Which country in Europe is best for IVF? Spotlight on Portugal

If you’ve flicked through any of our recent guides on fertility care in Europe, you’ll know that there are so many reasons why more and more of us are choosing to travel from the UK for treatment. 

Previously, we’ve dived deep into everything from the ROPA method in Europe to egg freezing abroad, and we’ve even curated a handbook on sperm and egg donation in Europe for those who have donor conception as part of their family-building journey.

Which country is best for IVF in Europe? The Q&A

Today, we’re sitting down with Dr. Joana Guimarães, Clinical Director at renowned Porto-based fertility clinic Procriar, to answer the question: which country is best for IVF in Europe?

And, spoiler alert – we’re putting Portugal in the spotlight. 

Over to Dr. Guimarães.

1. What factors should you consider to make sure you’re choosing the best place for IVF in Europe for you?

When choosing a clinic at home or abroad, there are so many factors to consider from the get-go. It’s important to decide which of the factors are more important for you and to make your decision based on that. 

For example, if having an Open-ID donor is at the top of your priority list, you can easily disregard countries such as Spain which don’t offer non-anonymous eggs or sperm. 

My advice to all patients is always to prioritise how a clinic and their team make you feel – can you easily communicate with them and are they happy to take the time to answer your questions and understand your individual circumstances? At Procriar, taking the extra time to truly treat each patient as an individual is a core value of our clinic and something we’re very proud of. 

Of course, logistics should also be taken into account. Are there regular flights and affordable accommodation? And is the destination somewhere you will feel happy and comfortable spending time?

2. Why are so many UK couples considering Portugal right now?

There are so many reasons why people from the UK are coming to Portugal for fertility treatment. 

I regularly meet with patients at Procriar from the UK and their reasons for travelling range from costs (it’s significantly cheaper here in Portugal than in the UK), to legislation (we have very progressive laws with regard to fertility treatment) and the availability of Open-ID (non-anonymous) donor availability. 

For most patients it’s a mixture of these factors, combined with the fact that the quality of care is very high, perhaps even higher than most clinics in the UK. 

When we add to that the regular, affordable flights and a very high level of spoken English, it’s a really attractive option.

3. Looking deeper – what makes Portugal’s fertility legislation Europe-leading?

Portuguese legislation is very progressive and makes it easy for patients travelling from around the world to access treatment. 

Open-ID donation is a great example of that legislation in action, the Portuguese law requires that all donors allow the possibility for a child born as a result of their donation to learn more about them in the future. 

This reassures patients on many fronts – not only that the donor is participating out of generosity, that they will only have donated to a strictly limited number of families, and that you can tell your child about the donor if and when you decide the time is right. 

Taking things back a step, open-ID profiles mean that patients can learn a lot about the donor during the process of choosing, which is an added bonus.

4. What about fertility success rates in Portugal?

Clinics in Portugal are very closely regulated when it comes to using success rates to promote their service, which is forbidden. 

At Procriar we can say that we have invested in the very best team and technology to deliver amazing service and excellent results to every patient who comes to the clinic. 

If you are interested in learning more about what specific success rates are for your own circumstances, hop over to our website – we absolutely welcome that conversation with our team. 

5. How affordable is IVF in Portugal compared to other European countries?

Portugal is certainly significantly less expensive for fertility treatment, compared to other countries in Europe. 

If we look at the UK specifically, treatment can be 40% less expensive in Portugal, or even more depending on your exact treatment. 

It’s also worth mentioning that the availability of a wide variety of donated sperm and eggs means that treatment is not just cheaper, it’s also more available. 

We should also mention better value for money here. Portugal and Procriar in particular offer genuine top-class treatment and care, at a fraction of the cost – so you don’t miss out on getting the full treatment package while still saving money.

6. Will language or cultural differences make IVF in Portugal challenging?

This is one of the factors which patients (correctly) think about most when considering IVF abroad. It’s very important that you feel that you are able to communicate easily with your doctor and also with the wider team of nurses and coordinators. 

English is very widely spoken in Portugal, to a very high standard. 

We’re proud that every person you interact with at Procriar is fluent in English (as well as several other languages!) and will be able to answer your questions and explain things easily. 

This is not just the case in the clinic, you will find the same throughout Porto. And if we’re talking culture, Portuguese people are incredibly welcoming and friendly, in a very non-invasive way.

We enjoy good food, weather and company, something we find people from the UK also value!

7. How easy is it to travel from the UK to Portugal, compared to other European countries?

Unlike some other IVF destinations in Europe, travelling to Portugal from the UK is very easy, with direct, regular and affordable flights to and from both Porto and Lisbon several times a day from London, Manchester and other UK airports. 

As people come to holiday in Portugal throughout the year we’re fortunate to have this great service throughout the year, not just during peak season. 

Porto’s airport is less than 15 minutes from Procriar, which is walking distance to some of the best hotels in the city, as well as some of the best attractions. Because travelling to Procriar for IVF is not just easy, it should also be enjoyable, too.

8. Are there any particular patient groups for whom Portugal would be the best choice for an IVF journey?

The answer is, really, anyone who appreciates genuine care and value for money. There are destinations which may be fractionally cheaper than Portugal and Procriar, but none which offer the same high level of treatment. At Procriar we believe that how you feel during the treatment process is very important.

Portugal is also one of the best countries in Europe for IVF with donor eggs and sperm. Not only is availability very high, but there is also a very strict level of regulation which limits the number of donations per donor, and ensures the donation is being made for all the right reasons.

Getting started with treatment in Portugal

At Procriar, lots of patients come to us after a long journey trying to conceive. Whether that’s you or not, we know that unpacking the emotions related to being on a family journey helps to ensure patients are in the best place to move forward. 

Whenever you’re ready, our team at Procriar make it easy to get started. Book an initial consultation to chat through your options, and find tailored treatments with no wait time.