Federal Joint Committee guidelines on fertility protection-A current overview

With the introduction of the Appointment Service and Care Act (TSVG) in 2019 on the initiative of the Minister for Health Jens Spahn, the foundation was laid for the "Guidelines on the cryopreservation of egg and sperm cells or germ cell tissue and corresponding medical measures against gonadotoxic treatment (Kryo-RL)", which recently came into force. The measures for fertility preservation in patients of reproductive age have now been covered by the health insurance since 1 July 2021. All patients with an underlying disease which necessitates a gonadotoxic treatment, are eligible. Although the procedures for fertility protection are now part of routine care, they have not yet been covered by health insurance and had to be financed privately by affected patients. The guidelines which have now come into force describe the performance requirements, the age limits for those affected, the medical indications and the preceding counselling on the implementation of fertility protection. In the case of the cryopreservation of ovarian tissue, the use of which, in contrast to germ cells has not yet been included in the current guidelines, the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) continues to advise in a second procedure, as the method does not appear to have been conclusively evaluated. A final resolution on this is expected in the second or third quarter of the year 2022.