The main reason behind people opting for fertility tourism is the quality of fertility treatment available in local clinics. Usually it is the absence of a good and complete fertility solution in your home country which compels you to go abroad to have the treatment. Another underlying reason could be that the specific treatment you are looking for is not available locally. Hence, the need to go abroad in the quest for the specific procedure could be a solution to the infertility issue you are facing.

There are a few clearly identifiable reasons that usually lead to a trip abroad for seeking fertility treatment. They are outlined as follows:

The Expense:

The cost of various fertility treatment procedures like IVF, ICSI, PGD and the allied fertility services like egg and sperm donation, surrogacy, cryopreservation of eggs and sperms constitute the major reason for intended parents to travel to foreign countries instead of having treatment at home. Fertility treatment costs in countries like India, Thailand, Cambodia, Ukraine, Georgia and Greece are much lower than what they are in most other countries.

Legal Constraints:

The law of your own country could be a big obstacle in your attempt to get fertility treatment in your own country. Some laws defend the right of the surrogate mother to be the legal guardian of the baby she gives birth to. The intended parents are helpless here and often compelled to part with the newborn to whom they had given so much physical, mental and financial efforts.

Unavailability of Donors and Surrogate Mothers:

Unavailability of potential egg and sperm donors and surrogate mothers could be a limiting factor, and the reason some opt to go abroad to get a satisfactory fertility treatment. Some countries are not so supportive towards the profession of egg donation and surrogacy. The social attitude is not congenial at all. Intended parents belonging to those countries are forced to look elsewhere for the required fertility treatment.

Gender Preference:

Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD), which is an extension of IVF, is prohibited in a number of countries except when used for screening for genetic diseases. PGD is a potent medical procedure for gender selection. The absence of this fertility service will force intended parents to look elsewhere. For this reason, a substantial number of fertility tourists move from the United Kingdom where sex selection is banned to the US where one can have a baby of the desired gender.

Donor Insemination:
Sometimes a woman might have to travel overseas to get an artificial insemination by a donor. However, this type of trip depends upon the statute that governs the sperm donation practice in that country. Potential sperm donors are of great demand and they attract intended parents from other countries.

Availability of the Right infrastructure:

A combination of factors crucial to a successful fertility treatment could trigger fertility tourism. This will certainly include availability of good fertility specialists, existence of proper medical facilities and the right attitude of the society. These features might be absent in home country necessitating a tour abroad where the options are more favorable.

HIV Patients:

HIV positive persons have equal right to enjoy the bliss of parenthood as any intended parents. But the concept is easier said than done. Not all countries have the facility to provide fertility treatment to those who are HIV positive. Nor do all countries extend fertility services to same sex couples. That is a major reasons for those who need these services to travel to countries where they can legally have them.