Yes, IVF is legal in Austria under strict conditions outlined in the Fortpflanzungsmedizingesetz (Reproductive Medicine Act). The procedure is permitted for heterosexual couples and single women, with mandatory counseling and ethical oversight by the Ethikkommission für Präimplantationsdiagnostik.
Key Regulations for In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) in Austria
- Eligibility Restrictions: Only heterosexual couples (married or in a registered partnership) and single women may access IVF. Same-sex female couples face legal barriers unless they undergo artificial insemination via a sperm donor, which falls outside IVF regulations.
- Embryo Transfer Limits: A maximum of three embryos may be transferred per cycle, with a mandatory 14-day waiting period between transfers to reduce multiple pregnancies. Cryopreservation of excess embryos is permitted but subject to strict storage duration limits (10 years, renewable under exceptional circumstances).
- Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT) Bans: PGT is prohibited except for severe hereditary diseases, as per the 2026 amendment to the Fortpflanzungsmedizingesetz, which tightened ethical oversight by the Ethikkommission für Präimplantationsdiagnostik. Non-medical sex selection is explicitly banned.
Additional compliance requirements include mandatory psychological counseling for patients and mandatory reporting of all IVF cycles to the Österreichische Gesellschaft für Reproduktionsmedizin und Endokrinologie (ÖGRE). Violations may result in fines up to €50,000 or criminal liability under the Fortpflanzungsmedizingesetz.