6. Is donation of sperm/oocytes/embryos permitted in your country? Yes
7. Are there specific compensation arrangements for donations of sperm/oocytes/embryos? Yes. The expenses borne by the patient, a possible loss of income and any other inconvenience caused by the MAP may be compensated. For ovum donation, a maximum amount of 250 euros may be reimbursed due to inconvenience. Other types of remunerations and payments are forbidden.
8. Are there specific criteria for donation of sperm/oocytes/embryos? Yes.
Sperm and oocytes - Act on Assisted Fertility Treatments (laki hedelmöityshoidoista; 1237/2006) requires the donor to be 18 years old. In medical practice, maximum age limits have been set up by clinics and may vary between them. Donation of gametes should not pose a health hazard to the donor and donors should have no serious hereditary diseases or any communicable diseases, which may cause a serious illness to the woman receiving assisted fertility treatment or to the child. This is ensured by means of a health examination of the donor. Informed consent is required. A donor may specifically consent to the use of sperm for MAP of single women.
Embryos - Only surplus embryos resulting from MAP may be donated with informed consent from both donors.
9. Are there specific non-medical criteria for selection of gametes/embryos to be used for MAP? Yes. When using donated gametes, Section 5 of Act on Assisted Fertility Treatments (laki hedelmöityshoidoista; 1237/2006) requires the attending physician to select gametes whose donor resembles in appearance the parent of the child to be born, unless otherwise requested by the person receiving treatment.
10. Are there special measures for the prevention of consanguinity? Yes. When the gametes of a donor have provided progeny to five MAP recipients, gametes donated by the said donor may no longer be used in MAP provided to others.
11. In a homosexual couple, is a legal relationship possible between a child and the partner of the legal parent? Yes. If partners living in a same-sex relationship are married or have registered their partnership, a partner may adopt the other partner’s child. According to the new Maternity Act which entered into force on 1 April 2019, the maternity of a partner in a female same sex couple can be recognised on the basis of valid consent to fertility treatments.