Russia as an IVF destination
Russia, the largest country on our planet, is one of the most intriguing places in the world. It amazes us with its fascinating history, cultural heritage and breathtaking landscapes. However, as it was under the Soviet system for so long, it may be still perceived by many as exotic and unaccessible. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. Nowadays Russia is a vibrant and modern country and one of the world’s largest economies. It is one of the most willingly chosen IVF destinations and also home to over 160 fertility clinics. Most of them are located in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Russia offers flexible legislation and high standards of healthcare. This, combined with attractive IVF treatment prices and helpful medical staff that is fluent in English, makes up a significant advantage for international fertility patients.
Russian fertility law is liberal and patients–friendly in most of its aspects. There is no age limit for treatments, surrogacy is allowed and egg/sperm donation may be either anonymous or non–anonymous. The latter means that intended parents may get more information about a donor, including their adult photos or voice recording. Because of the Russia’s vast area and the specific ethnic make–up, the donor pool is wide and diversified (both European and Asian phenotype). There are no waiting lists, either.
The Rusian cities most willingly chosen by IVF patients are Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Reasons to go to Russia for IVF
- Affordable IVF treatment costs (cheaper than in Western Europe)
- Good quality of medical services (in accordance with the international standards)
- English–speaking staff ensuring no issues with communication during treatment
- Egg/sperm/embryo donation allowed (both anonymous or non–anonymous)
- IVF clinic results submitted to ESHRE
- PGS and PGD widely offered to patients
- Wide donor–pools and no waiting lists
IVF in Russia at a glance
IVF treatment options in Russia
- reproductive medicine techniques open to single women and heterosexual couples (both married and unmarried)
- egg/sperm/embryo donation anonymous or non–anonymous
- the maximum number of embryos to transfer is 2
- sex selection is not allowed for non–medical reasons
- egg freezing is permitted
- surrogacy is permitted
When it comes to the range of IVF treatments, Russia keeps up with the European standard. The treatment is available to both married and unmarried opposite–sex couples and to single women. However, it does not refer to same–sex relationships. Preimplantation genetic screening/diagnosis (PGS/D), used to identify genetic defects of embryos, is commonly provided for patients, as well as all the modern IVF procedures such as ICSI, assisted hatching or embryo transfer and vitrification. Sex selection for medical causes and surrogacy are allowed.
Among all available treatment options, the process of egg and sperm donation in Russia differs slightly from other countries. Russia is the only IVF destination presented in this Guide that allows non–anonymous donation. While it does not mean learning all the personal details of one’s chosen donor, it enables intended parents to e.g. see pictures of a donor as child and an adult or hear their voice. For those in favour of strict anonymity, anonymous donation is possible as well.
| IVF treatment in Russia | |
|---|---|
| Maximum patient age (woman) | 51 Some clinics may treat older woman at their own risk |
| IVF treatments for single women | Allowed |
| IVF treatments for lesbian couples | Not allowed |
| Maximum number of embryos to transfer IVF with donor eggs | 2 3 – if the patient gives consent |
| Maximum number of embryos to transfer IVF with own eggs | |
| Anonymous egg donors | Yes It refers to the amount of information about the donor that patients are allowed to see |
| Non anonymous egg donors | Yes It refers to the amount of information about the donor that patients are allowed to see |
| Egg donor availability | Average |
| Egg donor age | 18-35 |
IVF treatment costs in Russia1,2
| IVF costs in Russia1,2 | |
|---|---|
| Treatment option | Price range |
| IVF with own eggs program | €2,000 - €5,000 |
| IVF with donor eggs program | €3,800 - €7,000 |
| Medical consultation - visit / online (with doctor) | €50 - €100 |
| Donor sperm | €150 - €400 |
| Frozen embryo transfer (all embryos) | €700 - €1,200 |
IVF success rates in Russia
IVF own eggs success rates in Russia3
| IVF with own eggs success rates in Russia3 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Woman age | <34 | 35-39 | ≥40 |
| IVF with own eggs in Russia | 34.1% | 25.9% | 14.5% |
| ESHRE average in Europe | 29.0% | 24.2% | 12.9% |
IVF donor eggs success rates in Russia3
| IVF with donor eggs success rates in Russia3 | |
|---|---|
| IVF with donor eggs in Russia | 48.0% |
| ESHRE average in Europe | 50.3% |
Assisted Reproduction Law and Clinics in Russia – information for Patients
| Assisted Reproduction Law and Clinics in Russia – information for Patients | ||
|---|---|---|
| Resource | Available online? | Language |
| ART Legislation in country | Yes / Link>>> | Russian |
| List of certified IVF Centers by independent national body | Yes / Link>>> | Russian |
| Success rates published as per IVF center by independent national body | No | - |
| National success rates published for country by independent national body | Yes / Link>>> | Russian |
Institution and / or contact person for IVF patients in Russia
We asked Russian Ministry of Health for information several times via email and phone. However, up to the publication date of this page we had not received any answer.
- Patients Enquiries Reports 2013-2019, Fertility Clinics Abroad Ltd., Edinburgh, August 2019.
- Patients Enquiries Report’s 2013-2019, IVF Media Ltd., Dublin, August 2019.
- De Geyter Ch., Calhaz-Jorge C., Kupka M. S., Wyns C., Mocanu E., Motrenko T., Scaravelli G., Smeenk J., Vidakovic S., Goossens V., The European IVF – Monitoring Consortium (EIM) for the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE): ART in Europe, 2014: results generated from European registries by ESHRE, Human Reproduction, Volume 33, Issue 9, September 1st 2018, pp. 1586-1601.
https://academic.oup.com/humrep/article/33/9/1586/5055580 - Report on the Regulation of Reproductive Cell Donation in the European Union. Results of Survey, European Commission, Health & Consumer Protection Directorate-General, Brussels, February 2006.
https://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_threats/human_substance/documents/tissues_frep_en.pdf - International Federation of Fertility Societies’ Surveillance (IFFS) 2019, Global Trends in Reproductive Policy and Practice, 8th Edition, Global Reproductive Health, Wolters Kluwer, March 2019, Volume 4, Issue 1, p. e29.
https://journals.lww.com/grh/FullText/2019/03000/International_Federation_of_Fertility_Societies_.3.aspx - A Policy Audit on Fertility. Analysis of 9 EU Countries, Fertility Europe, European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE), Evere, Grimbergen, March 2017.
http://www.fertilityeurope.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/EPAF_FINAL.pdf - Keane M., Long J., O’Nolan G., Farragher L., Assisted reproductive technologies: International approaches to public funding mechanisms and criteria. An evidence review, Health Research Board, Dublin, 2017.
https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/af2460-health-research-board-report-assisted-reproductive-technologies-inte/?referrer=/blog/publications/health-research-board-report-assisted-reproductive-technologies-international-approaches-to-public-funding-mechanisms-and-criteria-an-evidence-review/ - Assisted Reproductive Technology. Fertility Clinic Success Rates Report 2016, Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, October 2018.
ftp.cdc.gov/pub/Publications/art/ART-2016-Clinic-Report-Full.pdf - Präg P., Mills M., Assisted reproductive technology in Europe. Usage and regulation in the context of cross-border reproductive care, Families and Societies, Working Series Paper, Volume 43 (2015), Department of Sociology and Nuffield College, University of Oxford, Oxford, 2015.
http://www.familiesandsocieties.eu/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/WP43PragMills2015.pdf
