The Swiss government has unveiled plans to legalise egg donation for the first time, as part of a wider overhaul of the laws on medically assisted reproduction.
Switzerland to give both married and unmarried couples access to egg and sperm donation
As it currently stands, egg donations are not allowed in Switzerland, forcing couples in need of an egg donor to look abroad, while sperm donations are only available to couples who are married.
Back in 2021, the parliament instructed the federal council to present a proposal to overhaul Swiss medically assisted reproduction laws “in order to adapt it to the current context”, according to a government statement.
The federal council has indicated that both married and unmarried couples should have access to sperm and egg donation, citing concerns about the welfare of both the donor and the child, should couples be forced to “resort to egg donation abroad”. “The current restriction to married couples is outdated and no longer corresponds to social reality,” the press release reads.
Revised medically assisted reproduction law expected by end of 2026
The draft revision of the law on medically assisted reproduction will not only expand access to sperm and egg donation to all couples trying to get pregnant, but is also expected to incorporate some other changes, including a relaxation of the rules governing the maximum number of embryos that can be developed per cycle during in vitro fertilisation (IVF).
The draft law is set to be put out to consultation by the end of 2026.