At Treatment Abroad, we've seen increasing interest from IVF clinics abroad that are experiencing significant growth in patient numbers from the UK and other European countries.The latest report from the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology confirms an increase in IVF treatment abroad, The report surveys infertility clinics in Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Slovenia, Spain and Switzerland and is based on a sample of 1,230 patients visiting these infertlity clinics. See details of the report in the Guardian.
Lack of access to IVF services in the home country for the over 40's and legal restrictions on infertility treatment are the prime drivers. Italy was the biggest source of IVF "medical tourists" accounting for 32% of the patients in the survey. Next was Germany (14%), followed by the Netherlands (12%), France (9%) and the UK (5%). The average age was over 37 but 63.5% of the British patients were over 40.
According to study coordinator, Dr Francoise Shenfield from University College Hospital in London, "Spain and the Czech Republic are popular destinations for oocyte donation; Swedes travel to Denmark for insemination, and the French to Belgium." She also highlighted the significant numbers of Italians who travel abroad to receive treatment that was rendered illegal in their home country under recent legislation or because they believe they will receive better quality care.Extrapolating the data, EHSRE estimates that 20,000 to 25,000 cross-border fertility treatments are carried out each year.IVF related medical tourism is a relatively new but growing trend in the UK, as couples delay having children into their 40's and then discover that they have a problem.
IVF treatment is available within the National Health Service in the UK, but access to treatment can be a problem.
- Age and waiting lists can be a barrier to treatment.
- Overweight women are excluded from NHS treatment.
- Demand for egg donation exceeds supply. ( The right of anononymity for egg donors was removed in 2005)
Whereas some areas of medical tourism may be feeling the effects of the recession and the resulting impact on people’s pockets, IVF treatment abroad is an opportunity worth pursuing for those IVF clinics abroad that can demonstrate impressive results and cater for the needs of the “fertility tourist”.
9 comments:
waitinglist to long...
IVF in Turkey : Istanbul/ Turkey is another destination point in IVF. Lower costs, high technology and very experienced IVF teams with high succes rates in different fertility problems.Hygieia Turkey www.hygieiaturkey.com with its case managing & health consulting team offers free detailed consultation before flight,all patient centered health & touristical services needs are manged by one big team including health & tourism professionals.
With treatments available to 10,000 USD lesser in other countries like India, China, Israel, Mexico, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, China, Malaysia, Spain, Belgium, Sweden & Denmark. Each country with its own advantage offers special advantages to fertility tourists. For best male infertility treatments globally choose Israel, India for surrogates & cost efficiency, Mexico for couples with financial and insurance hassles, Denmark & Sweden for women looking for artificial insemination.
Your traditional IVF countries are getting too slow. Broaden your mind towards new destinations, but do your research first.
Another destination point in asia is Jammu and Kashmir which will be augmented by medical treatment facilities.Jammu and Kashmir has a pool of cost effective medical facilities.
Thanks for the information.
Hi Keith,
Thailand is one of the top tourism destinations of the world, so the country is long accustomed to foreign travelers.The US Dollar to the Thai Baht exchange rate is quite favorable and makes medical treatment available at an incredible value to visitors.
Your blog keeps getting better and better! Your older articles are not as good as newer ones you have a lot more creativity and originality now keep it up!
We actually went to Thailand for IVF treatment last year, and thankfully it was successful (3 months to go!). I have to say that the quality of patient care we experienced in Bangkok was above and beyond what we've experienced even looking into treatment in the US. On top of that, we had a great time vacationing and it cost so much less than at home.
I have had previous experience in US hospitals and seriously think that our own hospitals are lacking so much. I have encountered too many doctors who see medical treatments as just a business and really place no care on anything other than making some cash. Our experience in Thailand has really proved to me that there are doctors out there who do care for patients, and not the cash potential.
Without the wonderful staff in the IVF center in Bangkok, and without our great service providers who made this all possible for us, we would still be dreaming for our child. Bangkok hospital and medbirds made this all possible for us. I don't know how to thank them enough.
Great Post.....
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Thanks for sharing....
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