IVF, with a side of Europe: The rise of fertility tourism

American couples are increasingly travelling to Europe to combine IVF treatment with short breaks. The reason will leave you baffled.

A boat cuts through the blue waters off Milos. Somewhere between a Greek island lunch and a doctor’s appointment in Athens, a couple checks the timing of hormone injections, medications and the next stage of an IVF cycle.

For some American travellers, this is becoming an increasingly recognisable kind of European getaway -not simply a vacation, but a carefully planned journey that combines fertility treatment with a few days of sightseeing.

Fertility tourism, particularly IVF travel, is gaining momentum as Americans confront the steep prices of treatments at home. Greece, Spain and the Czech Republic have emerged as popular destinations, offering significantly lower treatment costs than patients encounter in the United States.

For Emilie and Justin Solomon – a couple who shared their journey in an exclusive conversation with Washington Post - the decision was both financial and deeply personal. Living in Florida, the couple was quoted roughly USD 40,000 (Rs 38,08,614) for a round of treatment. Their insurance would not cover the treatment, and concerns about the future of fertility legislation in their state added another layer of uncertainty.

So, they looked across the Atlantic

At a clinic in Athens, their treatment - including medication, fertilisation, storage and the eventual embryo transfer—came to about USD 12,000 (Rs 11,42,584), excluding travel. Their treatment required two trips to Greece. During the first, Emilie underwent ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval, while the couple used the gaps between appointments to explore the country, including a weekend on the island of Milos.

Their experience captures a broader shift in the way some Americans are approaching fertility care: the treatment itself becomes the anchor of an international trip.

A study of insured Americans, released in July and commissioned by the Women’s Reproductive Health Foundation, found that the average cost of one IVF cycle exceeds USD 29,000 (Rs 27,61,245). When expenses such as genetic testing, embryo storage, pregnancy care and delivery are included, the total cost of an IVF-conceived birth can surpass USD 54,000 (Rs 51,41,628). And mind you, patients typically require two to three IVF cycles to have a child. So, the overall financial burden can be even higher.

An increasing number of Americans hoping to become parents are turning to fertility clinics in Europe.

According to Jakub Dejewski, chair of the European Fertility Society, the number of Americans choosing European clinics rose by more than 37 per cent last year. The economics are a major part of the equation. Such treatments are often not covered under insurance as well in the US.

Spain is known for its large network of assisted-reproduction clinics and extensive experience with international patients. Greece has built a reputation as another welcoming destination, combining fertility medicine with comparatively accessible treatment costs and an appealing Mediterranean setting. The Czech Republic is also a significant centre for reproductive medicine, particularly for international patients.

Other destinations frequently considered by fertility travellers include North Cyprus, Denmark.

When a medical journey becomes a vacation

There is an obvious tension at the heart of fertility tourism. IVF is intensive medical treatment, not a spa appointment. Patients may have repeated consultations, hormone injections, egg retrieval, laboratory procedures and embryo transfer scheduled around a relatively narrow window.

Yet the travel component can make the experience feel different from undergoing treatment close to home.

Instead of spending every day thinking about hospital corridors and waiting rooms, some patients build small moments of travel into their treatment schedule: a meal in Athens, a walk through a historic neighbourhood or, when medically appropriate, a few days exploring an island.

The Solomons ultimately returned home with something far more important than souvenirs: after one IVF cycle and two journeys to Greece, they welcomed a baby boy.

- Ends