IVF in Thailand

The below are sometimes not included:

1. Medications beyond the standard stimulation protocol
2. ICSI, if not bundled into your package
3. Embryo freezing and annual storage fees
4. PGT-A genetic testing (charged per embryo screened)
5. Sperm retrieval procedures (TESE or PESA)
6. Sedation or anesthesia fees
7. Pregnancy confirmation blood test
8. Translation and document certification fees

Who can access IVF in Thailand?

Under Thailand's Assisted Reproductive Technology Act of 2015, IVF is restricted to legally married heterosexual couples. Both partners must be present at the initial consultation and provide a valid marriage certificate. Many clinics require this document to be officially translated into Thai and certified by your home country's embassy in Bangkok.

Single women cannot access IVF in Thailand. Elective egg freezing is available to single women without restriction, but those frozen eggs cannot be used for IVF within Thailand unless the woman is married at the time of treatment.

Eligibility summary:

1. Legally married heterosexual couples only
2. Valid marriage certificate required from both partners
3. Official certified translation of the marriage certificate may be required
4. Both partners must attend the initial consultation
5. Women up to approximately age 50, subject to individual clinic limits
6. Both partners must use their own genetic material unless donor egg IVF is specifically arranged

Is Thailand the right IVF destination for you?

Thailand is one of a small number of countries in the Asia-Pacific region where preimplantation genetic testing for sex selection (PGT-A for family balancing) is fully legal, for both medical and non-medical reasons. Couples from Australia and New Zealand, where gender selection for social reasons is prohibited, travel to Thailand specifically for this reason.

Thailand also has strong laboratory infrastructure in Bangkok. Several clinics hold RTAC accreditation from the Australian and New Zealand Fertility Society, and the country has been treating international patients for over two decades.

Costs are substantially lower than in Western markets. A standard IVF cycle in Thailand typically costs 60 to 75 percent less than the same treatment in the US or UK. Laboratory standards at RTAC-accredited clinics are audited against the same criteria used in Australia and New Zealand.

Fertility treatments available in Thailand

Thai fertility clinics offer the full range of assisted reproductive technology:

1. IVF with own eggs and sperm
2. IVF with ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection)
3. IVF with donor eggs (restrictions apply)
4. IVF with PGT-A (for chromosomal screening and gender selection)
5. IVF with PGT-M (for monogenic disorders)
6. Frozen embryo transfer (FET)
7. Elective egg freezing
8. IUI (intrauterine insemination)
9. Sperm retrieval: TESE and PESA
10. Expanded carrier screening (ECS)

Egg donation in Thailand: Donor egg IVF is legal but regulated. The egg donor must generally be of the same nationality as the recipient. Commercial egg donation is prohibited under Thai law, meaning donors are not financially compensated in the same way as in some European countries. Waiting times and donor availability vary significantly by clinic, and known donation is more common than anonymous donation.

Thailand's embryo export ban and your IVF plan

This is the most consequential legal restriction for international patients and the one most commonly overlooked. Under Thai law, frozen eggs and frozen embryos cannot be exported from Thailand. You cannot have embryos created at a Thai clinic shipped to a fertility clinic in your home country for future transfer.

This affects your planning in two specific ways. First, any embryos frozen after retrieval must remain stored in Thailand. Every frozen embryo transfer you do will require a return trip to Bangkok. Second, if your circumstances change and you prefer to continue treatment closer to home, your frozen genetic material cannot be transferred out of the country.

Before starting treatment, confirm the clinic's long-term embryo storage policy, including annual storage fees, how long embryos can be stored, and the process if you decide not to return.

The IVF process in Thailand

A standard cycle involves ovarian stimulation (10 to 12 days of self-injected hormones), egg retrieval under sedation, laboratory fertilization, and embryo culture to blastocyst stage over 5 to 6 days. If PGT-A genetic testing is included, embryos are biopsied and frozen while results come back, typically within 2 to 4 weeks. A healthy embryo is then transferred in a short, painless procedure, followed by a blood pregnancy test 7 to 10 days later.

How many trips do you need for IVF treatment in Thailand?

Most IVF cycles in Thailand with PGT-A require two separate trips or one trip of 6-8 weeks, if you prefer.

Trip 1: Egg retrieval

If you do stimulation monitoring at home, your first trip to Bangkok is 4 to 5 days. If all monitoring is done in Bangkok, plan for 12 to 14 days.

Trip 2: Frozen embryo transfer

After PGT-A results return, you come back for the transfer. Most endometrial preparation can be done at your home clinic. The second trip is 3 to 5 days.

Fresh transfer without PGT-A

Both retrieval and transfer can potentially be done in one trip of approximately 3 weeks, depending on your clinic's protocol.

Choosing an IVF clinic and doctor in Thailand

Bangkok has the highest concentration of fertility clinics in Thailand and standards vary. When comparing clinics, consider the following:

1. RTAC accreditation: The Reproductive Technology Accreditation Committee standard from Australia and New Zealand is one of the most recognized laboratory quality benchmarks for ART clinics in Asia-Pacific. Several Bangkok clinics hold this certification — confirm whether your shortlisted clinic does before committing.
2. International patient coordination: A dedicated coordinator fluent in your language manages your protocol across time zones, coordinates with your home monitoring clinic, and handles documentation throughout the cycle. This is especially important given the two-trip structure most patients follow.
3. Success rates by age group: Ask for live birth rates per embryo transfer, broken down by your age group. Cumulative success rates and clinical pregnancy rates are less meaningful for comparing clinics.
4. Laboratory technology: Time-lapse embryo monitoring (EmbryoScope or equivalent) allows continuous observation of embryo development without disturbing the culture environment. Ask whether this is standard or an add-on cost.
5. Storage and long-term follow-up: Given the export ban, confirm the clinic's embryo storage costs, maximum storage duration, and how they handle international patients returning for future cycles.

While it is important to consider factors such as laboratory quality, accreditation, success rates, and patient support when choosing an IVF clinic, Infertility Aide believes that the doctor should be the primary factor in your decision.

In Thailand, look for a doctor with experience treating patients with a similar diagnosis, whether that is advanced age infertility, recurrent miscarriage, male factor infertility, or IVF failure. If you're traveling from overseas, you should also consider communication, language support, and the availability of translators or patient coordinators.

It's equally important to confirm that the doctor offers the treatments you may need, such as PGT, donor egg IVF, fertility preservation, or fertility surgery. A qualified doctor working within a reputable clinic can help ensure that your treatment plan is tailored to your specific circumstances rather than following a one-size-fits-all approach.

IVF in Thailand: FAQs

Who is eligible for IVF in Thailand?

IVF in Thailand is available to legally married heterosexual couples only. Single women cannot access IVF but can undergo elective egg freezing.

Do I need to translate my marriage certificate?

Most clinics require an officially translated and certified copy. Your home country's Thai embassy or consulate can certify the translation. Confirm the exact requirements with your clinic before you travel.

Can I do my monitoring scans at home?

Yes. Most international patients complete early stimulation monitoring at a clinic near home and fly to Bangkok only when eggs are ready for retrieval. Your Thai clinic provides a monitoring protocol to share with your local doctor.

Can frozen embryos be sent to a clinic in another country?

No. Thai law prohibits the export of frozen embryos and eggs. Any embryos created in Thailand must remain stored there, and all future frozen embryo transfers must be done in Thailand.

Is gender selection legal in Thailand?

Yes. PGT-A for sex selection is legal in Thailand for both medical reasons and family balancing. It is one of very few countries in Asia-Pacific where this is permitted without a medical indication, which is why it draws couples from Australia and New Zealand where gender selection is restricted.

Can single women freeze their eggs in Thailand?

Yes. Elective egg freezing is available to single women without restriction. Those frozen eggs cannot currently be used for IVF in Thailand unless the woman is married at the time of treatment.

How many trips does a full IVF cycle require?

Most patients need two trips: one for egg retrieval (4 to 14 days depending on where monitoring is done) and one for frozen embryo transfer (3 to 5 days). A fresh transfer cycle without PGT-A can sometimes be completed in one extended trip.

What documents do both partners need to bring?

Both passports, a valid marriage certificate, and a certified translation if required by your clinic. Bring complete medical records including any previous fertility test results or treatment history.

Is donor egg IVF available to foreign patients in Thailand?

Yes, with restrictions. The egg donor must generally share the same nationality as the recipient. Commercial egg donation is prohibited. Waiting times and donor availability vary by clinic.

How long does the full IVF process take?

From initial consultation to a pregnancy test result, expect 2 to 4 months, covering stimulation, retrieval, embryo culture, PGT-A testing if applicable, and a frozen embryo transfer cycle.

What is the IVF success rate in Thailand?

Live birth rates at Thai clinics for women under 35 using their own eggs typically fall between 40 and 55 percent per embryo transfer. Rates decrease with age. Ask your clinic for published live birth data broken down by age group.

Is IVF safe in Thailand?

Thailand's private fertility clinics are regulated by the Ministry of Public Health under the ART Act of 2015. As with any medical procedure abroad, confirm your chosen clinic's accreditation, laboratory standards, and experience with international patients before committing.