Question 1

How much does IVF cost in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Accepted Answer

IVF treatment costs in Bosnia and Herzegovina typically range from €2,155 to €5,400 for a standard stimulated cycle, which includes consultations, tests, scans, egg retrieval, sperm preparation, fertilization, embryo culture, and transfer.

More inclusive packages, potentially including extended embryo culture and cryopreservation, are available for around €2,949. It’s important to remember that medication costs are usually separate and can range from €800 to €1,500. Additional procedures like ICSI can add €500 to €1,200 to the cost, while Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT) can add approximately €2,800 to €5,600. Egg donation services are available, with costs ranging from €2,350 to €7,000.

Costs for cryopreservation are approximately €256 per straw for the first year, with an additional €102 per straw for each subsequent year of storage. Frozen embryo transfer typically costs between €700 to €1,200, and some clinics, like IVF Center Balić, price this at €920.

Question 2

Is embryo donation legal in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Accepted Answer

Embryo donation is not permitted in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the country’s legal framework strictly prohibits the use of donated embryos for reproductive purposes.

The creation of embryos is allowed for both married and unmarried infertile couples, but these embryos have a maximum storage period of ten years, after which they must be discarded. Any attempt to use donated embryos for reproduction is forbidden by law, meaning there are no applicable consent requirements or anonymity rules related to embryo donation.

Consequently, no individuals or couples are eligible to receive donated embryos within Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Question 3

Is sperm donation legal in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Accepted Answer

Sperm donation is not legal in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the country’s legislation prohibits all cycles involving the donation of oocytes, sperm, or embryos.

This prohibition extends to all types of donor programs, and fertility treatment centers are legally barred from engaging in these practices; any attempts to do so are considered a criminal offense. As a result, individuals or couples who require donor sperm must seek treatment in countries where sperm donation is permitted by law.

Because sperm donation is illegal in Bosnia and Herzegovina, there are no regulations concerning donor anonymity, donor requirements, or compensation, and engaging in donation or surrogacy carries potential prison sentences of three to ten years.

Question 4

Is surrogacy legal in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Accepted Answer

Surrogacy is neither explicitly prohibited nor legally permitted in Bosnia and Herzegovina, resulting in a complex and uncertain legal situation.

There is no specific legal framework governing surrogacy, meaning neither altruistic nor commercial arrangements have a defined legal standing. While some sources indicate any form of surrogacy is considered a criminal offense, potentially carrying prison sentences of three to ten years if practiced within infertility treatment centers, others suggest it remains unregulated. The export of biological material for infertility treatment is also prohibited.

Legal parentage rules are unclear, with the woman who gives birth generally recognized as the legal mother. Cross-border surrogacy arrangements present difficulties in recognizing legal parenthood for intended parents, though some legal scholars suggest foreign documents may be favored over domestic legal proceedings.

Question 5

Can lesbians do IVF in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Accepted Answer

IVF is not legally permissible for lesbian couples in Bosnia and Herzegovina due to restrictions on assisted reproductive technologies and the lack of legal recognition of same-sex relationships.

Currently, Bosnian law only allows married heterosexual couples to access IVF treatments. The use of donor sperm, which would be necessary for lesbian couples, is entirely prohibited, even if sourced from foreign sperm banks. This extends to a lack of legal provisions for recognizing both partners as parents should IVF be pursued elsewhere and they attempt to establish parental rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Although there have been discussions regarding the recognition of same-sex relationships within the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, these have not yet translated into legal changes that would grant lesbian couples access to fertility treatments, meaning those seeking IVF would need to consider treatment in a different country with more inclusive legislation.

Question 6

What is the age limit for IVF in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Accepted Answer

The age limit for IVF treatment in Bosnia and Herzegovina depends on the region and funding source, but generally extends to menopause, often cited as late 40s or early 50s for women using their own eggs.

Specifically, in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, women up to age 42 are eligible for publicly funded IVF, while Republika Srpska typically sets the limit at 42-43 years old. There is generally no upper age limit for men undergoing IVF. It’s important to note that donor gametes are currently not permitted in Bosnia and Herzegovina, meaning age limits do not differ based on egg source.

While some clinics may treat women in their early 50s, success rates decline significantly after age 40, falling between 25-35% for women over 40. Public funding is available for married heterosexual couples where the woman is 42 or younger, covering up to three intrauterine insemination attempts and five IVF attempts.

Question 7

What is the IVF success rate in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Accepted Answer

Due to limited national data, a precise IVF success rate for Bosnia and Herzegovina cannot be stated, but general trends and comparisons can be made based on international data and regional information.

International data shows age significantly impacts IVF success, with women under 35 having live birth rates of 40-55% per embryo transfer, declining to 30-40% for ages 35-37, and 20-26% for ages 38-40; success rates with own eggs can fall below 5% for women over 42. Success rates are higher with donor eggs, ranging from 40-60% per embryo transfer, compared to significantly lower rates when using one’s own eggs over the age of 40.

A study of the first 105 IVF cycles in private centers in Bosnia and Herzegovina reported a pregnancy rate of 26.7% per aspiration, a clinical pregnancy rate of 26.3% per transfer, and a live birth rate of 13.1% per transfer, and the Balkan region generally offers treatment options with success rates comparable to Western Europe, often at a lower cost.

Question 8

Can gay couples do IVF in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Accepted Answer

Currently, gay couples cannot legally access IVF treatment in Bosnia and Herzegovina due to restrictions in the legal framework surrounding assisted reproductive technologies.

A draft law proposed in 2018 specifically limits eligibility for fertility services, including IVF, to married heterosexual couples only, excluding single individuals, unmarried heterosexual couples, and same-sex male couples. While Bosnia and Herzegovina lacks a comprehensive law on medically assisted reproduction, existing practices and proposed legislation are restrictive, and donor programs are not permitted.

The legal status of surrogacy is ambiguous, with some sources indicating it is prohibited, and the recognition of same-sex couples is not legally established within the country.

Question 9

Is reciprocal IVF (ROPA) allowed in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Accepted Answer

Reciprocal IVF (ROPA) is not permitted in Bosnia and Herzegovina for same-sex couples, as current legislation restricts fertility treatments, including IVF, to married heterosexual couples.

Bosnia and Herzegovina lacks comprehensive legislation specifically regulating medically assisted reproduction, and existing and proposed regulations prioritize access to fertility services for married heterosexual couples. Because the country does not recognize same-sex marriages or civil unions, parental recognition for both partners in a same-sex relationship is not legally established, making ROPA, which enables dual maternity, legally unfeasible.

Although several fertility clinics, such as Bahçeci Bosnia and Herzegovina IVF Center and Bona Dea IVF Klinika, offer advanced reproductive technologies, they operate within the existing legal framework and are therefore unable to offer ROPA to same-sex couples.

Question 10

Is egg donation legal in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Accepted Answer

Egg donation is not legal in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and both egg and sperm donation are prohibited.

The legal framework surrounding assisted reproduction in the country is considered restrictive and lacks comprehensive legislation, despite a draft law established in 2018 that has not been fully implemented nationwide. Current regulations primarily serve married heterosexual couples, and the use of donor gametes is not permitted, meaning treatments are limited to those using one’s own eggs or sperm.

Due to the prohibition of egg donation, there are no applicable donor age limits or compensation rules. Heterologous fertilization, which involves using donor gametes, is forbidden, and the transfer of donated embryos is also not allowed.

Question 11

How does IVF work in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Accepted Answer

IVF in Bosnia and Herzegovina follows a standard process of ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, fertilization, and embryo transfer, though the country is still developing comprehensive regulations for assisted reproductive technology.

The typical IVF process involves approximately two weeks of ovarian stimulation, closely monitored with follicular scans and blood tests to optimize medication dosages. Following egg retrieval, fertilization takes place in a laboratory, and embryos are cultured before being transferred. Currently, access to IVF is primarily limited to married heterosexual couples, with some possibility for single women to preserve their eggs for future use within a marriage.

Women typically have an age limit for using their own eggs, generally up to menopause in their late 40s or early 50s, while there is no specified age limit for men. It is important to note that Bosnia and Herzegovina currently lacks a comprehensive ART law, but a draft law was established in 2018 to address regulations and patient rights.

Question 12

Are egg donors anonymous in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Accepted Answer

Egg donation is not permitted in Bosnia and Herzegovina, therefore the question of donor anonymity does not arise.

Because egg donation, along with all forms of gamete donation, is prohibited and considered a criminal offense in Bosnia and Herzegovina, there are no established rules or procedures concerning donor anonymity or access to donor identities for any resulting children. The legal framework is restrictive, only allowing married heterosexual couples to access fertility services, and recent draft laws have not changed this prohibition on donation.

Question 13

Can single women do IVF in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Accepted Answer

The situation for single women seeking IVF in Bosnia and Herzegovina is complex, with access varying by region. While initial proposed laws restricted treatment to married heterosexual couples, more recent information suggests single women may have access, particularly in Republika Srpska.

Specifically, in Republika Srpska, only heterosexual couples and single women are currently able to access fertility treatments. Single unmarried women may also be able to freeze their eggs for potential future use if they enter a married relationship, especially if there are medical reasons for doing so. The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina appears to have a more restrictive approach to ART, with less clearly defined laws.

There is conflicting information regarding donor sperm availability; some sources state it is prohibited, while others indicate it is an option for single women and female couples in Republika Srpska, and broader Balkan discussions suggest it is generally available.

Question 14

Is IVF legal in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Accepted Answer

IVF is legally performed in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but the legal landscape is fragmented, differing between the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska.

While the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina has a draft law dating back to 2018, it has not been fully enacted, resulting in a regulatory grey area where clinics are overseen by the Ministry of Health to ensure safety and ethical standards. Republika Srpska does have specific laws governing fertility treatments. Access to IVF is generally limited to married heterosexual couples, though single women may be able to access oocyte vitrification for medical reasons.

For women, IVF using their own eggs is typically available until menopause, with some clinics potentially setting an upper age limit in the late 40s or early 50s, while there is no specified age limit for men undergoing treatment. Single individuals, unmarried heterosexual couples, and same-sex couples are generally ineligible for fertility services.

Question 15

Can you choose gender with IVF in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Accepted Answer

Gender selection for non-medical reasons is not permitted with IVF in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT) for this purpose is prohibited.

The legal framework surrounding assisted reproductive technology in Bosnia and Herzegovina is relatively restrictive, primarily serving married heterosexual couples. While some clinics may advertise related services, the practice of gender selection is legally prohibited within the country, even if couples are seeking it for non-medical reasons.

Couples interested in PGT to prevent sex-linked genetic diseases are advised to explore options in other countries where these services are legally available, as exceptions for PGT are not specified for non-medical reasons in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Question 16

When was the first IVF baby born in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Accepted Answer

The first IVF baby in Bosnia and Herzegovina was born in 2012.

This birth coincided with the establishment of the Bahçeci Bosnia and Herzegovina IVF Center in June 2012, which was the first modern IVF center in the Balkans to feature the Embryoscope™ device and offer PGT services.

Bosnia and Herzegovina currently operates without specific legislation regarding medically assisted reproduction, though a Draft Law on Infertility Treatment with Bio–Medically Assisted Fertilization was initiated in March 2018 to address this.

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