to protect donor identities. Recipients can access non-identifying information about the donor, such as genetic traits and physical characteristics, and potentially details about their education, interests, and hobbies. Clinics determine recipient eligibility based on individual medical assessments, and there is no specified legal age limit for receiving donated embryos.

Question 4

Can gay couples do IVF in Latvia?

Accepted Answer

Yes, male same-sex couples can pursue IVF in Latvia, with access to both egg and sperm donation services.

Latvian law legally allows IVF for same-sex female couples, non-married individuals, and extends this access to male same-sex couples desiring to have children. Both egg and sperm donation are permitted, with donors being anonymous but providing genetic and anthropometric data to recipients, such as age, height, weight, eye and hair color, blood type, and potentially education and hobbies. Egg donors must be between 18 and 35 years old and undergo comprehensive medical, psychological, and genetic evaluations.

It is important to note that while Latvia recognizes same-sex civil unions since July 1, 2024, surrogacy is not legally permitted. The legal framework for parental recognition for children born via IVF to same-sex male couples is evolving and may depend on the specifics of the civil union law and individual circumstances.

Question 5

Is surrogacy legal in Latvia?

Accepted Answer

Surrogacy is not legally recognized or regulated in Latvia, in either its altruistic or commercial forms.

Although there isn't specific legislation explicitly prohibiting surrogacy, existing Latvian laws implicitly indicate it is not permitted; commercial surrogacy is prohibited due to the indirect ban on the commercial use of gametes or embryos.

Latvian law defines the woman who gives birth as the legal mother, meaning surrogacy contracts are not enforceable and there is no legal framework for establishing parentage for intended parents through surrogacy, though there are no explicit penalties for engaging in the practice.

Question 6

Can single women do IVF in Latvia?

Accepted Answer

Yes, single women can undergo IVF treatment in Latvia, as Latvian law allows it and the country has progressive reproductive laws.

Single women pursuing IVF in Latvia will have access to donor sperm through licensed sperm banks, typically offered anonymously, with costs ranging from €350 to €600. While public funding is available for women up to age 40, covering medications, lab fees, and up to two cycles, private clinics often treat women up to age 50 or older based on individual medical assessments.

It is important to note that there may be a waiting time of one to two years for publicly funded treatments, while privately funded treatments generally have no waiting lists, though doctor’s services may be an out-of-pocket expense even with public funding.

Question 7

How does IVF work in Latvia?

Accepted Answer

In Latvia, IVF treatment typically involves hormonal stimulation, egg retrieval, fertilization in vitro, embryo culture, and embryo transfer, and generally requires two to three personal visits to the clinic.

The process starts with ovarian stimulation for 10 to 12 days using hormonal medications, with 2-3 ultrasound monitoring sessions to track follicle development. Once follicles are mature, an egg maturation stimulant is given, followed by egg retrieval – a minor surgical procedure under short-term anesthesia lasting around 20-30 minutes. Retrieved eggs are fertilized with sperm in a lab, and resulting embryos are cultured for 2-5 days before transferring one or two into the uterus, with any remaining viable embryos frozen for potential future use.

Latvian law allows IVF/ICSI for heterosexual couples using partner or donor sperm, single women up to 49, same-sex female couples, and non-married couples. Surrogacy is not permitted, and sex selection is allowed only for medical reasons. Both egg and sperm donation are anonymous, with donors undergoing screening for infectious diseases and genetic health.

Question 8

When was the first IVF baby born in Latvia?

Accepted Answer

The first IVF baby in Latvia was born in 1996.

While details regarding the specific clinic or physician involved are not widely available, Latvia formally began developing its IVF infrastructure with the enactment of the Sexual and Reproductive Health Law in 2002. This law created a legal framework for infertility diagnosis and treatment, leading to regulations for gamete banks, family registries, assisted reproduction, and donor guidelines.

By 2014, Latvia had established five fertility clinics, all of which follow the guidelines set by the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) and the International Federation of Fertility Societies (IFFS).

Question 9

Is reciprocal IVF (ROPA) allowed in Latvia?

Accepted Answer

Reciprocal IVF (ROPA) is not explicitly prohibited in Latvia, but it currently lacks a clear legal status and established pathways for both partners to be legally recognized as parents.

Lesbian couples in Latvia can access IVF using donor sperm, however, the non-gestational partner would likely need to adopt the child after birth, which can be a lengthy and bureaucratic process, as they are currently treated as single women in this context. While civil unions are now legally recognized as of July 1, 2024, they do not provide the same rights as marriage, particularly regarding adoption and inheritance.

Several fertility clinics, such as iVF Riga and Northway clinic, offer IVF services including donor eggs and sperm, and may potentially facilitate ROPA on a case-by-case basis, dependent on evolving legal interpretations and individual clinic policies; a medical evaluation of both partners, including medical history and gynecological check-ups, is generally required.

Question 10

Is egg donation legal in Latvia?

Accepted Answer

Egg donation is legal in Latvia and operates under a framework of strict regulations designed to protect all individuals involved and ensure anonymity.

The practice is permitted according to the Sexual and Reproductive Health Law, with a strong emphasis on donor and recipient anonymity; personal information is not exchanged between them. Recipients are able to select a donor based on a range of over 20 characteristics, such as physical attributes and blood type. Donors must be between 18 and 35 years old and undergo comprehensive medical, psychological, and genetic screening to confirm excellent health, including tests for infectious diseases.

While described as an altruistic program, donors are permitted to receive compensation to cover expenses related to examinations and the procedure itself, but commercial use of gametes is prohibited. A single donor’s gametes can contribute to a maximum of three births in Latvia, except in cases of multiple pregnancies.

Question 11

How much does IVF cost in Latvia?

Accepted Answer

The cost of IVF in Latvia typically ranges from €3,200 to €6,500 for a single cycle using one’s own eggs.

A basic IVF cycle, which may include monitoring, egg retrieval, fertilization, and embryo culture, can cost between approximately €1,800 to €2,500, while more comprehensive packages with medications and additional services can range from €3,500 to €5,000. Clinics also list IVF procedures for around €1,380 to €2,480, with ICSI procedures ranging from €1,900 to €3,040. If egg donation is required, the average cost falls between €5,000 and €8,000 per cycle, with some programs costing €6,310 or €7,300.

It’s important to remember that medication costs are often separate from the base procedure fees and should be factored into the overall budget; for example, Gonal-f 75 IU costs around €33 and Ovitrelle F-Pen 250 is approximately €31. Additional procedures like ICSI can range from €2,300 to €5,000, and Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT) costs vary depending on the type of testing and the number of embryos, with PGT-A costing between €440 and €581 per embryo.

Question 12

What is the age limit for IVF in Latvia?

Accepted Answer

In Latvia, there isn’t a single legal maximum age for IVF, but access depends on funding source and individual clinic policies.

Publicly funded IVF is available to women up to 40 years old inclusive, a recent clarification from a previous limit of 38 years. Private clinics often treat women up to age 50 or older, based on a thorough medical evaluation, and may suggest egg donation programs for women over 46, potentially combined with preimplantation genetic screening.

Egg donors in Latvia must be between 18 and 34 years old, and sperm donors are typically between 18 and 45 years old, both subject to strict health and psychological criteria.

Question 13

Are egg donors anonymous in Latvia?

Accepted Answer

In Latvia, egg donation is legally anonymous, meaning recipients are not permitted to meet the donor or access any information that could identify them.

The law strictly prohibits meetings with the donor or obtaining personal details. However, intended parents can receive non-identifying information about the donor, such as age, physical characteristics like hair and eye color, height, weight, blood type, education level, and hobbies.

Currently, Latvian law does not provide a pathway for donor-conceived children to access the donor’s identity when they reach adulthood, and the country does not currently recognize a right to origins for these individuals.

Question 14

Can you choose gender with IVF in Latvia?

Accepted Answer

Gender selection with IVF is not permitted in Latvia for non-medical reasons; it is legally restricted to cases of medical necessity.

Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) or Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT) are allowed, but only to prevent the transmission of sex-related genetic diseases, not for purposes like family balancing.

The exception for gender selection is strictly limited to avoiding heritable genetic diseases that are linked to the sex of the child.

Question 15

What is the IVF success rate in Latvia?

Accepted Answer

IVF success rates in Latvia generally meet or exceed European averages, though they vary depending on the clinic and the patient’s age.

Overall, some clinics report clinical pregnancy rates around 55% when using a patient’s own eggs, while live birth rates per cycle can be lower. Success rates are notably higher with donor eggs, with clinical pregnancy rates around 77% for fresh eggs and 75% for frozen eggs, and an overall birth rate of approximately 50.9%. For women under 35, clinical pregnancy rates with own eggs are around 63%, while those over 40 experience rates around 38%.

Using donor eggs can significantly improve success rates for women over 40, potentially reaching 50-55% or more per cycle. Latvia’s advanced reproductive medicine and laboratory techniques contribute to these competitive success rates when compared to other European countries, although direct comparisons can be difficult due to differing reporting methods.

Recipient age	Country	EU median
<34 years	37.5%	45.7%
35–39 years	61.5%	45.5%
40+ years	42.4%	41.7%

Age group	Country	EU median
<34 years	53.2%	38.8%
35–39 years	50.3%	32.8%
40+ years	28.4%	27.9%

Age group	Country	EU median
<34 years	24.5%	25.6%
35–39 years	19.0%	20.2%
40+ years	14.5%	10.1%

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IVF cost in Latvia: treatment prices

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IVF success rates in Latvia

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