Number of people refused fertility treatment has increased – Region Syddanmark

At the same time, assessments of parental suitability before fertility treatment have become more frequent

New figures from Region Syddanmark indicate that the number of people refused fertility treatment in the past three years has nearly quadrupled.

While 25 rejections were recorded in Denmark in 2019, 94 were recorded in 2021.

This comes as the frequency of pre-treatment assessments of parental suitability is also on the rise. The number of investigations rose from 91 cases in 2019 to 220 in 2021.

Experts split

On the one hand, certain experts believe the increased scrutiny of potential parents is overall beneficial.

“[We doctors] talk about how we should rather ask for one assessment too many than one too few,” said Helle Olesen Elbæk, head of a fertility clinic in Skive, to Kristeligt Dagblad.

However, others believe that the parameters of assessments should be clearer.

“The increase calls for greater transparency about what can lead to refusal of treatment,” said Janne Rothmar Hermansen from the University of Copenhagen.

According to Region Syddanmark, the woman or couple is assessed on the basis of mental health, reports of abuse, and the number of children they already have. However, unnamed “other factors” are also listed as relevant to investigations.





  • How internationals can benefit from joining trade unions

    How internationals can benefit from joining trade unions

    Being part of a trade union is a long-established norm for Danes. But many internationals do not join unions – instead enduring workers’ rights violations. Find out how joining a union could benefit you, and how to go about it.

  • Internationals in Denmark rarely join a trade union

    Internationals in Denmark rarely join a trade union

    Internationals are overrepresented in the lowest-paid fields of agriculture, transport, cleaning, hotels and restaurants, and construction – industries that classically lack collective agreements. A new analysis from the Workers’ Union’s Business Council suggests that internationals rarely join trade unions – but if they did, it would generate better industry standards.

  • Novo Nordisk overtakes LEGO as the most desirable future workplace amongst university students

    Novo Nordisk overtakes LEGO as the most desirable future workplace amongst university students

    The numbers are especially striking amongst the 3,477 business and economics students polled, of whom 31 percent elected Novo Nordisk as their favorite, compared with 20 percent last year.