Lithuania’s Seimas Human Rights Committee approved the Assisted Reproduction Law amendments (project No. XVP-1315), which will make the procedure available to all women regardless of marital status, and for the first time include the concept of social infertility. The amendments were prompted by the Constitutional Court ruling of 10 April 2025, which found that requiring marriage or partnership violates fundamental rights.
Lithuania’s birth rate is declining: 20,063 children born in 2023, 19,086 in 2024. Meanwhile, 15–20 % of couples in Lithuania face fertility issues. Below is what changes in the law, who can now apply, and what reimbursement questions remain open.
The Seimas Human Rights Committee (chaired by Laurynas Šedvydis) approved Assisted Reproduction Law amendment XVP-1315. The amendments: 1) open the procedure to all women regardless of marital status, for medical or social reasons; 2) drop the requirement for couples to prove at least 1 year of cohabitation; 3) cases of social infertility are not reimbursed from the Mandatory Health Insurance Fund.
- 10 April 2025 — Constitutional Court ruling: marriage/partnership requirement violated rights.
- Project XVP-1315 approved at the Human Rights Committee.
- Procedure becomes available to all women for medical or social reasons.
- 1-year cohabitation requirement is dropped.
- Social-infertility cases are not reimbursed by the Mandatory Health Insurance Fund.
- About 400 successful assisted reproduction procedures took place in Lithuania in 2023.
The Constitutional Court ruling: why amendments were necessary
Until now, assisted reproduction in Lithuania was available only to couples — those married or in a registered partnership, typically with a medical infertility diagnosis. On 10 April 2025, the Constitutional Court ruled this requirement incompatible with the Constitution — it violates the right to private life and the principle of equality.
The ruling means the Seimas must change the law to make the procedure available in other situations as well. The Human Rights Committee, chaired by Laurynas Šedvydis, therefore tabled a draft implementing the ruling.
What exactly is changing?
Here are the three core amendments:
| Area | Before | After amendments |
|---|---|---|
| Marital status | Marriage or partnership required | Procedure open to all women |
| Cohabitation proof | At least 1 year of shared life | Requirement removed |
| Grounds for procedure | Medical infertility only | Medical OR social infertility |
| Reimbursement (PSDF) | Medical grounds — reimbursed | Medical — reimbursed; social — not reimbursed |
Who can now apply?
The amendments open the door to several groups previously excluded by formalities:
- Single women who want a child but have no partner.
- Couples not registered as married or in partnership.
- Women without a medical infertility diagnosis but unable to conceive due to social infertility (for example, no partner of reproductive age).
- Women facing specific medical conditions (e.g., oncological treatment) who want to preserve fertility.
In 2022, infertility was diagnosed in 994 men and 6,866 women; in 2023, in 965 men and 6,758 women. This is an incomplete picture — many do not seek diagnosis, especially outside registered couples, so the actual number of affected people is significantly higher.
What is reimbursed and what is not
Assisted reproduction is expensive — one IVF cycle costs several thousand euros. The amendments make clear that only medical infertility will continue to be reimbursed by the Mandatory Health Insurance Fund (PSDF). Procedures based on social infertility will be paid in full by the patient.
This means that while the legal door opens, financial access remains uneven. A single woman wanting a child but without a medical diagnosis must pay the full cost herself.
Demographic context
But here’s the bigger picture — the amendments have a broader demographic dimension:
- Births are falling: 20,063 in 2023, 19,086 in 2024 (a drop of about 1,000 per year).
- 15–20 % of couples of reproductive age face infertility.
- About 400 children were born in Lithuania in 2023 through assisted reproduction.
- The amendments’ authors hope expanded access will help demographics, although the financial barrier (no reimbursement for social cases) may limit real impact.
Steps if you are considering assisted reproduction
If the amendments make you consider applying, here are the typical steps:
- Talk to your family doctor. They will refer you to a reproductive health specialist.
- Run the necessary tests. Blood, hormone, and other tests that help identify the cause of infertility, if any.
- Determine medical vs. social infertility. This decides whether the procedure is reimbursed by PSDF.
- Contact an assisted reproduction centre. Lithuania has several accredited centres; they will provide an individual plan and pricing.
- Plan the funding. If the procedure is not reimbursed, ask about staged payment options or private financing.
- Track the law’s entry into force. The amendments are currently approved at committee level only; follow Seimas updates for the effective date.
This article provides general legal information. Specific medical advice or procedure choices should be discussed with a licensed specialist.
FAQ
Can single women already apply for assisted reproduction?
The amendments are currently approved by the Human Rights Committee only. The law must still be adopted in a Seimas plenary vote and signed by the President. Until then, the old rules apply — track the project’s progress on the Seimas website.
What is social infertility?
It is a situation where a woman cannot conceive in the usual way for non-medical reasons — for example, she has no partner of reproductive age or is in a same-sex relationship. The term matters in the amendments because it opens the legal route, although such cases will not be reimbursed by PSDF.
How much does assisted reproduction cost when not reimbursed?
One IVF cycle in Lithuania typically costs several thousand euros (up to roughly €4,000–€6,000). The exact figure depends on method, medication, and individual situation — ask your specific centre.
Do the amendments affect men?
The amendments drop the cohabitation requirement and expand access for women. Men’s rights do not change directly — they typically participate as part of a couple or as donors.
When will the amendments take effect?
No exact date — the project must pass a Seimas plenary vote, be signed by the President, and published in the Register of Legal Acts. Track project No. XVP-1315.
If you are considering assisted reproduction, run the preparatory tests, contact an accredited centre, and clearly clarify whether your case is medical infertility (PSDF-reimbursed) or social (self-funded). And track when the amendments formally enter into force.
Source: Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, Human Rights Committee press release, 29 April 2026. Original announcement.