Overview
All assisted reproduction clinics in Bulgaria comply with the requirements under Ordinance 28 on Assisted Reproduction Activities (first enforced in 2007, last amended 29 Jul 2011) of Bulgarian Ministry of Health. Among its key provisions are:
- The age limit of women for non-donor IVF treatment in Bulgaria is 51 years. The same age limit is set for donor-egg recipients.
- There are no restrictions on IVF for single women or female couples.
- There are no restrictions on egg, sperm or embryo freezing.
- The number of embryos to be transferred is recommended individually depending mainly on the embryos’ quality, patient’s age, treatment and obstetric history. However, Ordinance 28 regulates the maximum number of embryos allowed for transfer and these limits depend on patient’s age and number of previous unsuccessful embryo transfers, as well as on the stage of embryo development.
- Embryo screening (PGD and CGH) is permitted. Sex selection is not allowed, unless required for avoiding gender-specific hereditary diseases.
Egg/Sperm Donation
Sperm donation is permitted, either by an anonymous donor or by the woman’s partner.
Egg donation could be anonymous (donor’s age 18 to 34) or by a relative (donor’s age 18 to 38). Egg donors should have at least one live birth.
A maximum of 5 live births per egg or sperm donor are permitted (including donor’s own children). Compensation is only allowed for donor’s loss of work, accommodations, travel, pain and suffering as well as loss of profits.
Surrogacy
There are still no laws or policy on surrogacy, although in Feb 2011 a parliament member initiated a steering group on legalizing the “substituting mother” relations. So for the time being it is not recommended to pursue surrogacy in Bulgaria.
