HIV and access to fertility treatment in the European and Swedish contexts

Karli Gigstad; Ying Li; Julia Thaler; Rachel Irwin

doi:10.1016/j.srhc.2023.100812

HIV and access to fertility treatment in the European and Swedish contexts

Sex Reprod Healthc. 2023 Mar;35:100812. doi: 10.1016/j.srhc.2023.100812. Epub 2023 Jan 12.

Authors

Karli Gigstad¹, Ying Li², Julia Thaler¹, Rachel Irwin³

Affiliations

¹ Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT, USA.
² Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, USA.
³ Department of Arts and Cultural Sciences, Lund University, Sweden; DIS Study Abroad in Scandinavia, Copenhagen, Denmark. Electronic address: rachel.irwin@kultur.lu.se.

PMID: 36696741
DOI: 10.1016/j.srhc.2023.100812

Abstract

Across Europe many people living with HIV face discrimination in accessing fertility treatment. This short communication presents an updated mapping of regulations across Europe, along with a consideration of the Swedish context. Overall, the accessibility and availability of MAR for people living with HIV in Europe is complicated and, in some countries, inconsistent. We encourage sharing best practice from countries with less restricted access. We also call for an end to discrimination based on outdated medical knowledge, and for more clearly defined and readily available guidelines surrounding fertility treatment entitlements for people living with HIV.

Keywords: Discrimination; Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); In vitro fertilization (IVF); Medically assisted reproduction (MAR); Policy.

MeSH terms

Europe
Fertility*
HIV Infections*
Humans
Reproductive Techniques, Assisted
Sweden