Question 1

Is sperm donation legal in Ukraine?

Accepted Answer

Sperm donation is legal in Ukraine and is regulated by the Ministry of Health Care of Ukraine, the Family Code, and the Civil Code.

Ukraine is considered a progressive country regarding assisted reproductive technologies, allowing medically assisted conception for all individuals of legal age, regardless of marital status. Donors and recipients are generally anonymous, and sperm donors must be healthy men between the ages of 20 and 40 who have their own healthy children, undergoing thorough medical and genetic screening.

Recent amendments in February 2024 have expanded regulations to allow for the posthumous use of sperm from deceased soldiers by their partners, with provisions for extended storage and inheritance rights for posthumously conceived children, while compensation policies for donors can vary.

Question 2

Can you choose gender with IVF in Ukraine?

Accepted Answer

Yes, gender selection for non-medical reasons, known as family balancing, is legally permitted in Ukraine through Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) or Pre-implantation Genetic Testing (PGT) during an IVF cycle.

PGD/PGT determines an embryo’s sex before transfer to the uterus, and is primarily offered to couples who already have at least one child seeking to balance their family. Genetic laboratories in Ukraine perform this testing as part of the standard IVF process, with no additional requirements beyond those for typical IVF procedures.

It’s important to understand that PGD is a diagnostic tool and not a method to guarantee a child’s gender, though it identifies sex with high accuracy; it is also used to screen for genetic and chromosomal abnormalities, including sex-linked genetic disorders, for couples with a relevant family history.

Question 3

Is embryo donation legal in Ukraine?

Accepted Answer

Embryo donation is legal in Ukraine and is a regulated part of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) within the country.

The legal framework for ART, including embryo donation, is primarily governed by the Family Code of Ukraine, the Law of Ukraine "Fundamentals of Legislation of Ukraine on Healthcare," and specific orders from the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, such as the "Order of Application of Assisted Reproductive Technologies." Ukraine is considered a progressive country in reproductive medicine, and its laws permit embryo donation, integrating it within the broader regulations for ART and surrogacy.

For embryo donation, written consent is a crucial requirement from the intended parents, typically based on medical indications and obtained from individuals of legal age. Embryo donation generally adheres to donor anonymity, meaning the donor’s identity is not disclosed to the recipients, and vice versa, though exceptions exist for familial gamete donation with a joint application. Recipients typically receive non-identifiable information about the donor, such as physical characteristics, blood type, and general background information.

Question 4

Can gay couples do IVF in Ukraine?

Accepted Answer

Currently, male same-sex couples cannot pursue IVF with surrogacy in Ukraine due to legal restrictions limiting surrogacy to married heterosexual couples.

Ukrainian law does allow for egg and sperm donation, making these options accessible to single individuals. While egg donors are generally anonymous, identifiable donors can be used with their consent, and they must be between 18 and 36 years old with at least one healthy child.

Although Ukraine doesn’t recognize same-sex marriage or civil unions, a recent court ruling in June 2025 acknowledged a same-sex couple as a family, creating a legal precedent for de facto relationships; however, this ruling is case-specific and doesn’t offer widespread legal protections. Male same-sex couples wishing to have a family may need to consider options for parenthood in other countries.

Question 5

Can lesbians do IVF in Ukraine?

Accepted Answer

Currently, lesbian couples are unable to pursue IVF treatment in Ukraine due to regulations that specifically prohibit treatment for same-sex relationships.

Ukrainian law restricts access to IVF and egg/sperm donation to heterosexual married couples and single women. While donor sperm is available, it cannot be used in IVF for lesbian couples, and there is no legal framework for recognizing both partners as parents in these situations. Although a recent court ruling recognized a same-sex couple as a family, this does not extend to legal access to fertility treatments.

Restrictions are explicitly in place excluding same-sex couples from IVF treatment, and surrogacy is also limited to heterosexual married couples. Discussions and the recent court ruling have not yet changed the legal limitations on fertility treatments for lesbian couples in Ukraine.

Question 6

Is surrogacy legal in Ukraine?

Accepted Answer

Yes, surrogacy is legal in Ukraine and operates within a clear, regulated legal framework, making it a destination for intended parents.

Both altruistic and commercial gestational surrogacy are permitted, meaning the surrogate mother has no genetic connection to the child, with embryos created through IVF using the intended parents’ or donor gametes. Ukrainian law, specifically Article 123 of the Family Code, recognizes the intended parents as the legal parents from the moment of conception, and the birth certificate is issued in their names, excluding the surrogate mother.

Currently, surrogacy programs continue to operate in central and western Ukraine, such as Kyiv and Lviv, despite the ongoing conflict, and travel to the country remains possible through transit via European countries; however, services are primarily available to heterosexual married couples with a medical need for surrogacy, and at least one parent must be genetically related to the child.

Question 7

How does IVF work in Ukraine?

Accepted Answer

IVF treatment in Ukraine follows international protocols and typically begins with a consultation, followed by in-person tests and planning.

The process involves ovarian stimulation using medications like GnRH antagonists to produce multiple eggs, followed by egg retrieval through a transvaginal aspiration procedure, usually with sedation. Retrieved eggs are then fertilized with sperm, often using Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), and cultured in a lab, potentially with Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT). Finally, one or more embryos are transferred into the uterus.

The number of visits required varies based on the treatment plan and whether the patient uses their own eggs or donor eggs, but using one’s own eggs usually requires a two to three week stay in Ukraine for egg retrieval and initial treatment stages.

Question 8

Is egg donation legal in Ukraine?

Accepted Answer

Egg donation is legal in Ukraine, and the country is a popular destination for fertility treatments due to its favorable laws and cost-effectiveness.

The legal framework for assisted reproductive technologies is outlined in Order No. 787, and Ukraine allows for both anonymous and non-anonymous egg donation, as well as egg sharing. While anonymity is generally protected, donor information can be disclosed if it’s necessary for the child’s health, such as in cases of hereditary diseases.

To be eligible to donate eggs in Ukraine, women must be between 18 and 36 years old, be in good physical and mental health, have at least one healthy child, and provide voluntary, informed consent. Donors receive financial compensation for their participation, which is funded by the intended recipients.

Question 9

Is IVF legal in Ukraine?

Accepted Answer

Yes, IVF is legal in Ukraine and is primarily governed by the Law of Ukraine "On Assistance to Reproductive Technologies" (No. 223-IX of 16.01.2020) and related normative acts.

The Ministry of Health of Ukraine regulates assisted reproduction, with key requirements including that ART services are primarily for married couples, though single individuals in civil unions can also access them with partner consent. Women can undergo IVF up to the age of 50, and procedures are performed based on medical indications; sex selection is prohibited except to prevent hereditary diseases.

The legal framework for IVF in Ukraine has remained consistent between 2023 and 2025, with the 2020 law continuing to be the primary regulation.

Question 10

Can single women do IVF in Ukraine?

Accepted Answer

Yes, single women can legally undergo IVF in Ukraine, and Ukrainian legislation allows unmarried women to access these treatments and embryo adoption.

The woman undergoing the IVF procedure is legally recognized as the sole parent of the child, with the sperm donor having no parental rights or obligations. Access to anonymous donor sperm is readily available, and while there is no legal age limit, clinics assess patients based on their individual medical conditions and readiness for pregnancy, with an informal upper limit of around 51-52 years of age often practiced.

It is important to note that public funding for IVF is not generally available for single women in Ukraine, and patients typically cover all associated costs, which can range from €4,000 to €7,000 for IVF with donor eggs, and potentially higher for more comprehensive packages.

Question 11

What is the IVF success rate in Ukraine?

Accepted Answer

IVF success rates in Ukraine vary depending on whether a patient uses their own eggs or donor eggs, with donor egg programs generally demonstrating higher success rates.

For patients using their own eggs, birth rates in a 2014 report were 38.3% for those under 35, 34.4% for those aged 35-39, and 26.8% for those over 40; however, other data suggests live birth rates of 30-40% for those under 35 and approximately 10-30% for those over 40, with some sources indicating 25-30% for women under 34. When using donor eggs, the birth rate was reported at 56.2% for all age groups in the 2014 ESHRE report, while other sources indicate success rates ranging from 68-75%, and frozen embryo transfer success rates as high as 61.6% to 62.2%.

Ukraine is a popular destination for IVF, particularly for donor-egg treatments, due to competitive pricing and high reported success rates, and in 2017, the country achieved the highest frozen embryo transfer success rates at 62.2% when compared to other countries like the Czech Republic.

Question 12

Are egg donors anonymous in Ukraine?

Accepted Answer

Egg donation in Ukraine is generally anonymous, with laws in place to protect the privacy of both donors and recipients.

Ukrainian law emphasizes medical confidentiality, meaning donors and intended parents typically do not know each other’s identities. However, there have been recent discussions about potential changes to this system, with a draft law proposing the option of non-anonymous donation alongside the existing anonymous framework, though the current status of this law is not definitively detailed.

Intended parents currently have access to non-identifying information about donors, such as age, medical history, ethnicity, and sometimes photographs, but current legislation does not provide a pathway for donor-conceived children to access identifying information about their egg donor at age 18.

Question 13

What is the age limit for IVF in Ukraine?

Accepted Answer

In Ukraine, there isn't a strict legal maximum age for IVF, but most clinics do not offer treatment to women over 51 years of age.

While the law doesn't define an upper age limit, this practical limit is often due to health risks associated with pregnancy in older women and declining success rates. For those using donor eggs, the recipient’s age is also generally around 51, though some clinics may accept patients up to 52 or 56 years old. Egg donors themselves are typically required to be between 18 and 35 years old, and often must have at least one healthy child.

It’s important to note that the state program offering free infertility treatment has an age cutoff of 40 years for women, based on evidence-based medical practice and decreasing success rates with age. Ultimately, the decision to proceed with IVF is made by individual clinics based on a patient’s medical assessment.

Question 14

Is reciprocal IVF (ROPA) allowed in Ukraine?

Accepted Answer

Reciprocal IVF (ROPA) is legally permissible in Ukraine, and both partners in a female couple are recognized as legal parents of the child.

Ukraine’s legal framework is progressive regarding assisted reproductive technologies, and the law specifically states that both women in a female couple undergoing ROPA are considered the legal parents, with equal rights and responsibilities as outlined in Article 123 of the Family Code. The egg-providing partner is the genetic mother, while the gestational mother carries the pregnancy, and both are named on the birth certificate.

Couples seeking ROPA in Ukraine typically undergo thorough medical evaluations to assess their suitability for the procedure, and must provide standard documentation such as passports, visas, and medical records. Numerous clinics in cities like Kyiv, Lviv, and Odesa offer ROPA, often at a more affordable cost compared to many Western countries.

Question 15

How much does IVF cost in Ukraine?

Accepted Answer

The cost of IVF in Ukraine generally ranges from $2,500 to $8,500 USD per cycle, though prices can vary considerably.

A standard IVF cycle using one's own eggs typically costs between $2,900 and $5,000 USD, with some clinics offering comprehensive packages for up to $7,000 USD. IVF with egg donation is more expensive, ranging from $5,200 to $7,000 USD per cycle, and can reach $15,000 USD when including medications and donor compensation. Additional costs to consider include medications for ovarian stimulation, which can add $1,000 to $2,000 USD, and procedures like ICSI, costing between $700 and $1,500 USD, or PGT, ranging from $2,000 to $3,600 USD.

Many clinics in Ukraine offer package deals that may include medications, ICSI, and embryo culture, providing a more inclusive and transparent cost for treatment. These packages aim to simplify the financial planning process for patients undergoing IVF.

Question 16

When was the first IVF baby born in Ukraine?

Accepted Answer

The first successful IVF baby in Ukraine, a girl named Katya, was born on March 19, 1991.

This significant achievement was accomplished by a laboratory that subsequently became the Implant Human Reproduction Center (Clinic "Implant"), which was founded in 1983 by Professor Valentin Ivanovich Gryshchenko. Professor Gryshchenko had previously established the first human reproduction laboratory in the country, operating under the Institute of Problems of Cryobiology and Cryomedicine of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.

Ukraine’s journey with IVF began earlier, during the Soviet era, with initial research in the 1930s and subsequent births in Moscow and Leningrad in 1986, paving the way for the first IVF birth within Ukraine in 1991 at the V.I. Gryshchenko Clinic in Kharkiv.

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