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. In Slovenia, you have access to artificial reproduction also when such a procedure could prevent a severe hereditary disease from being passed on to a child.
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 Slovenia will be financed by supplementary health insurance four times. After childbirth you are entitled to another four tries covered by insurance. Artificial reproduction is regulated by the Infertility treatment and procedures of biomedically-assisted procreation act.
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 Slovenia may be carried out on the basis of an application only by a heterosexual cohabiting or married couple. 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 Infertility treatment and procedures of biomedically-assisted procreation act.
Surrogacy is also not regulated and, thus, not allowed in Slovenia.
Written consent
You will be given detailed instructions and advised on the procedure by a doctor and be required to give written consent to undergo an artificial reproduction procedure.
In case of a procedure of artificial reproduction with donor’s gamete, you will be referred for psychological and social counseling before starting the procedure.
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. Due to medical reasons, your child’s doctor will be able to access the donor’s health information.
important Slovenian 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 retained in a register operated by the particular medical institution you have chosen for as long as is appropriate under the rules of medical science and experience, up to a maximum of 50 years. These registers are not publicly available.