Greece Considered Ideal “Reproductive Tourism” Destination

Greece is considered one of the most ideal destinations for a woman to conceive a child following assisted reproductive techniques, according to Genesis Athens, a private general surgical clinic in Greece.

It is estimated that some 1,000 women travel to Greece every year to seek information in regards to Greece’s high success rates per IVF (in vitro fertilization) attempt (over 50 percent in some centers). These women usually combine their trip with a vacation either to Athens or the Greek islands.

“We’ll do the procedure and holiday in Greece”

Genesis Athens tells the story of an American woman, Cantria Hen, who came to Greece after she read online that the country makes “miracles” happen in regards to IVF treatment. Four IVF centers in the U.S. ruled out any possibility of Mrs. Hen becoming a mother.

Candria Hen became pregnant after undergoing IVF in Greece and will be back to try for a second child.

Mrs. Hen did in fact become pregnant after undergoing IVF in Greece and, according to her husband, the couple is planning a second trip to Greece to try and conceive a second child.

“We will do the embryo transfer, have an unforgettable holiday on the Greek islands, and we are confident that we will return to New York with Cantria pregnant,” her husband said.

According to Doctor Konstantinos Pantos, in recent years some 300 women have come from Australia to undergo IVF treatment in Greece and several of them return to try for a second child.

“The age and other restrictions -such as religious- that exist in several countries, combined with the very high cost of embryo transfer, make Greece the ideal destination worldwide for a woman to undergo IVF,” he said.

Dr. Pantos added that “it is no coincidence” that the biggest international news agencies such as CNN have characterized Greece as an “ideal destination for reproductive tourism*.”

* Reproductive tourism is a type of medical tourism in which patients travel to other states or countries seeking fertility treatments in various forms because those treatments aren’t available to them in their own state or country for any number of reasons.