How can an IVF clinic abroad get patients from Germany?
German patients go abroad for egg donation, which is banned in Germany, and for treatment their insurance does not cover.
Why do they travel?
Egg donation is banned in Germany (§ 1 ESchG), and 80.2% of German patients treated abroad gave legal reasons (Shenfield et al., Human Reproduction, 2010).
The ban is on whoever performs it, not on the patient.
Who pays out of pocket?
Statutory insurance covers only married couples using their own eggs and sperm, up to 40 for women and 50 for men (§ 27a SGB V), so everyone else pays for themselves.
Where do they go?
Often Spain, the Czech Republic, Greece and Denmark (EVZ, 2026).
What do they search?
"Kinderwunsch im Ausland" and "Eizellspende im Ausland".
What do they need from you?
- A consultation in German.
- The list of tests, early.
- A price that says what it covers.
- Success rates counted as births.
Ask a German lawyer before you advertise there.
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- Shenfield F, de Mouzon J, Pennings G, Ferraretti AP, Andersen AN, de Wert G, Goossens V. Cross border reproductive care in six European countries. Human Reproduction, 2010. doi.org/10.1093/humrep/deq057
- Embryonenschutzgesetz (ESchG) of 13 December 1990, § 1. Official text, read 13 October 2026. gesetze-im-internet.de/eschg/__1.html
- Sozialgesetzbuch Fünftes Buch (SGB V), § 27a Künstliche Befruchtung. Official text, read 13 October 2026. gesetze-im-internet.de/sgb_5/__27a.html
- Europäisches Verbraucherzentrum Deutschland. Künstliche Befruchtung in einem anderen Land der EU. Updated 6 May 2026. evz.de