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Poland's ombudsman has challenged a new law on in-vitro fertilization (IVF) as unconstitutional, saying it should not stop single women who started the procedure before the changed rules came into effect from completing it.

IVF treatment has been available in Poland for more than two decades but the overwhelmingly Roman Catholic country passed legislation regulating it only this year, becoming the last European Union member to do so.

In its current form, the law - which comes into force on Sunday - does not allow a woman to undergo the treatment unless she names a man who will recognize the child as his.

This undermines the legal rights of single women who have already began the procedure using sperm from an anonymous donor, the ombudsman's office said, requesting the constitutional court to review the text.

The issue stirred a heated debate ahead of last Sunday's parliamentary election, won by the conservative Law and Justice, which shares many Roman Catholic views on social issues.

The Church opposes in-vitro fertilization, saying it divorces marital sex from procreation and could result...