"More people are travelling outside Ireland for fertility treatment, with cost just one of the factors that needs to be weighed up"
""Cash or card?". That was the first question Jennifer Malone heard at her fertility appointment in Dublin, before anyone asked how she was, before anyone explained the invasive procedure ahead or the long, stressful road that might follow. As a healthcare professional, she found this deeply upsetting, reducing her to a bill rather than a person seeking help."
"Infertility is common: about one in six couples face trouble conceiving, according to the HSE. For thousands of couples facing IVF bills of €7,000 and more, the lure of Prague, Athens or the Canary Islands is clear."
An increasing number of people from Ireland are traveling abroad for fertility treatment. High domestic IVF costs, often €7,000 or more, drive many to seek cheaper options in Prague, Athens and the Canary Islands. Clinic interactions can be insensitive, with some patients experiencing transactional approaches prioritizing payment over care. Infertility affects about one in six couples. Financial considerations combine with access, waiting times and treatment experience to push patients overseas. Cross-border fertility care can reduce costs and delays but introduces travel burdens, continuity-of-care challenges and potential regulatory and follow-up complexities for patients.
Read at Independent
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]