Reproductive Tourism: An Overview of International Regulation

The desire for a child who is genetically related is driving the globalization of assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs). People travel across the globe to seek more affordable ARTs, to find a surrogate birth mother, or to evade legal restrictions such as a ban on sex selection or denying access to ART for same sex or single potential parents in their home country. Regulation of ART differs dramatically from country to country, ranging from comprehensive regulation in the United Kingdom to very limited regulation in the U.S. When left unregulated, reproductive tourism can create a tension between the ability of individuals to achieve their reproductive desires and other societal values. This presentation will provide an overview of national regulations around the world, discuss how the regulations operate, and describe how regulatory structures or the absence of regulation impact reproductive tourism.