300 In Vitro Babies Born in Bulgaria in July

More than 300 babies, conceived through an in vitro procedure, were born in Bulgaria in July. Photo by BGNES

More than 300 babies, conceived through an in vitro procedure, were born in Bulgaria and 210 more women were expecting results from their pregnancy tests in July.

The Bulgarian Fund for Assisted Reproduction has announced that 172 births with 235 alive babies have been performed from the creation of the fund in April 2009 until June 2010.

Nikolay Lalev, head of the fund, has announced that the highest recorded success rate of the procedure has been 32%.

According to the head of the Fund “I Want a Baby”, Radina Velcheva, it is expected a boom of in vitro-conceived babies since recently 19 babies were born in one day.

Lalev has stated that the applications of women who have reached 42 years were a priority for the fund. The reason for that is that according to Act 28, access to the fund's money is allowed only to women below 43 years of age.

According to him, from medical point of view, the age restriction should stay, but from human point of view, it needs to be increased by two more years.

“However, patient organizations will try to initiate changes in the Act, so that the in vitro age could increase,” he said.

The Fund for Assisted Reproduction has supported with funding 5900 childless women. The couples that have submitted applications for assistance from the fund have been 9125, 8480 out of which have been processed.

Lalave has explained that the state funding for every in vitro attempt is BGN 5000. Every woman receives funding for three in vitro attempts in a hospital of her choice, with that choice being among the 18 clinics that have signed contracts with the fund.

Almost all of the fund's budget for 2010, which is a total of BGN 10 M, has been absorbed. However, the Health Ministry has decided to provide more funding, so that the in vitro procedures can continue, in Lalov's words.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!