The German government has placed a few stipulations on couples seeking help conceiving in order for the procedures to be covered by health insurance. Fertility doctors are well-versed in the details, but essentially a couple must be married and the woman cannot be older than 40. Only eggs and sperm from the couple may be used (donors can be used if you’re willing to pick up the tab yourself or have special private insurance).

There are also limits on the number of times a couple can try the various methods – for example, insurance will pay for eight attempts at artificial insemination or three if doctors use artificial hormones to stimulate the female partner. Other, more complex methods are only covered for the first two or three attempts.

If a couple successfully has a child, the process is restarted.