IVF treatments help infertile woman conceive.
If a couple trying to conceive is not able to become pregnant after a full year of trying, they are considered infertile. About one in eight couples trying to conceive receive medical assistance to help them. In an in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedure, the woman's egg is fertilized by the man's sperm outside of the womb. Often the egg is donated by another woman.
Parental rights
In many cases of in vitro fertilization, the egg is donated. The donated egg is used by the woman attempting to become pregnant. If the woman becomes pregnant with the donated egg, she becomes the legitimate mother of the child and holds all legal rights to the child. The woman who donated the egg does not have legal rights to the child.
Insurance Coverage
About 12 percent of women trying to conceive are treated for infertility. IVF treatments can be very expensive to a family, costing around $12,000 for treatment and medication. Many insurance companies do not, and are not required, to cover IVF treatments. Fourteen states passed laws that require insurance companies to offer coverage or cover infertility treatment. Two of the states that require coverage, California and New York, also have laws that exclude IVF from other infertility treatments and insurance companies are not required to cover the procedure.
IVF laws across the globe
In the United States, women who struggle with infertility are able to receive IVF treatments. The number of embryos transferred is not limited. However in the United Kingdom, Norway, France, Australia and Germany, legislation is in place that limits the maximum number of embryos. Single women are not allowed to receive IVF treatments in Sweden or Denmark. The United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark and Norway do not allow embryo donors to be anonymous.
