Infertility affects many people around the world. However, some people find that they are unhappy with the IVF treatment provided in their own countries due to legal factors, costs and other issues. As a result, they seek treatment overseas. Many countries provide IVF treatment to international patients. Citizens who are unable to access the fertility care they want at home can travel to another country and seek high-quality IVF treatment overseas.
So, how should you choose a country to receive fertility treatment abroad? This is a big decision, and there are several factors to consider. Firstly, is the treatment that you want available in the country? Different countries provide different types of treatment, so make sure the treatment that you want is available. Are there any restrictions in place in the country that will prevent you from receiving treatment? For example, many countries have a maximum age limit for women, and many countries will only provide treatment to heterosexual couples and single women.
The cost of IVF treatment is another important issue, and you will have to decide whether the cost matches your budget. Costs vary considerably from country to country. You should also consider the number of visits that you will need to make in order to complete the treatment. A country that is a long way from you may not be convenient if you need to make multiple trips.
The legal aspects of fertility treatment in the country are also important. For example, in some destinations, egg donation is strictly anonymous while in other countries non-anonymous egg donation is an option. There are also legal aspects regarding ICSI treatments.
In countries where egg donors are anonymous, the level of information provided about the donor can vary. Sometimes only very basic information is provided, while in other countries more detailed information is available.
The best destination to receive IVF abroad will depend on your situation. There is no one “best” destination, and it will depend on several factors. There are four important areas to consider:
IVF abroad – legal aspects in popular countries | Maximum age – woman | Maximum partner’s age (male) | Heterosexual couples | Single women | Female couples | Egg donors anonymity options | Maximum number of embryos to transfer IVF with own eggs | Maximum number of embryos to transfer IVF with donor eggs |
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Spain | 50 some clinics may accept older patients (up to 52) based on individual circumstances | No limit | Yes | Yes | Yes ROPA method available (Reception of Oocytes from Partner) | Anonymous donors or known donor (ROPA) | 3 | 3 |
Czech Republic | 48 +12 months | No limit | Yes | No | No | Anonymous donors | No limit recommended number of embryos to transfer is 1 | No limit recommended number of embryos to transfer is 1 |
Greece | 54 additional tests and qualification restrictions may apply to patients over 50 | No limit | Yes | Yes | No | Anonymous donors | age of 35, three if over the age of 40, or the age of 35 if two transfers failed previously | 2 |
North Cyprus | 58 (ask clinics directly special qualification may be required) | No limit | Yes | Yes | Yes | Anonymous donors | 3 depending on prognosis | 3 depending on prognosis |
Portugal | 50 | No limit | Yes | Yes | Yes ROPA method available (Reception of Oocytes from Partner) | Anonymous donors or known donor (ROPA) | 2 if woman is below 35 the recommended number of embryos to be transferred is 1 | 2 the recommended number of embryos to be transferred is 1 |
Latvia | No limit not specified by legislation, decided by each clinic individually | No limit | Yes | Yes | Yes | Anonymous donors | not specified by legislation there are approved guidelines which do not recommend embryo transfer of 3 or more, SET is recommended | not specified by legislation there are approved guidelines which do not recommend embryo transfer of 3 or more, SET is recommended |
Denmark | 45 | No limit | Yes | Yes | Yes ROPA method available (Reception of Oocytes from Partner) | Anonymous / open donors / known donor (ROPA) (mixed system – anonymous and non-anonymous donation) | 2 | 2 |
Poland | No limit not specified by legislation, decided by each clinic individually | No limit | Yes | No | No | Anonymous donors | not specified by legislation decided by each clinic individually | not specified by legislation decided by each clinic individually |
Ukraine | No limit not specified by legislation, decided by each clinic individually | No limit | Yes | Yes | No | Anonymous donors | 3 if there are medical indications and the patient gives consent | 3 if there are medical indications and the patient gives consent |
What is the best country for IVF Abroad? There is no “best IVF country abroad” as there are many factors that may determine your choice. Each popular IVF destination has it’s pros and cons related to IVF costs, legal aspects and IVF treatment availability.
No country can be said to be the best country for treatment. However, there are several countries that are very popular destinations for receiving IVF treatment. These countries provide a combination of excellent IVF treatment availability, liberal IVF laws and affordable costs compared to other European countries.
However, each country is different, and the differences in treatment options may affect which destination is right for you, At FertilityRoad, we have comprehensive IVF abroad guides for seven of the most popular countries for IVF treatment in Europe.
IVF treatment abroad – 8 best destinations | |
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IVF in Spain | While not the cheapest destination, Spain is very popular for several reasons. These include its liberal IVF laws, good treatment availability, lots of clinics specialising in IVF ICSI and egg donation IVF, good availability of egg donors of different races, and the fact that it is a popular holiday destination to combine IVF treatment with a relaxing break. |
IVF in Czech Republic | One of the reasons the Czech Republic is a popular destination is because of its affordable IVF treatment. However, there is more to the Czech Republic than its prices. It is also popular because there is good availability of Caucasian donors, and all IVF treatments options are available in the country. |
IVF in Greece | Greece has many excellent clinics that specialise in IVF ICSI and egg donation. Egg donor availability is very good, and there are lots of different ethnicities to choose from. Because it is a popular holiday destination, Greece is a good option for anyone who wants to combine IVF treatment with a holiday. |
IVF in North Cyprus | Another popular holiday destination, North Cyprus is also popular for IVF treatment for patients across Europe and beyond. There is excellent availability of all IVF treatments here, and older patients up to 55 years old can also receive treatment in the country. |
IVF in Portugal | Portugal is a popular IVF destination for patients who are looking for an egg donation IVF with non-anonymous donors. |
IVF in Latvia | Many people across Europe and beyond choose Latvia to receive IVF treatment for several reasons. Not only is the treatment of a very high quality with excellent IVF clinics, but there is also good availability of egg donors of various ethnicities including Caucasian and Scandinavian. |
IVF in Ukraine | Ukraine is a very affordable destination for IVF treatment, which is one of its most appealing factors. However, it also has excellent clinics and very good treatment availability including IVF-ICSI, donor eggs and donor embryos. There is also no legal age limit for IVF patients. |
Women travel far and wide to receive affordable IVF treatment for many reasons. They don’t feel comfortable with the treatment availability, costs, success rates and even the medical approach in their home countries. The most important factor for many patients is the cost and the availability of treatment, especially for patients from countries that have limitations on certain treatments.
Aleksander Wiecki, CMO IVF Media Ltd.
When comparing IVF clinics abroad, there are many factors to consider. Below we look at some of the most important. It’s also important that you make sure the clinic you choose responds to your questions and that it is fully transparent in terms of its medical approach and its pricing.
You may be interested in reading: Best IVF clinics in Europe ranking
Success rates may be higher in certain countries for all kinds of reasons, including the quality of the clinics, doctors and the level of expertise. Sometimes patients have already undergone a few IVF cycles that have failed, and they are now seeking other experts and opinions. But choosing the right destination can be a challenge. Each country and clinic will differ in terms of treatment availability, legal aspects and costs, so choosing the right clinic within a country is not always easy.
IVF success rates abroad may vary per clinic.
For IVF with own eggs, the average IVF success rate would range from 10% to 50% depending on the patient’s age.
Especially when the IVF with your own eggs is concerned, we strongly recommend asking the IVF clinic about tailored prospects based on your own medical history, infertility diagnosis and the history of the treatment.
For IVF with donor eggs the average egg donation success rate would range from 55% to 85% depending on the clinic and IVF techniques used.
IVF cost abroad may vary as per country, region and IVF clinic. You may compare the average IVF cost per country below, where you will find basic IVF packages costs and IVF add-ons breakdown for each country:
Remember, sometimes there are legal aspects to consider. For example, a woman may be over the legal age limit to receive IVF treatment in one country but legally able to in another. It concerns all types of IVF programs including own eggs IVF and egg donation.
You may also be interested in reading: IVF cost abroad – popular IVF destinations comparison
Receiving IVF treatment abroad is safe as long as you fully understand the legal situation of the country and choose a popular destination with a good reputation as well as a well-established IVF clinic where the medical staff speak your language.
With the exception of North Cyprus, all of the countries listed on this page have national associations of reproductive medicine. These are responsible for providing recommendations and guidance, and they sometimes provide certification for IVF clinics.
“Lots of people have safe, effective treatment abroad but it’s important you do your research. We have no powers overseas and whilst some countries will have a similar government body or laws to oversee fertility treatments, not all of them do. Ask your clinic if there’s a national regulator or what laws they are required to follow.” Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA)Fertil
Anyone who has gone through or is going through IVF treatment is aware that this is emotionally demanding for any affected individual. It’s difficult to decide which IVF clinic to choose for treatment abroad. There are so many choices once you start your research. But to make a meaningful choice, there are some specific points to consider when choosing an IVF clinic abroad.
Faced with lots of choices of clinics, many people have found that putting together a checklist of ‘must-haves’ makes the task of choosing a bit easier. Once you have read enough about the range of treatments, medical issues, processes, technologies, quality of care, etc., create a spreadsheet where you include pregnancy results, external evaluations of physicians, details about the lab and the team. Also, make sure that the clinic tests donors and couples for genetic diseases with specific screening tests, in order to reduce the risk of hereditary diseases before pregnancy.
Read about the latest IVF treatments and technologies; the science on this medical field is continuously evolving and new products are being developed for the results to be improved.
Not all clinics are expert at everything. Some clinics are more focused on specific treatments compared to others. For example, pre-implantation genetic screening is offered at most places, but usually, only a few centres are specialized in this. The same applies to egg donation. Moreover, it is of high importance to choose a clinic that tailors everyone’s therapy individually.
Doctors are the best source for answers to medical questions and well-educated patients know about the quality of care, pros and cons of clinics, evaluation of physicians, labs and teams, as well as prices.
Everybody wants good success rates. Ask the clinic details about pregnancy rates and multiples rates (twins, triplets, etc).
Although IVF treatments are expensive and price could be a barrier to treatment for many people, choosing a low-cost facility may be risky or prove more expensive eventually, because more treatment cycles might be needed. Make sure that the final cost is appropriately explained as on many occasions there might be hidden costs. Finally, look for the standards and practices of embryology labs: at least half of the success of IVF depends on the lab!
During the online consultation, you can assess if the physician is not only professional and competent but also supportive. During the first consultation, a good doctor will discover important medical questions that might help you improve your success chances of becoming pregnant. Most IVF clinics offer free online consultations.
Ask the clinics about any waiting time for treatment. Some people spend a lot of time deciding on one clinic, only to find out that the waiting list is too long for them and they have to start all over again.
Like anything in life, the more prepared you are, the better the outcome. This is a really important decision you are making so make sure you do your research.
If you follow the previous 9 steps you will have completed some in-depth medical and market research. You have now enough data, opinions, impressions and experience (especially if you had a first online conversation) to make an informed decision.
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