How should an IVF clinic screen international patients before the first consultation?
Ask five things before you give a slot, then check that you share a language.
Which five questions?
- Treatment. Do you offer what they need?
- Age. Are they inside your limit for that treatment?
- Budget. Have they seen your prices, and can they pay?
- Travel. Can they come for the days the treatment needs?
- Timing. Do they want to start in the coming months?
One answer outside your range is enough to say no.
What does your own law rule out?
Put your country's rules in the form, because they differ: of 43 European countries, 38 allow egg donation and 15 accept surrogacy (ESHRE, Human Reproduction, 2024).
What if you share no language?
Don't book them: "If a reasonable understanding cannot be guaranteed, it is recommended not to treat the patient" (ESHRE good practice guide, 2011).
Who should ask?
A person, by phone, in the patient's language, because people tick what they hope is true on a form.
What should the patient get before the consultation?
The list of tests and records to bring.
Want appointments that show up and match your criteria?
See if your clinic qualifies →Sources
- European IVF-Monitoring Consortium (EIM) for ESHRE. Survey on ART and IUI: legislation, regulation, funding, and registries in European countries, an update. Human Reproduction, 2024. doi.org/10.1093/humrep/deae163
- Shenfield F, Pennings G, De Mouzon J, Ferraretti AP, Goossens V. ESHRE's good practice guide for cross-border reproductive care for centers and practitioners. Human Reproduction, 2011. doi.org/10.1093/humrep/der090