IVF

Her birth is a milestone that follows years of struggles to legalize IVF and offer it within the Costa Rica Social Security System (CCSS, or Caja). 

Nine women were transferred fertilized eggs, and three are now in their 10th week of gestation.  

It took a historic trial and years of discussions for the Costa Rican government to implement measures to ensure access to assisted reproduction methods in public health institutions.

The parents are from the province of Heredia who had the IVF procedure performed last June at a private hospital in San José.

The executive decree reinstating the right to in vitro fertilization (IVF) in Costa Rica went into effect three months ago. But just one private clinic has applied and received authorization to perform the fertility procedure.

A committee from the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights recommended that Costa Rica should review its legislation on abortion in cases of rape, incest or when fatal fetal impairment exists.

Inter-American Court of Human Rights: “It should be understood that IVF is authorized in Costa Rica and it must immediately be allowed by both private and public health services.”

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights on Friday admitted a new request filed by the lawyer of six couples who sued Costa Rica for banning in vitro fertilization nearly 16 years ago.

The fight to legalize in vitro fertilization in Costa Rica faces yet another setback after a high court struck down a recent decree by the administration of President Luis Guillermo Solís to legalize the procedure.

Costa Rica’s executive branch backed down Tuesday from a bill to regulate in vitro fertilization, saying it would wait for court rulings on the issue.