Helen and Andreas have fought for six years: Now they hope for a Danish midwife

A Danish citizen couple, Helene Johansen and Andreas Korfitz Jensen, have been saving for six years, as they cannot receive help in Denmark for what they desire most - a Danish surrogate mother. Today, the issue will be discussed in the Danish parliament.

Helene Johansen, who is 31 years old and lives in Aalborg, was born without a womb and cannot carry a child herself. In Denmark, it is legal to carry a child without payment, but the Danish healthcare personnel are not allowed to assist with the fertilization, so one must go abroad to find a surrogate mother - for a fee.

- We have looked at what we can concretely do ourselves. And that's why we have been saving up for the possibility of having a child, says Helene Johansen.

Currently, they are looking at Canada, where they hope to find a surrogate mother.

This may change, as today the Danish parliament will first consider a citizen's proposal that would make it legal for surrogate mothers - or surrogates as they are also called - to be fertilized in Denmark.

This would make a big difference, says Andreas Korfitz Jensen.

- It will give us a much greater peace of mind if we can do it in the healthcare system we are familiar with.

This will especially mean something for the couple, as the surrogate mother can become a part of their coming child's life.

- We have a concept in mind that the surrogate mother might become an extra mother for the child. That won't be possible if it comes from a completely different country, says Andreas Korfitz Jensen.

Health Minister Sophie Løhde (V) and the government's three health spokespersons have stated in a column in Berlingske that they are ready to look more closely at a Danish model for treatment.

Read also: The government opens up to making treatment of surrogate mothers legal in Denmark (https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/seneste/regeringen-aabner-goere-behandling-af-surrogatmoedre-lovlig-i-danmark)

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Equal rights for all

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Helene Johansen and Andreas Korfitz Jensen say they are waiting to see what happens in the parliament before they take a position on whether their Canada plans should be changed.

- We might press a little on the brakes, as we want to hear what the government says today. But we are extremely grateful to be heard in our problem situation, says Helene Johansen.

- Now it would be natural for us to take the full step and legalize that Danish clinics can treat surrogate mothers, wrote health minister Sophie Løhde (V) earlier in December in a column in Berlingske.

Regardless of whether it is in Denmark or Canada, the most important thing for the couple is to have the same rights as childless couples at home.

- Fertility treatment is only given to some. We can't quite understand why we have to travel abroad to get help, says Helene Johansen.

- We also think about the couples who will come to be in our situation in the future. It's also important for others that something happens in this area, says Andreas Korfitz Jensen.

On DRTV, you can see the program 'Far, far & børn' about two Danish men who receive help from a Danish woman to have children through treatment abroad.

Documentary | 1 SEASON Far, far & børn (https://www.dr.dk/drtv/serie/far-far-and-boern_504459)

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