Greece, Spain, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Poland – these are only some of the countries offering IVF treatment for infertile couples from all around the world. Another popular destination for medical tourism is also the Czech Republic. There are over 30 fertility clinics in this country, many of them in Prague and Brno, but also in some other cities, for example Zlin and Olomouc. All of them offer a wide range of treatment at a reasonable cost, as well as, in most cases, keep their success rates quite high. So it is not suprising that many infertile couples from all parts of the world decide to choose the Czech Republic as their IVF destination.
IVF in the Czech Republic – is it really that great?
Compared to prices in the UK, the cost of treatment in the Czech Republic is extremely low. A single cycle of IVF, excluding medication, costs around 2,500€, while egg donation oscillates around 4,000€, making the cost of IVF treatment in the Czech Republic about 70% lower than in most British clinics. Even when taking into account the cost of travel and staying abroad, the whole procedure is very afforable. What’s more, there are some medical tourism companies, which offer a range of services for international patients. They can, for example, help you choose and book a hotel, as well as pick you up from the airport and drive you to your chosen clinic. As far as success rates in the Czech Republic are concerned, there is a great variety in numbers and it is quite hard to pinpoint the average. Success rates for IVF with own eggs start at about 35%, going up to 40% or even 45% in some clinics, while for IVF with donor eggs they start at about 45% and go up to a little less than 60%. If you are considering fertility treatment in the Czech Republic, why not take a look at a few clinics and their success rates in some bordering countries, for instance Slovakia or Poland. INVICTA, a Polish clinic, has success rates which greatly exceed the European average – 49,1% for IVF with own eggs and 65% for egg donation.
Fertility Clinics in the Czech Republic – their safety and quality
Since the Czech Republic used to be a communist country ruled by the former USSR, some people have concerns about the safety of the country itself, and about the safety and quality of the medical sector. But the naked truth is that there is absouletely nothing to worry about. For some years now the country has been thriving and its capital, Prague, is one of the top tourist destinantions. The city not only offers beautiful views and a vibrant nightlife, but has also been designated a world heritage site. As far as the IVF clinics are concerned – again, you can leave your worries behind. All clinics are well regulated and closely monitored. Czech national legislation states that all fertility clinics require a valid license granted by SKUL (translated to the State Institute for Drug Control) in order to function. What’s more, SKUL has a duty to inspect the IVF clinics at least every two years. This license applies to all aspects of the clinics’ functioning, for instance organisation and management, written procedures and documentation, equipment, storage system of reproductive cells and many more. Thanks to this regime, you can be almost sure that if you do decide to choose the Czech Republic as your IVF destinantion, your treatment will be carried out at a high standard. Unfortunately, in some Czech clinics the medical staff don’t have good command of the English language. This is quite a large disadvantage, making the patient- doctor communication rather difficult. So an international medical team is definitely a thing to look out for. An example of an eastern european clinic, in which you will have absolutely no problem with communication is, again, the above-mentioned INVICTA.
Types of fertility treatment and law aspects in the Czech Republic
Fertility clinics in the Czech Republic offer a wide range of fertility treatment, for example IVF with own eggs, IVF with donor eggs or assisted hatching. All types of assisted reproduction are regulated by statute and guidelines, although there are some gaps in the regulations. For instance, there is a lack of information concerning surrogacy or donor offspring limits. The Czech Republic’s legislation on fertility treatment is quite liberal, although not as tolerant as, for example, in Spain. An infertile couple, which can solicit for IVF treatment, is classed as a man and woman living together intimately. Therefore single women and lesbian couples cannot receive fertility treatment in the Czech Republic. As far as types of treatment are concerned, procedures such as ICSI, PGD or assisted hatching are allowed. Egg and sperm donation are permitted. Egg donors must be under 35 years old, while sperm donors shouldn’t have reached 40 years old. Of course, all donors are screened for various diseases and are obliged to undertake blood and genetic tests. Donors are assured anonymity, but clinics are required to keep their medical records for as long as 30 years, in order to safeguard both the recipient and the donor.
Many IVF options – which one to choose?
Choosing an IVF clinic is hard enough, but with such a large number of fertility clinics all around the world the decision is even more difficult. For some, the Czech Republic may just be the perfect option, but others might not be satisfied with what this country’s clinics have to offer. When choosing a medical center, treatment cost seems to be one of the most important decisive factors, but many infertile couples have also other wants and needs, for instance international staff or location of the clinic. It’s no lie that a lot of research is needed in order to choose a clinic that will suit you perfectly, but the time spent in front of the computer will definitely pay off in the future. In order to help infertile couples choose the perfect IVF clinic a number of websites have been set up, where you can compare prices and types of treatment offered in fertility clinics around the world. Why not start your research today and compare INIVICTA’s offer with some other clinics?
