How to Choose the Best IVF Clinic Abroad?

Last updated: January 5, 2026
Choosing best IVF clinics abroad starts with treatment fit + legal eligibility by country (e.g., donor anonymity rules, age limits, relationship status eligibility) and destination preferences.
- Recommended clinic-search workflow: broad sweep of countries/clinics → deep-dive on shortlisted clinics → ask diagnosis-specific questions before committing.
- IVF Success-rate comparisons need caution (pregnancy vs live birth; per cycle vs per patient vs per transfer); validate with independent benchmarks like ESHRE, CDC ART reports, HFEA stats, and the SART calculator.
- Quality checks for IVF clinics abroad: adherence to recognized frameworks (e.g., ASRM) plus staffing capacity and access (doctors/embryologists, response times, direct doctor communication).
- Cost planning for IVF treatment abroad: package prices can increase materially (example: €6,500 → €10,000+); budget for weekday travel savings and extras (tests, ultrasounds, medications, notarised consents/fees).
What is the best fertility clinic?
The best fertility clinic is one which supports you with transparent and clear pricing, easy access to staff including coordinators, nurses and doctors, great emotional support and empathy. Additionally, “the best fertility clinic” should be able to provide information about expected IVF outcomes based on your individual medical situation. You may not have a guarantee that the treatment will be successful but you should know you are supported by professionals who care. Ultimately, it comes down to a matter of interpretation and personal judgment. The best fertility clinic is one that makes you feel safe, comfortable and confident; it is one that offers you the best possible chance of successful treatment and it is one that offers care and support in a transparent and honest manner.
What makes a good fertility clinic overseas?
Well, any answer is subjective – it really depends on who you ask and what criteria you employ to test the relative merits of different clinics. What works for one patient may not for another. Here we take a look at some of the elements which can make a good clinic great from the perspective of the patient.
Find out more about how to choose a clinic, prepare for your appointment, and what to do if something goes wrong.
What influences patient choice? Why do they choose one clinic over another? Is it a decision driven by IVF treatment cost; treatment availability, clinical expertise, success rates, reputation, legislative or regulatory framework or just a gut feeling?
Let us have a look at some of the things that make a good clinic and enable us to choose the provider that is right for us.
Best IVF clinics abroad – how to choose one
We recommend that anyone seeking a treatment provider adopts a three-stage approach to finding the best clinic for their needs. There are a huge number of providers worldwide and you can easily become saturated with information so this three pronged process should enable you to save time and only consider clinics that closely match your requirements.
Stage 1
Undertake a broad ‘sweep’ of clinics
Stage 2
Drill down into clinic specifics for those that have been identified as ‘promising’ in Stage 1
Stage 3
Ask questions!
Stage 1: A Broad Sweep
Your initial search may be influenced by your choice of location and the treatments offered by a clinic; you may be restricted by the legal framework which operates in a particular country or the clinic’s eligibility criteria.
Using dedicated platforms such as fertilityclinicsabroad.com or eggdonationfriends.com combined with IVF resources and guides you can conveniently adopt a broad search of countries and clinics. Identify countries that offer IVF treatments which are relevant to your personal requirements (own egg IVF, donor treatments, surrogacy and so on) and those which will treat you based on your relationship status (some will restrict treatment to heterosexual married couples; others may or may not welcome same sex couples or treat single women for instance).
This broad sweep will define the country or countries which legally offer the treatment you seek. Further investigation will reveal certain elements that make up your decision will be country specific. For instance, although variations do exist, you can assume that treatment costs across the U.S. are more expensive than in the U.K. where costs are more expensive than Spain whose costs are more expensive than Greece or the Czech Republic!
Similarly, different countries will offer anonymous or known donors; restrict the number of embryo transfers or impose upper age limits for patients.
List your specific requirements and compare these with the country-specific rules, regulations and procedures and your broad sweep will quickly narrow down potential countries and clinics.
Stage 2: Drill Down
Once you have identified a reasonably sized portfolio of countries or clinics you can begin the process of looking at specifics. This will be driven by your main consideration(s) whether this or these may be based around the amount of money you have to spend; patient feedback, waiting times or additional support required (like counselling for instance).
By far the most sought-after piece of information that patients seek are clinic success rates. It would be nice at this point to say that all clinics report statistics in the same way and this makes the whole process that much easier. Unfortunately, they don’t. Success can be measured in many ways – by recording pregnancies or live births, by success per cycle, per patient, per embryo transfer, or even by per embryo transferred!
You should therefore be cautious when examining success rates and be aware that clinics interpret and present them in different ways. We strongly recommend reading this
Fortunately, there are a number of independent and reliable resources that can be employed to ascertain more information about success rates by country, by clinic, or by type of diagnosis or treatment. Details about general-average IVF success rates:
- IVF Success Rates – Myths & Figures Revealed
- IVF Success Rates Explained
- Egg Donation Success Rates – The Truth Clinics Don’t Tell You
- IVF success rates per country are available from ESHRE (ART in Europe, 2020: results generated from European registries by ESHRE)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – USA – ART Fertility Clinic Success Rates Report
- and the HFEA – Fertility treatment – trends and figures
There is also a very good IVF success rates calculator which is published by the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART).
This is an excellent starting point and will demonstrate what success rates you are likely to expect based on your background, reproductive history and diagnosis.
Do bear in mind however that these results merely provide a benchmark for you to base individual success rates on – these rates may differ somewhat from rates quoted by different clinics.
There are no IVF Clinic ‘League Tables’ for patients to see where a particular clinic’s performance sits compared to other clinics. Given there are many factors that influence a person’s choice of IVF clinic, and their individual success, it is best to take the time to prepare the questions important to you, discuss them with the clinics you are considering and research supporting information.
Source: How to choose an IVF clinic and understand success rates. Australia’s National Infertility Network.
Your choice of the clinic should be one that adheres to a national or international framework established by an appropriate regulatory body. These include ESHRE (European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology), HFEA (Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority) or ASRM (American Society for Reproductive Medicine). Adherence to guidelines established by these bodies reinforces a clinic’s position as one which is transparent, ethical, professional and legal.
Most IVF clinics specializing in the treatment of international patients adhere to the guidelines and recommendations of international fertility organizations. They are also required to follow regulations established by their respective national authorities.
Additionally, an association with these bodies may include the adoption of good practices regarding
- the number of fertility specialists that are available per IVF cycle (how many cycles every doctor can manage on monthly/yearly basis),
- the number of embryologists (and their experience) also per IVF cycles as described in Revised minimum standards for practices offering assisted reproductive technologies
- and the number of other staff in the clinic.
This information will help you identify those clinics that are able to provide personalized service.
As well as the number of staff a clinic employs drill down into information on key personnel.
If available search and read about the specialists at the clinic – have they got any specific interests or experience which matches your requirements.
Once again seek out patient or professional reviews of staff.
Find out whether you will be able to communicate directly with your doctor. Clinics will provide you a dedicated “patient coordinator” who will understandably not be able to answer all your medical questions – check to see what the clinic’s policy is on communication and response times. If you are anxious about any aspect of your treatment and can not speak to a doctor this can cause further delay and anxiety.
These specific details are not subjective, they cannot be dressed up or modified by marketing tools in promotions or websites. These are the objective facts and figures behind the marketing and will allow you to make a decision based on the set of specifics you consider the most important.
It’s all in the detail, especially when it comes to treatment costs
We have gathered some hot tips from patients about ensuring how to choose the best IVF clinic whilst not paying too much for your treatment. One patient for example we spoke to was quoted a basic package cost of €6,500 but ended up spending over €10,000!
So, how can you ensure costs are kept to a minimum?
- Where possible arrange for treatment to be undertaken during the week (Monday to Thursday) as travel and accommodation costs can rise significantly over the weekend period
- Factor in costs of ultrasounds and prescription medications – it might be easier and cheaper to access these at home wherever possible
- Always beware of other hidden expenses; one patient said, “prior to the frozen transfer we’ve been asked to have another consent form signed and notarised, as the clinic needed one for every procedure. So that’s another €80. You will also need STD tests and other examinations prior to starting treatment – check that these are included”
- Ask the clinic about ongoing prescriptions – the cost of obtaining these in your home country may exceed the costs charged at the clinic
Stage 3: Ask Questions!
How to choose the best fertility clinic abroad?
This is the crucial stage in your search for a treatment provider – this is where you get to ask the clinic all the questions that are specific to you and your diagnosis. We encourage you at this point to write down as many questions as you can and although we will all have our own views on this we have provided a Top Ten list of popular questions patients ask below when choosing IVF clinic.
Top Ten questions patients ask when choosing IVF clinic Abroad
- Which specific tests do you suggest I and/or my partner undergo and can we take these close at home?
- What types of treatments or procedures does your clinic offer?
- What are the chances of having multiple babies?
- What are my specific chances of getting pregnant?
- How many doctors are part of your clinic and can you tell me about their experiences to date?
- What treatments do you recommend and can you give me a breakdown of all the individual costs?
- How do you ensure your donors are physically and psychologically healthy?
- I am travelling for IVF treatment what logistical help can you provide about travel and accommodation?
- Do you offer alternative therapeutic support (acupuncture, homeopathy, meditation, nutrition)?
- If this treatment is unsuccessful, what else can we try next?
The thought of how to choose a fertility clinic can be an overwhelming process but there are a number of platforms, companies and websites that will help make your choice that much easier.
Additionally, you may wish to refer to the document published by Australia’s “National Infertility Network “How to choose an IVF clinic and understand success rates: Questions to ask when choosing an IVF clinic.”
There you will find questions you should pay particular attention to and explanations of terms related to IVF success rates – terms that always raise many questions among patients.
If you are embarking on IVF with donor eggs, there are important questions to ask to ensure you’re fully informed and prepared. To help you navigate the process, we have created a comprehensive quick guide on what to ask your IVF clinic before starting donor egg IVF. This guide will equip you with the essential information you need to make confident decisions and feel supported every step of the way.
What are the best IVF clinics and where to find them?
The key to finding an IVF Clinic you’ll be happy with – is to do your research and take your time. That way you will find the best clinic that suits your requirements.
Below you will find an example list of clinics that are frequently chosen by patients and have good feedback from patients who have been treated there.
- Clinica Tambre – in Madrid – Spain
- IVI – in Palma de Mallorca, Bilbao, Madrid, Alicante, Malaga, Barcelona, Valencia – Spain
- UR Vistahermosa – in Alicante, San Sebastian and Madrid – Spain
- Instituto Bernabeu – in Alicante – Spain
- Barcelona IVF – in Barcelona – Spain
- UNICA Clinic – Prague – Czech Republic
- Gynem IVF – Prague – Czech Republic
- emBIO Medical Center – Chalandri – Greece
- NewLife IVF Greece – Thessaloniki – Greece
- Pelargos IVF Medical Group – Athens – Greece
- Dunya IVF Clinic – Kyrenia – North Cyprus
- Cyprus IVF Hospital – Nicosia – North Cyprus
You may use the IVF clinic finder – you will also find detailed descriptions of what the clinics offer and at what prices.
There are also other resources to consider, especially IVF abroad forums where patients exchange their experiences. Please be careful, as it’s difficult to verify users’ opinions on such sources.
Which clinic is best for IVF with low AMH?
There’s no single “best” clinic — with low AMH, results depend far more on how well a clinic fits your case than on any ranking. Choose one that treats low ovarian reserve regularly and personalises your protocol, because higher drug doses don’t produce more eggs. The strongest clinics use tailored mild or antagonist protocols, double stimulation (DuoStim), pre-treatment with DHEA and CoQ10, and embryo banking across cycles. Ask directly: “What is your live birth rate for patients my age, with my diagnosis?” and favour clinics that report results to a recognised registry such as ESHRE or HFEA.
Remember that AMH measures egg quantity, not quality — under age 35, IVF with your own eggs can still succeed, and per-transfer live birth rates run around 55–65% under 35, 35–40% at 38–40, and 20–30% at 41–42. A single low reading shouldn’t drive a major decision. If your ovaries respond very poorly over several well-designed cycles, a good clinic will honestly discuss egg donation, which delivers roughly 55–65% per transfer regardless of your own AMH.
Which clinic is best for women over 40?
The best clinic for you over 40 is one that specialises in your age group — high volumes of over-40 patients, individualised stimulation, and honest, age-specific success rates. That combination is what turns the odds in your favour. Age does matter: the share of chromosomally abnormal eggs rises from roughly 20–25% at 35 to 70–80% by 45, so per-cycle live birth rates sit around 10–15% at 40–42 and under 5% over 44 with your own eggs. The right clinic knows exactly how to work with those numbers — tailoring your protocol to a likely lower response, and being upfront about what to expect at your age rather than quoting one flattering headline figure. Look for a team that treats many women over 40 and shares real, age-banded live birth rates. That transparency is the clearest sign you’re in expert hands.
The best clinic will also be realistic with you. Evidence shows that between 40 and 43, cumulative success plateaus after about 3 cycles, so a good clinic discusses limits, the role of PGT-A, and egg donation (around 55–65% per transfer regardless of your age) before you’ve spent on cycles unlikely to work.
Which clinic is best after several failed IVF cycles?
After repeated failures, the best clinic is one that investigates why before simply trying again. Recurrent implantation failure — usually defined as three or more transfers with good embryos — warrants a systematic workup: PGT-A, hysteroscopy to check the uterine cavity, and where indicated ERA, EMMA/ALICE and immune or coagulation tests. Most patients who succeed do so within three transfers, so beyond that you want a clinic that reassesses rather than repeats.
Be cautious of clinics that jump straight to expensive immune protocols or unproven add-ons without a clear indication — mainstream medicine remains sceptical of these. A strong clinic explains the evidence for every test and treatment it proposes for your specific situation, and is willing to discuss egg or sperm quality, donor options, or a change of approach honestly.
Which clinic is best for donor egg IVF?
For donor eggs, success is driven by the donor and the lab, not by any brand. Donor-egg IVF has the highest success of any treatment — around 55–65% per transfer, largely independent of your age — so look at the clinic’s donor screening, matching choices, and reported donor-cycle results. Spain dominates European donor treatment (over half of cycles) with Greece, Czech Republic, North Cyprus and Portugal also popular; ESHRE figures put fresh donor success around 56–57% in Spain and Greece and up to ~66% in Ukraine.
The other deciding factor is law and cost, which vary by country. Spain, Czech Republic, Greece, North Cyprus, Latvia and Poland allow anonymous donation; Portugal and Georgia are non-anonymous; Denmark and Ukraine are mixed. Costs run roughly €4,500–5,500 (Ukraine, Georgia) up to €7,000–8,500 (Spain, Denmark). Pick the clinic whose donor pool, anonymity model and price fit your priorities.
Which clinic is best for severe male-factor infertility?
For severe male factor, choose a clinic with a strong andrology and embryology team, since the solution is largely technical. Standard treatment is ICSI (one sperm injected per egg), with IMSI (high-magnification selection) for severe morphology problems or high DNA fragmentation. In azoospermia, surgical retrieval is key — and technique and volume matter: mTESE recovers sperm in about 40–60% of non-obstructive cases versus around 30% for conventional TESE, and works best in high-volume centres.
Ask whether the clinic has an on-site andrologist experienced in mTESE, offers DNA-fragmentation testing, and can use testicular sperm when ejaculated sperm shows high fragmentation. A clinic that evaluates the male partner thoroughly — not as an afterthought — is the right choice here.
Which clinic is best for PGT-A or genetic testing?
The best clinic for genetic testing is one that offers it for the right reasons, not routinely. PGT-A is most useful for women over 35, recurrent miscarriage, and repeated implantation failure; for good-prognosis patients under 35 the benefit over choosing the best blastocyst is marginal. Importantly, PGT-A doesn’t raise overall cumulative live birth rates — it reduces miscarriage and shortens time to pregnancy by selecting a chromosomally normal embryo. It adds roughly €1,500–3,000 and needs a freeze cycle.
Look for an experienced embryology lab with reliable day-5/6 biopsy and a clear policy on mosaic embryos (which can sometimes lead to healthy pregnancies when no fully normal embryo is available). A good clinic explains that testing is a screening tool with a small error rate, not a guarantee, and won’t push it where it isn’t indicated.
How important is the fertility doctor compared with the embryology laboratory?
Both matter, and the best outcomes come from clinics where neither is a weak link. The doctor designs your protocol, diagnoses underlying issues and times your treatment; the embryology lab fertilises the eggs, grows the embryos and selects which to transfer. Embryologists are often called the “third partner” in IVF — a top lab can partly compensate for difficult cases, while a poor one can undo excellent medical care.
When comparing clinics, ask about both sides: the doctor’s experience with your diagnosis, and the lab’s key metrics such as fertilisation rate (over 70% in good labs), blastocyst rate (over 40%) and vitrification survival (over 95%). Strong, stable lab conditions and an experienced embryology team are just as worth checking as the doctor’s reputation.
Can I choose which doctor will manage my treatment?
In most clinics, yes — you can usually request a specific doctor, and it’s reasonable to do so. Because a doctor’s experience with patients like you is one of the most important factors in choosing a clinic, it’s worth asking who would actually manage your case and what their experience is with your age group and diagnosis. Some clinics assign a lead consultant who oversees you throughout; others work as a team where you may see different doctors at different visits.
Ask directly how it works before you commit: Will I have one named doctor? Who performs my retrieval and transfer? How is continuity maintained between visits? Clear answers are themselves a good sign of how the clinic is run.
Will I speak directly with a doctor or only with a coordinator?
You should expect access to both. A patient coordinator handles scheduling, paperwork and day-to-day questions — especially valuable when you’re being treated abroad and monitored from home. But for medical decisions, your protocol and your results, you should be able to speak with the doctor directly. Clear, prompt communication is itself a marker of a well-run clinic.
Before choosing, ask how medical questions are handled: Can I speak or video-call with the doctor when I need to? Who reviews my scans and results? How is care coordinated when I’m back home between visits? A clinic that only ever puts a coordinator between you and the doctor for clinical matters is worth questioning.
Is a large or small fertility clinic better?
Size alone doesn’t determine quality — most patients have no preference, and clinic size ranks last among the factors that actually predict satisfaction. Larger centres may offer more sub-specialists, on-site genetics and andrology, and higher procedure volumes (which can matter for techniques like mTESE). Smaller clinics often provide more personal continuity and easier direct contact with your doctor.
What matters far more is experience with cases like yours, a personalised approach, a strong embryology lab, transparent success rates and good communication. Judge a clinic on those, not on whether it’s big or boutique.
If you need help choosing an IVF Clinic Abroad – spare 3 minutes of your time.
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