Baku: Follicular donation is illegal in Azerbaijan, according to Tarana Rajabli, Chair of the Maternity Assistance Commission at TABIB. Rajabli, who also serves as the Deputy Director of Sumgayit Medical Center and Head of the Perinatal Center, highlighted the legal gaps in an interview with APA.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Rajabli explained that the Law on Protection of the Population’s Healthcare does not address the storage or donation of gametes. This omission renders the process of follicular donation illegal in the country. She referenced the origins of artificial insemination in the United States, where a doctor infamously used his reproductive cells to father children with up to 100 women. Rajabli stressed the need for strict legal regulation and involvement of law enforcement agencies in these matters.

Rajabli also commented on the health implications for donor women, who undergo high doses of hormonal treatments for the donation process. She expressed concern about the adverse effects on their health and the potential negative impact on the gene pool.