Redefining Parenthood: Reproductive Choices and Challenges

As societal norms shift, many women delay having children, often leading to difficulties with conception. Today, one in 30 babies is conceived through artificial reproductive technologies. However, Swiss reproductive law treats men and women differently. If a man is infertile, sperm donation is an option and has been legal in Switzerland since 2001, provided it is not anonymous. In contrast, egg donation is prohibited for women whose egg reserves are depleted due to premature menopause, illness, or age. As a result, many women seek support abroad, with Spain and the Czech Republic being popular destinations due to the availability of egg donors. However, donations in these countries are strictly anonymous, preventing children from identifying their genetic mothers later in life. This raises a broader question: how can countries responsibly address the complexities of egg donation, balancing the rights and needs of donors, recipients, and future children?

Abortion rights are not only at risk in the USA, there are also countries in Europe where abortion is still illegal or where access is becoming increasingly restricted. Around the world, around 39,000 women die every year from unsafe abortions. Despite that, opponents of abortion are organising themselves, becoming more and more coordinated, celebrating initial “successes“ in Poland and Malta, among other places. But there are also increasing problems in countries that have allowed abortions for decades. This is a film about women in Europe fighting for their right to make decisions about their own bodies. And about abortion opponents who want to prevent exactly this.

For many people, starting their own family is a lifelong dream. But for gay couples, the path to family happiness is still full of hurdles. The film shows the ups and downs of a non-heteronormative family constellation - with two dads. What prejudices do the fathers encounter? How do they live everyday family life? And would they take the same path again?

A little known fact: at least every sixth pregnancy ends in a miscarriage. Many women don't dare to speak openly about it, because often society does not recognize the scope of the loss, does not consider the women and men concerned as grieving parents who have lost their child. There is often a lack of knowledge and time to react appropriately to the shock of the respective woman, to acknowledge the loss of a child and to inform calmly. Couples who feel well cared for and treated well will cope much better with a miscarriage, but such situations are far too rare.

Over 40 and expecting your first child? What used to be the exception is slowly becoming the rule. Nevertheless, geriatric pregnancies almost always bring with them very high risk of deformities because the ovules of older women are less fertile than those of younger women. With “Social Egg Freezing”, the medical field has a found a way to reduce the dangers that normally accompany geriatric pregnancies. Young women are encouraged to have their ovules removed and frozen until later in life when they determine themselves ready to have children. Does this method offer women a long-desired freedom? Does it not only harbour risk of misuse in the name of science and economy? And should it be possible to plan human life from A – Z?