New Trends in Fertility Treatment Abroad

Common procedures for treating infertility in the past have included artificial insemination, in Vitro fertilization, embryo transfer and reproductive assistance and sperm extraction techniques. Additional options and choices for parents include newer technologies, several of which include forms of assisted reproduction, known as ART, including IVF (in Vitro fertilization) and PGD (pre-implantation genetic diagnosis), assisted zona hatching (AZH) and autologous endometrial coculture (AEC) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

Fertility Tourism
Widespread research and the development of a variety of treatments for infertile couples have encouraged across-border travel for affordable and effective fertility treatments, especially for Americans. Intrauterine insemination in the U.S. may cost between $300 an $800 per attempt, while in Vitro fertilization techniques average $8,000 and $12,000 per attempt, in addition to medications to induce ovulation, which may cost over $2,000.

Infertility treatment abroad has grown in popularity, affordability and effectiveness in recent years, with facilities throughout Europe, South America and Southeast Asia offering a variety of infertility treatments to couples.

Argentina, South America is known for cutting edge technologies in fertility treatments, as is India. Newcomers to medical tourism in the fertility field, though through no lack of experience or credentials include facilities in Turkey and Jordan. Assisted reproduction fertility treatment facilities in Mexico have also grown clientele lists.

For example, Jinemed Hospital, located in Istanbul, Turkey, provides a variety of IVF, ICSI, PGD, IVM and ovarian cortex freezing treatments and technologies, with nearly two decades of experience in the field. Fertility Argentina, also known as CEGYR, located in Buenos Aires, also offers certified and accredited care in ART (assisted reproduction technology).

Effective and Affordable Care
Couples traveling to foreign destinations for fertility treatments may save between 25% and 75% of costs of procedures in the United States and Britain. Couples from around the world, including the U.S., South America, Western Europe and Africa are traveling abroad for fertility treatments.

The number of Americans alone expected to travel abroad for fertility treatments and other aspects of health care is expected to double in 2010 and coming years. In the United States, many insurance companies only cover infertility diagnosis, but not treatments.

Couples traveling to central European, African, or Asian and South American destinations often pay less than half the cost of the procedure in the U.S. or Britain, with costs also including air fare, accommodations, laboratory tests, and full staff support.

According to the National Institutes of Health, the medical tourism industry is expected to grow financially to upwards of $40 billion in 2010, with more than six million Americans seeking specialized medical care and infertility treatments abroad, growing medical tourism revenue upwards of $4.4 billion by 2012.

Internet Resources, such as PlacidWay, an International Medical tourism portal based in Denver, Colorado, seeks to offer reliable, up to date, and ample resources for couples seeking certified and accredited fertility clinic facilities around the globe.

Couples are urged to research affordable and high quality and effective care before giving up on their goal of conceiving, considering the possibility of traveling abroad to make their dreams a reality. Medical fertility treatments and clinics abroad are available, affordable, effective, and obtainable for couples around the globe struggling with infertility.