Fertility tourism, as it’s sometimes known, is big business these days. In 2008 a survey of 339 fertility patients by Infertility Network UK (INUK) found that 75 per cent would consider travelling abroad for treatment. Since then the numbers of people travelling abroad for IVF and other assisted fertility treatments has carried on growing.

As you’ll see below, there are plenty of good reasons why more people are going off to other countries for fertility treatment. But there are also a few issues you need to be aware of if it’s something you’re considering yourself.

Why have IVF abroad?

With NHS waiting times for IVF growing with every passing month, a good percentage of those travelling abroad are attracted to the shorter waiting times on offer elsewhere. Another key factor is lower treatment costs, not to mention attractive success rates.

With donor sperm and eggs in short supply in the UK, lots of people are also attracted to the wider availability of donor gametes in countries like Spain.

Another group that is increasingly seeking fertility treatment abroad is women aged over 40. The availability of IVF on the NHS is patchy in the UK, but women in this age group are completely excluded. Clinics abroad are often willing to treat older women.

What do I need to know?

There’s no denying that most people who seek treatment abroad have a good experience. In the INUK survey mentioned above, 88 per cent were happy with their treatment. But before you start madly Googling clinics in Spain, Russia or the Czech Republic, there are one or two things you need to give serious thought to first.

• Think about the cost – make sure you see a detailed breakdown of your total estimated treatment costs before you go ahead. You probably won’t have any problem finding cheaper treatment abroad, but you may be surprised at how unexpected costs mount up. The more visits you make to the clinic, the more expensive it will be.

• Research clinics thoroughly – look for clinics with a proven track record of safety, high clinical standards and patient satisfaction.

• Travel arrangements – think carefully about your journey before you choose a clinic. You may need to attend several times, possibly at short notice, during your cycle. Will there be flights available and are you prepared to carry the cost of short-notice air tickets?

• Consider using an agency – agencies that offer travel, accommodation and fertility treatment packages are starting to spring up on the net. Some are run by British ex-pats living abroad. This may help things to run smoothly, but you will obviously have to pay extra fees.

• Ask for testimonials – a good clinic will be happy to provide these.

• The language barrier – it’s vital that you have English-speaking staff available to talk to before, during and after treatment. Most people who expressed dissatisfaction with their treatment abroad cited problems with language and communication as the main reason. Ideally there will be an English-speaking member of the clinical team who can answer any medical queries you may have.

• Multiple births – in the UK, you are only allowed to have two embryos replaced during IVF (three if you are over 40). This is to try and lower risks associated with multiple pregnancy, such as miscarriage and premature birth. In other countries there may not be similar guidelines, so do ask about a clinic’s policy on this. 

• Donor issues – if you plan to use donor sperm or eggs, it’s very important to make sure you are happy with the legal framework around donors in your chosen country. Will the donor be anonymous or will you be given information about them? You also need to check how donors are recruited and screened. Another issue to explore is whether or not you will be given all of your donor’s eggs or sperm or whether they will be shared with other people and, if so, how many (in the UK the limit is 10).

• Success rates – clinics abroad may present their success rates in different ways. To be sure you know what you are looking at see our tips for interpreting fertility clinics’ success rates.

• Counselling and support – all licensed fertility clinics are required to offer counselling in the UK. This may not always be the case in other countries. The amount of general support you receive is inevitably going to be more limited too. How will you feel about dealing with clinic staff by fax, phone or email if any problems or queries come up?

• Standards and safety – all licensed fertility clinics in the UK are regulated and inspected by the Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority (HFEA). Check whether the clinics you contact are affiliated with a similar organisation and whether they are regularly inspected.

• Storage facilities – will the clinic be able to store any spare embryos, eggs or sperm and for how long?

• Patient confidentiality – how will your personal and medical information be handled? And will your medical records be shared with your doctor(s) back in the UK?

• Complaints procedure – the HFEA handles complaints about licensed clinics in the UK, but not for clinics outside the UK. Make sure you find out in advance how a complaint would be dealt with if something were to go wrong.

• Selection criteria – be aware that some countries have more conservative criteria for fertility treatment than the UK. The Czech Republic and Greece, for example, don’t allow treatment for lesbian couples.