Fruitful Journeys
Be aware of risks when seeking reproductive treatments abroad.
For the millions of people who struggle to conceive, the medical travel niche of reproductive tourism remains a top reason to head abroad. According to a study published by The American Journal of Medicine, fertility treatments rank as one of the top eight reasons travelers seek medical treatment outside of the United States, accounting for roughly 1 million-plus Americans who cross borders in search of reproduction therapies.
The inability to conceive is a surprisingly common condition that affects an estimated 8 to 12 percent of people who actively attempt to become pregnant. That’s where assisted reproductive technologies, including artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization, can be useful options. The price for treatment abroad, including travel expenses, is often a fraction of what the same treatments cost within the United States.
Prospective travelers should, however, keep in mind rules governing fertility treatments vary from country to country and apply directly to travelers, regardless of their country of origin. In some places (though such treatments may be advertised as available), fertility treatments are frowned upon or prohibited by religious tenets, cultural attitudes or legal restrictions. Even where allowed, issues may include the destination’s legal definition of “family,” whether anonymity is guaranteed for donors of sperm and eggs, the length of the allowed in vitro development period for embryos, genetic screening, the maximum storage time for frozen embryos, and the maximum allowed number of embryos that can be transferred and implanted.
Popular destinations abroad for assisted reproductive technologies include Israel, Mexico, Denmark, Barbados, Turkey, India and Iran. Be certain to select a hospital certified to meet the highest standards of training, care and facilities. Respected certification entities include Joint Commission International, the International Organization for Standardization and the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology.
Some studies suggest that even though rates of successful Ivf-assisted pregnancies are lower when originating in certain countries, including Turkey, the overall costs — even including travel — are so much lower, the risk is perceived as acceptable. As in many countries, the reproduction
THE INABILITY TO CONCEIVE IS A SURPRISINGLY COMMON CONDITION THAT AFFECTS AN ESTIMATED 8 TO 12 PERCENT OF PEOPLE WHO ACTIVELY ATTEMPT TO BECOME PREGNANT.
sector of the Turkish medical tourism market is actively supported by policy makers who recognize the financial benefit of a dependably large influx of medical tourists struggling with fertility challenges.
Regardless of the destination, fertility treatments are not without risks. These range from health complications, infections and pregnancy failure to multiple live births — a statistically common occurrence. When choosing a hospital or clinic, it’s important to be familiar with what emergency facilities are available, the existing screening policies in place for staff health, and the infection rates for hospital-acquired infections, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (known familiarly as MRSA) and C. difficile.