Choosing a Destination for IVF Treatment Abroad
IVF treatment abroad is the choice for a substantial number of people. For some it is because they can see that the cost of treatment is much lower abroad compared to home. For others it is because the waiting time to start treatment is shorter. There are many reasons that people give for going abroad and studies have been undertaken to understand the reasons for travelling. The European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) undertook research in 2010 to understand the reasons for travelling abroad. They found that access to treatment was a factor in a lot of cases, particularly the UK. In other countries, people had legal reasons for going abroad. For example, in Germany, egg donation is not permitted.
Choosing where to go for treatment is not easy. Here are some of the most popular destinations for IVF treatment and what they offer.
Is the Czech Republic right for you?
Czech Republic
- The cost of treatment is much lower than the UK – can be up to 50% cheaper
- All the latest techniques are available at some clinics e.g. PGD, embryo monitoring, IMSI
- Egg and sperm donation is anonymous
- Waiting lists are short or non-existent
- Well trained staff
- Well regulated clinics with inspections
- No law on limit of number of embryos allowed to be transferred
- New clinics opening regularly as more people find out about what the Czech Republic offers
Spain
- The cost of treatment is lower than the UK
- All the latest techniques are available at most clinics
- Egg and sperm donation is anonymous
- Waiting lists are short or non-existent
- Well trained staff
- Well regulated clinics with inspections
- Maximum of three embryos allowed to be transferred
- Well-trodden path – thousands have travelled for treatment to Spain
Greece is a popular destination
Greece
- The cost of treatment is lower than the UK
- All the latest techniques are available at some clinics
- Egg and sperm donation is anonymous
- Waiting list are short or non-existent
- Well trained staff
- Well regulated clinics with inspections
- 3-4 embryos are allowed to be transferred
- More and more people are going abroad to Greece from recommendations
As you can see there isn’t much to separate them. So how can you decide where to go? Most people rely on recommendations from friends or from participating in fertility forums. Everyone has an opinion on where to go and particularly if they were unsuccessful or successful at a certain clinic. You can usually get a good indication from communicating with the clinic whether they are suitable for you. So my advice would be to do your research. Listen to what others say online. Then email a few of the clinics and ask certain questions. Find out how well they respond to your questions and whether you feel happy with the answers. If you can go out and visit to see for yourself then that is great, but most people can’t afford the time or money to do that.
If going abroad for treatment is the right choice for you then there are good options throughout Europe which can offer you exactly what you need.
