Treating infertility: current affairs of cross-border reproductive care
Simopoulou Mara,
Sfakianoudis Konstantinos,
Giannelou Polina,
Pierouli Aikaterini,
Rapani Anna,
Maziotis Evangelos,
Galatis Dionysios,
Bakas Panagiotis,
Vlahos Nikolaos,
Pantos Konstantinos,
Koutsilieris Michael
Affiliations
Simopoulou Mara
Department of Physiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75, Mikras Asias, 11527, Athens, Greece
Sfakianoudis Konstantinos
Centre for Human Reproduction, Genesis Athens Clinic, Athens, Greece
Giannelou Polina
Department of Physiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Pierouli Aikaterini
Department of Physiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Rapani Anna
Department of Physiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Maziotis Evangelos
Department of Physiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Galatis Dionysios
Department of Physiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Bakas Panagiotis
Assisted Conception Unit, 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aretaieion Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Vlahos Nikolaos
Assisted Conception Unit, 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aretaieion Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Pantos Konstantinos
Centre for Human Reproduction, Genesis Athens Clinic, Athens, Greece
Koutsilieris Michael
Department of Physiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Infertility patients are willing to travel abroad to receive the medical treatment of choice. A 2010 study reported that approximately 25,000 couples travel abroad annually seeking infertility treatment. The purpose of this review is to analyze the criteria and risks related to cross-border reproductive care (CBRC) from the perspective of the patients and explore the issues raised regarding the country of origin and the destination country. A computerized search was performed in PubMed employing respective keywords. The total number of published articles provided by our PubMed search was 1905. Criteria for selecting the destination country include: the economic status, legislation, quality of care and anonymity. Despite the fact that CBRC is becoming a familiar concept, it raises concerns for the practitioner and issues of a social and bioethical nature. Most of them stem from the fact that health care acquires a commercialization aspect. Medical tourism entails several risks, such as misconceptions regarding the destination country, and legal issues arising from differences in the judiciary systems. Larger studies evaluating all aspects of CBRC are imperative. Quality assurance, a consensus and a common platform of practice, along with a system of international governance based on human rights, are a necessity for CBRC patients.
