Instituto Bernabeu discusses the challenges of Cross Border Reproductive Care and the need for international regulation
27-03-2025
A study led by Sara Dalla Costa of the Instituto Bernabeu Venezia examines the transformation of reproductive tourism and the need for global regulation of gamete and embryo transport.
Italy has experienced a significant change in the dynamics of international reproductive tourism or Cross Border Reproductive Care (CBRC). Recent research led by Sara Dalla Costa of the Instituto Bernabeu Venezia has highlighted a significant change in this practice: whereas before 2014 it was mainly patients who travelled to other countries to access fertility treatments, now it is gametes and embryos that cross borders, creating new regulatory and ethical challenges.
The study points out that this phenomenon, driven by the globalisation of reproductive medicine, has created a regulatory vacuum that puts patients’ safety and rights at risk. Dalla Costa stresses the need for standardised protocols and international regulation to ensure traceability and quality in the transport of human gametes and embryos.
One of the most critical aspects revealed by the research is the lack of incentives for gamete donation in Italy, which has increased reliance on international treatment. ‘The absence of policies to encourage donation exacerbates the need for CBRC and raises questions about the self-sufficiency of the Italian healthcare system in this area,’ says Dalla Costa.
Benefits and potential clinical applications
The study results provide a framework for improving regulation and ensuring safe and ethical practice in international fertility treatments. Patients will benefit from measures to ensure greater safety in procedures, ensuring the traceability and quality of transported gametes and embryos.
While implementing these changes globally requires international coordination and consensus, some CBRC clinics could immediately adopt safer and more efficient protocols.
Towards stronger international regulation
Dalla Costa stresses the urgency of developing international regulations that harmonise CBRC practices and the transport of reproductive material. ‘While technological advances have enabled the globalisation of fertility treatments, it is essential more are transparent and ethical policies, protecting both patients and the professionals involved,’ she concludes. Collaboration between countries and international organisations will be key to ensuring safer and more equitable reproductive medicine in the future.