Practicalities of IVF abroad as a solo woman: Safety, support and advocating for yourself

Any woman using fertility treatment seeks the magic trio:

• doctor,
• clinic 
• laboratory.

How do I know this?

I’ve been navigating the world of assisted fertility for almost a year. It’s been a wild ride. This has included:

• 2 failed IVF own egg cycles in Spain and Greece
• 2 operations (sedated) alone
• +40 injections
• +20 consultations in 5 different countries

Identifying a doctor who will support my desire to try first using my own eggs has been challenging because of my age and low AMH. As a woman in your 40s, you are limited by doctors who genuinely have the expertise to treat you; those who are willing to; and the countries where you can legally seek treatment as a solo woman.

You might choose a country for personal reasons. I live on the south coast of the UK, but clinics are expensive and the level of patient care often lacking. So I headed first to Spain because I have Spanish ancestry. I’ve travelled there numerous times. I love the people and speak a little Spanish.

But after a bad experience at my clinic, I switched to Greece. I discovered it’s more affordable than Spain, with a well-developed fertility industry.

My journey so far has been a steep learning curve.

Now I realise these are the essential elements to a positive fertility treatment experience:

• A supportive doctor (and if you’re above 40, one experienced in treating women your age);
• A clinic who will assist you as a solo women, and ease some of the pressure of travelling abroad for fertility treatment;
• An excellent lab, and a skilled embryologist.

So how to locate this magic trio?

In June 2024, I got my low AMH result from some blood work. I sat in a cafe and cried. Why had I left family-making so late?

I had just turned 43. Prince Charming had not materialised.

I always aspired to motherhood and the joy of seeing a new person develop. I had no option than to take matters into my own hands. I knew I needed to get moving – and fast.

But because of my low AMH – I panicked.

With the clock ticking louder than ever, I headed straight for a clinic in Spain recommended by a friend.

This decision was the first in a catalogue of errors (many of them common, and with the right guidance, easily avoided):

• I didn’t research the clinic’s expertise for solo patients, or women +40. I never asked whether, if the cycle failed, they would ‘partner’ with me through another cycle.
• My friend visited this clinic for the transfer of a double donor embryo; but I am using my own eggs with donor sperm, which is a very different process. So the challenges to navigate are different.
• My consultation (the sales pitch) with the clinic wasn’t particularly helpful because I hadn’t prepared any questions. I hadn’t prepared because I didn’t know what to ask! And I misunderstood the context for the conversation.

A big problem is that at the start of your fertility journey, you don’t know what you don’t know. All that stretches before you is a complex, unknown process – and the hope of a healthy baby at the end.

If only I’d known about Fertility Clinics Abroad and their clinic matching service. Joanna and the team are a wealth of knowledge. It’s hard to believe the service is totally free. It would have saved me a lot of stress. Impartial advice when navigating this big money industry is gold dust.

Why are women sourcing fertility treatment abroad?

If you’re considering leaving your home country, you’re not alone.

Although there are no specific stats illustrating the number of solo women travelling abroad, there are significant motivations for women to visit foreign lands for their fertility treatment:

• With only one income funding treatment, affordability is key. If you’re above 40, you should expect to undertake multiple cycles – so your budget needs to stretch (and if it happens sooner, it’s a bonus!). Treatment in more expensive markets such as the UK means your budget may only cover one cycle.
• Women in Germany, Italy, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, and Poland cannot receive fertility treatment in their home countries. (Treatment for solo women is also forbidden in nearby countries Slovakia, Hungary and Turkey.)
• The level of patient care for solo women in your home country may be substandard.

Let’s explore the care you might receive as a solo woman.

Here’s a flavour:

• 24/7 WhatsApp support. In addition to responding to your every concern, clinics will also check in to see how you feel and if you need any local information, such as restaurant recommendations.
• Mini retreats. This provides an opportunity to meet others and see the city, so you don’t have to be confined to your hotel room. Some light sightseeing could help take your mind off the process.
• Wellness treatments. Some clinics take a holistic approach to healthcare. You might be able to choose acupuncture, massage and reflexology to soothe your body and soul.
• Empathetic coordinators. Clinic staff can make a huge positive impact on your experience. Some clinics provide specific training to ensure their team understands the unique experiences women undertake when travelling abroad for fertility treatment. Standout clinics are skilled at supporting solo mothers and may, for example, follow up with you throughout and after your treatment!.
• Travel support. From finding good hotels, to knowing where to eat, and the safest parts of the area, there is plenty that some clinics will help you with. They may even collect you from the airport with a little welcoming note; and organise the admin for your stay with a hotel throughout your stay.
• A patient coordinator. This person will greet you on arrival and be at your side through every discussion and medical procedure.

Decide what’s important to you.

For example, seasoned travellers may be less concerned with having travel plans organised.
Other women may prioritise support through the egg retrieval operation.

At the clinic in Spain, I was woken twice, and hurried to the reception where I booked myself an Uber to my hotel, still groggy and disoriented. Not a pleasant experience.

Gathering first hand insights

It can be reassuring to hear recent insights directly from other women being treated by European clinics.

Fertility Clinic Abroad’s Facebook page has educational posts for women searching for treatment around Europe, plus the UK and Cyprus.

Take a look.

There is also a special Facebook Group for anyone interested in fertility treatment abroad, managed by Joanna Jewell, Head of Patient Experience, and her  team. Joanna is an independent Patient Care Advisor— a person who offers free personalized, one-on-one support to individuals or couples considering IVF treatment abroad.

More solo women seeking treatment + travelling abroad

There isn’t much data for solo women having fertility treatment. But the numbers of women in general seeking treatment around the world are climbing steadily. It could be safe to assume that a portion of this increase can be attributed to solo women.

• In the UK, IVF cycles (fresh and frozen) increased 9% from 2019 to 2021. (Source)
• In Australia, there was a 6.2% increase in the number of IVF cycles initiated from 2018 to 2019. (Source)
• In Japan, IVF cycles increased by approximately 10.7% in 2021 compared to previous annual averages since 2016. (Source)

As for solo women – numbers are rising fast. In 2022, 4,800 single women received IVF or donor insemination treatments, up from 1,400 in 2012 – a 243% increase over the decade (HFEA data). If these trends continue, even more women – many of them solo – will be having fertility treatment. The best clinics will get ahead of this curve and ensure they’re supporting solo women as effectively as possible.

This can only be good news for solo women (or those travelling abroad without their partner).

For solo women seeking treatment, this means:

• Educating yourself about what’s available now;
• Checking what support your prospective clinic provides;
• Telling your prospective clinic what support you’re seeking.

With so many clinics to choose from – if one doesn’t impress you, there are plenty of other fertility businesses to invest your money with!

Book your free call

Fertility Clinics Abroad offers free consultations for solo woman patients looking for IVF treatment abroad.

You can contact Joanna’s team here>

About Solo Fertility 40s
Solo Fertility 40s is the home of the SM40s movement—where independent women over 40 pursue Solo Motherhood, on their terms.

Contact: solofertility40s.substack.com