You have the right to conceive a child artificially, if it is very difficult or impossible to conceive a child naturally. This right is protected by the human right to a private and family life.
Artificial reproduction & Private life
Artificial reproduction is the medically assisted artificial fusion of sperm and ovum (gametes) of a donor, or genetic parents, if it is very difficult or impossible to conceive a child naturally. The artificial reproduction procedure in Latvia will be financed by the State if you fulfil certain requirements. Artificial reproduction is regulated by the Sexual and Reproductive Health Law.
Your right to conceive a child through the artificial reproduction process is protected by the human right to a private and family life. However, work with human gamete is linked with certain legal and ethical issues, therefore the exercise of this right may be subject to certain conditions and restrictions. You do not have the right to request a specific method of artificial reproduction which is not approved by the State.
Conditions & Restrictions
The artificial reproduction procedure in Latvia may be carried out on the basis of an application by a heterosexual couple or a woman. You may apply for the artificial reproduction procedure in a medical institution of your choice.
There are also certain restrictions of an ethical nature, for example, the artificial reproduction procedure cannot be used for human cloning. The selection of a child’s gender is also not permitted, except where a child of a particular gender might inherit a genetic disease. You can read more about restrictions in the Sexual and Reproductive Health Law .
Surrogacy is also not regulated and, thus, not allowed in Latvia.
Agreement
You will be required to conclude a specific agreement with a medical institution to undergo an artificial reproduction procedure. The agreement will regulate different aspects of the procedure, for example, the particular method of artificial reproduction and protection of your data.
State financing
The State finances the artificial reproduction procedure in Latvia if you meet certain requirements:
- the procedure carried out by the medical institution is specified by law
- you have not previously had more than one unsuccessful state-financed artificial reproduction procedure
- the prospective mother is not older than 37 years of age
If you do not fulfil these requirements, the State will not finance your artificial reproduction procedure. Similarly, you cannot request a specific artificial reproduction method which is not approved by the State.
Anonymity
Information about a specific case of artificial reproduction and gamete donation is secret. If you have used donated gamete for artificial reproduction, your identity cannot be disclosed to the donor. In the same way, you will not be able to find out any information about the gamete donor, except for information on genetic and anthropometric data, which cannot reveal his/her identity.
important Latvian law explicitly prohibits any request for the determination of a donor’s paternity (maternity) in relation to a child born as a result of artificial reproduction.
Data protection
Your personal data will be included and retained in a register of infertile families and an artificial reproduction operated by the particular medical institution you have chosen. These registers are not publicly available. Read more about the protection of your personal data.