IVF in India, Asia, and the Middle East
Like many other couples trying to conceive, you probably have inadequate health care coverage for the exorbitant IVF fees at your local fertility clinic. It’s no secret that IVF in the United States may end up wiping your life savings without necessarily guaranteeing a baby. But there are ways to minimize the costs of IVF without sacrificing the quality of the treatment or the expertise of the doctor. For instance, did you know that world-class IVF treatments abroad cost a fraction of the IVF fees back home? IVF in India and the Middle East is gaining popularity among childless couples in the West because of their affordable rates and the quality of their service. While IVF abroad may not be for everyone, it certainly is a viable, cost-effective option to achieving your dreams of parenthood.
Costs of IVF Abroad
Let’s compare the costs of IVF in the United States and abroad. One basic IVF cycle in the United States will cost anywhere from $10,000 – $15,000. This fee does not include optional treatments like ICSI or pre-implantation genetic diagnosis. On the other hand, you can expect to pay as low as $3,000 for one IVF cycle in India and Thailand. Semen analysis and other tests can cost as low as $10-20. IVF rates are slightly higher in the Middle East at $6,000. Of course, these fees do not cover your transportation costs and living expenses, but you can easily save money on those by taking advantage of cheap plane tickets or staying with a friend. Some hospitals also provide packaged deals that include the IVF treatments, accommodations, transportation, and an English-speaking guide. Even with the logistics of IVF abroad, you will still end up saving a few thousand dollars than if you chose to have your IVF in the United States.
Try not to be fooled by the low costs of fertility treatments abroad – the saying “you get what you pay for” does not apply here. The quality of IVF in Asia is just as excellent as IVF in the West, if not better. The only reason why IVF fees are so low is because the standard of living in these countries is much lower. However, the quality of medical care abroad is no different than that of hospitals back home. Doctors of the best IVF clinics receive training in US medical schools, and their clinics follow the same stringent standards, sophisticated technologies, and protocols as Western IVF clinics. Besides the high quality of medical care you’ll be receiving, hospital staff abroad tend to provide more hospitality and warmth than you would normally find in local fertility clinics.
Success rates
The success rates of IVF clinics abroad also hinge upon the same factors: the type of infertility, the number of eggs available for transfer, your age, and the quality of the egg and sperm. In India and Thailand, there is no limit to the number of embryos that can be transferred, thereby increasing your chances for a successful cycle (although great caution should be used with this option, as multiple pregnancies pose their own dangers). In the United Arab Emirates, fertility centers need to have a 15% annual success rate if they are to remain operational.
