How to choose an IVF clinic abroad (without getting burned)

How to choose an IVF clinic abroad (without getting burned) — what international patients should know in 2026, using real registry data.

The honest way to compare IVF across borders is cost per baby — the price of a cycle multiplied by the number of cycles you'll realistically need (success rate), not the sticker price. On that basis the picture changes a lot by age and by whether you use donor eggs.

The numbers that matter

Own-egg live-birth success falls with age — about 48% under 35 down to ~4% over 44 (SART/CDC, HFEA). Donor eggs hold ~48% at any age (ESHRE 2019). Meanwhile a cycle costs €3,000 in Czechia versus €15,000–25,000 in the USA — and Germany & Italy restrict donor eggs entirely, which is why so many patients travel.

Bottom line

The cheapest path to a baby is rarely the cheapest cycle. Match your situation (age, donor need, single/same-sex, legal eligibility) to the country that wins on cost per baby — and verify the law applies to you.

Frequently asked questions

Is IVF cheaper abroad?

Often dramatically — a cycle is €3,000–5,500 in Czechia/Greece/Spain vs €15,000–25,000 in the USA. But judge it on cost per baby (price × cycles needed), which our calculator computes.

Do donor eggs really work better at 40+?

Yes. Own-egg success falls to ~8–18% over 40; donor eggs hold ~48% at any age (ESHRE 2019), so the cost per baby usually drops sharply with donor eggs abroad.

Which countries are cheapest for IVF?

On own-egg cycle price: Turkey (~€2,800), Czechia (~€3,000), Greece (~€3,800). On cost per baby, the winner depends on your age and whether you use donor eggs.

Sources: SART/CDC 2019, HFEA 2022, ESHRE/EIM 2019. Educational; consult a fertility specialist.