IVF & Fertility Abroad: 16-Point Checklist

IVF abroad can be highly cost-effective and clinically excellent. The legal and ethical dimensions — donor anonymity, surrogacy law, embryo storage — vary dramatically by country.

Last updated 1 May 2026Reviewed by cliniccheck editorial teamHow we research

When to use this checklist

Use this 16-point list before booking IVF, ICSI, donor IVF or frozen embryo transfer abroad. IVF abroad has both clinical and legal dimensions; the legal side (donor anonymity, embryo storage, surrogacy laws) varies dramatically by country and carries lifelong implications for any resulting child.

How to use it

Compare clinics on live-birth rates per age band — not pregnancy rates, not headline success rates. Confirm embryology lab accreditation (ESHRE, CAP, ISO 15189) which drives outcomes more than any other factor. For donor IVF, understand the destination country's anonymity rules and take the pre-treatment counselling seriously.

Red flags — walk away if you see these

Headline "pregnancy rates" with no per-age live-birth data.
Donor matching by photo only.
No genetic screening on donor.
Pressure to transfer multiple embryos to "boost success".
No counselling offered or required for donor IVF.

Clinic and legal

Confirm the country's rules on donor anonymity, donor compensation and embryo storage.
Different from UK HFEA framework. Get written summary.
Verify embryology lab accreditation (ESHRE, CAP, ISO 15189).
Lab quality drives outcomes more than any other factor.
Ask for live-birth rates per age band, not just pregnancy rates.
Pregnancy ≠ baby. Live birth is the metric that matters.
Confirm what happens to surplus embryos.
Storage, donation, disposal — all need explicit consent.

Donor IVF specifically

Understand donor anonymity rules in the destination country.
In Czechia and Spain donors remain anonymous; in the UK and Portugal children can identify donors at 18.
Donor health screening: ESHRE-compliant infectious disease + genetic panel.
Ask for the protocol.
Future siblings: can you reserve the same donor?
Important if you may want a second child.

Logistics

Plan for two trips (or one extended stay): stimulation + transfer.
Some clinics offer "short protocol" — confirm clinical suitability.
UK GP-supervised injections during stimulation.
Most UK GPs will support this if your clinic provides protocols.
Frozen embryo transfer (FET) is gentler and often more successful.
Ask whether fresh or frozen transfer is recommended for you.
Counselling for donor IVF — not optional.
A good clinic will insist on it.