In the past decade, the Czech Republic has become one of the top destinations on the global assisted reproduction map.
According to the latest data from the Czech Institute of Health Information and Statistics (ÚZIS), foreign patients make up an astounding 85% of all recipients of donated oocytes. We often represent the last and most successful hope for couples across Europe wanting to start their own families.
While Czech patients account for just under 16% in egg donation programs, the rest are women traveling from hundreds or even thousands of kilometers away. They mainly come from neighboring countries like Hungary, Austria, Poland, Slovakia, or Germany, but clients from the UK, France, or the Balkans aren't unusual either.
Why the Czech Republic? A mix of expertise and clear regulations
The label “reprohub” (reproduction center) wasn't given to the Czech Republic by chance. According to Tereza Agáta Jičínská, the COO of REPROMEDA clinic, several key factors are driving this trend.
Top-notch genetics: Couples appreciate the integration of IVF with modern genetic testing, which increases the chance of successful embryo implantation.
Cost and quality ratio: Despite top-tier laboratory equipment, treatment costs remain affordable internationally.
Language proficiency: Clinics have adapted to offer comprehensive support in patients' native languages.
Czech women don't need donated eggs as much
You might wonder why the proportion of Czech women among the recipients is so low. The answer ironically highlights the quality of our medicine. Thanks to timely diagnosis, accessible care, and health insurance coverage, most Czech couples manage to conceive with their own cells. Only women in specific cases, such as after cancer treatment or premature ovarian failure, turn to donation programs.
Economic benefits for the state
Reproductive tourism isn't just about healthcare. Foreign couples coming here also use accommodation, dining, and other local services. Payments for treatment allow clinics to invest in the latest technologies, which ultimately benefit domestic patients as well.
Experts caution that the term “tourism” is somewhat misleading. “Most patients don't come choosing between alternatives, but when their home country's options are limited or exhausted,” concludes Jičínská.
