[Egg donation: regulation of the donation and the hidden face of the cross-border reproductive care]

Abstract

In France egg donation is not sufficient to meet the needs of infertile couples. As a consequence there is a long waiting time for those couples who may be driven to search solutions abroad. Nonetheless in some countries practice of egg donation raises medical and ethical questions regarding the quality of care provided to the recipients as well as the recruitment and follow-up of egg donors. Meanwhile the scope of this type of "cross-border reproductive care" remains difficult to assess, even though this trend seems to be growing and is reinforced by a recent regulation facilitating the free movement of people seeking cross-border health care within the European Union. These observations lead to question the possible causes of "cross-border reproductive care" in the light of national laws, to identify potential consequences in order to suggest possible actions at both national and international level.