Vienna, 19 June 2024 - From diagnostics and psychosocial counselling to financing: anyone affected by infertility in Austria faces major hurdles and high costs when it comes to having children of their own.Compering fertility policies in 49 European countries, the Alpine republic achieved only 56.3%. Belgium and the Netherlands are the best performing countries with 89%. Austria scored lower as the costs of treatments are only partially covered and medical conditions and corresponding diagnoses are required for the In Vitro Fertilisation Fund.
On the 19th of June, the second edition of the European Atlas of Fertility Treatment Policies, which compares and scoeres countries in regional Europe on access, funding and poicies regarding reproductive medicine, was presented in the Austrian Parliament. The Atlas was compiled by Fertility Europe and the European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual and Reproductive Rights (EPF).
According to a report by the World Health Organisation (WHO), one in six people in the world is infertile. Although infertility is a disease recognised by the WHO and affects around 25 million people in Europe, this diagnosis does not exist in Austria nor in many ither European countries. The presentation featured insights from EPF. Fertility Europe, EPF President Petra Bayr (Member of Parliament, Austria), the Austrian Society for Family Planning (ÖGF) and the patient organisation "Die Fruchtbar - Verein Kinderwunsch Österreich".
The atlas provides an overview of fertility policy in 49 European countries. The criteria used to asses the scores of the countries are the legal basis, the financial support, the access for same-sex couples and single women, available treatment options (regulations for sperm, egg and embryo donation; genetic testing) as well as psychological support and educational programmes on infertility.
"The European Atlas of Fertility Treatment Policies is an important tool for policy makers in the fight against infertility. This atlas provides important data for the design of policies that ensure equal access to fertility treatment. We call on policy makers to recognise the universal right to have children, provide public funding and reduce the stigma of infertility. Together we can create a more inclusive environment for reproductive health," says Leonidas Galeridis, Policy and Research Officer (EPF)
As part of the work on the Fertility Atlas, EPF and Fertility Europe have formulated recommandations for the European Union and its member states. These include the EU-wide recognition of the universal right of all people to have children. In addition, equal and safe access to fertility treatments should be guaranteed and public funds should be made available to promote fertility treatments. The public sector should provide information on (in)fertility and carry out educational work to eliminate the stigma of infertility. An overview of the demands of the patient organisation "Die Fruchtbar - Verein Kinderwunsch Österreich" can be found in German.
"EPF has a long tradition of publishing thematic atlases, for example on policies relating to contraception, abortion or HPV prevention. The Fertility Atlas is the first of its kind and it offers politicians the opportunity to evaluate their policies on the topic, make comparisons and see where there is room for improvement. We see that comparing ourselves with our neighbours can motivate us to adapt our policies. Of course, the aim is not just to become better than other countries, but to offer citizens better access to the various reproductive health services," says Petra Bayr (Member of the Parliament, Austria and President of the European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual and Reproductive Rights)
