Why go to Asia for fertility treatment?
Healthcare in Asia has grown to prominence in recent years with the development of world-class facilities staffed with highly qualified healthcare professionals who are often trained abroad in the US and Europe. While these Asian healthcare facilities may not have the same level of reputation or the years of experience as many of the older medical institutions in the US and Europe, they often have better facilities equipped with state-of-the art medical technology, staffed with doctors trained abroad at reputable US and European medical institutions, and are internationally accredited.
US and Europe have been the dominant players in the development and expertise of infertility treatment since the beginning but many Asian countries are now prominent players in the fertility world and have made significant contributions to the field. The first egg-freezing center in the world was developed by a Korean fertility clinic and Asia is the leader in the number of IVF cycles done today.
With the experience and high quality of medical services provided in Asia today, it can be more cost effective to travel to Asia for fertility treatments at a fraction of the price than paying almost double in western countries. Going abroad for fertility treatment is not for everyone, but it can be a great option for some patients.
There are three main benefits to traveling abroad for fertility treatments: cost, minimal wait times, and having a vacation.
The lower healthcare cost is the biggest benefit for considering IVF treatment abroad. The average cost of a single IVF cycle including medications in the US is between $20,000 and $25,000. In Asia, the average cost of a single IVF cycle including medications is usually no more than $10,000. As most women will undergo multiple cycles of IVF before having a successful birth, the savings from the lower cost can become substantial.
The long wait times and the frustration of scheduling an appointment with the doctor or clinic is unfortunately a common occurrence in healthcare, especially in the US. In Asia, there are many clinics where you can just walk in to receive a consultation and scheduling an appointment to see a doctor occurs in a matter of days. This provides a flexibility that works with the patient’s schedule rather than the clinic’s schedule; something not commonly seen in the US.
The last benefit of considering IVF treatment abroad is the ability to make your medical trip into a vacation. Many of the clinics in Asia are located in major travel destinations. As the IVF process can be stressful and emotionally challenging, you can also use the trip as vacation to help reduce the stresses of the IVF treatment.
Going abroad for fertility treatment is not for everyone and there are disadvantages to consider. However, for patients with the right circumstances, going abroad can be a cost-effective way to undergo fertility treatment with some of the top fertility clinics in the world.