Bulgarian Court Cancels 'In Vitro' Conception Age Limit

The birth of twins by 62-year-old psychiatrist Krasimira Dimitrova has spurred a motherhood age limit debate in Bulgaria. Photo by Standart Daily

The Sofia Administrative Court has canceled the order by the Bulgarian Fund for Assisted Reproduction, which has imposed an age limit of 43 years to women who want to conceive “in vitro”.

The case has been brought by an appeal of a woman, who was refused “in vitro” because she had passed 43 years.

According to the court, the age limit is discrimination and it is against the Bulgarian Constitution and the Protection against Discrimination Act.

The ruling of the court can be appeal in front of the Supreme Administrative Court.

The regulations of the Fund for Assisted Reproduction do not include age limit. However, according to Act 28, doctors, as well as administrators, should comply with the imposed restriction that access to the fund’s money is allowed only to women below 43 years of age.

The debate on whether age limitations should be imposed on women who want to conceive through an “in vitro” procedure became very popular after a 62-year-old Bulgarian woman gave birth to twins in May. The health condition of the two girls was very bad and one of them died.

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