With IVF becoming increasingly expensive it’s not surprising that many couples are looking overseas for access to fertility treatment. You can expect to is not guaranteed either, so it is a gamble with high stakes.  The success rate abroad is significantly higher in some Eastern European countries, with Slovenia topping the list. So what can you expect from IVF from Eastern Europe, and is it worth the risk?

Different Approaches

You must be aware before embarking on IVF in Eastern Europe that the success figures and low cost are only one side of a complex story. Anyone who has embarked on the IVF route will know it is not all reclining loveseats and sunsets. It’s hard work, both physically and emotionally. Whilst the lower cost of treatment per cycle (and it is much lower) makes it a tempting option for many couples it is certainly not something to attempt without doing a lot of homework. The standards of aftercare in Eastern Europe are not yet at the same level as they are in the US, where you can expect counselling and support at each stage. Infertility and IVF are, as you know, a very difficult and emotional thing to cope with and the need for support from your clinician should not be underestimated.

Increased Chance of Success

Success rates are currently leading the world. An extra +8% is an impressive statistic, but before you jump on that plane, consider how you might feel coming home carrying twins or triplets. One of the reasons success rates are higher in Eastern Europe is due to the fact that doctors are prepared to implant more embryos per cycle that in the. The risk of multiple births is higher in other words, with all the attendant higher risks of birth defects. If finance is an issue for IVF, it’s still going to be a issue with feeding and clothing more than one baby. There are serious financial implications to multiple births, and you need to discuss this carefully as a couple.

Isolation

You might find it difficult to spend weeks away from home in a foreign country, probably alone for some of the time. How would you cope, away from your support networks and loved ones? How would you enjoy living in a country for six weeks where few people spoke your language? How would you cope without your partner? This could be your situation if you travelled to Eastern Europe for IVF treatment. You could well find yourself depressed and isolated if you don’t take steps to make sure you are better able to cope.

Do Your Research

If you are still serious about travelling abroad to try IVF then now is the time to do some serious research.

• Speak to your gynecologist about your plans and get a list of useful questions you should have answered by any clinic you are considering
• Ask if the clinic will send you details of their safety and success records. Standards are different in the EU than in the US, so if there is anything you are unsure about check with your doctor
• Try to speak to someone at the clinic you are considering in person, preferably a doctor of senior nurse. Try to get a sense of the service you will get from how this call is dealt with. Are they happy to talk to you, willing to answer questions, approachable and professional in equal measure?
• Find out about the area you would be staying in before making your mind up. It might be worth contacting some of the ExPat organizations exist in every country to see if there are any weekly meet ups you could attend.
• Plan some activities for while you are away. Finish that novel or write one of your own. An IVF diary or even a blog could make the time pass faster, and it is useful to be able to express what you are feeling at the time.
• Go onto forums about treatment abroad before you decide. Find out what other people’s experiences have been and learn some of the pitfalls to avoid. There will be some good stories and some bad. Take a balanced view and be honest with yourself about whether you can manage the extra stress that being away from home could mean.

IVF treatment is improving all the time, and this is also true of Eastern European treatments. The trend of multiple births is declining, and standards overall are improving, not least because of the demand for the services being offered. With fertility drugs at a fraction of the cost in the US, IVF tourism is certainly on the increase. Traveling for IVF is not for everybody. Weigh your options carefully.