Fertility treatment in Greece

Greece is one of the top destinations for fertility treatment in Europe. Most clinics are located in the biggest cities: Athens and Thessaloniki. In this article we share interesting facts about Greece as a destination for treatment, so you make an informed decision about your fertility journey.

Fertility regulations & treatment in Greece

Reproductive laws are well established, and clinics are thoroughly regulated at the national level. You can have standard IVF, ICSI, donation and even surrogacy. In fact, Greece has one of the most surrogacy-friendly regulations in Europe, safeguarding the needs of surrogates and parents as well. Sperm, egg and embryo donation are allowed, anonymous and altruistic, meaning donors don’t receive financial compensation (but expenses can be paid). Information relating to height, weight, hair colour, eye colour, skin tone, blood group, and education is available to patients choosing donation as a way to select a donor.

The maximum age accepted for a woman to undergo fertility treatment is 50 years old. Treatment is available to heterosexual couples, single women and lesbian couples (if one partner completes a notary statement saying she is single). Doctors are very experienced and have a long record of treating patients from every country. Clinical teams are fluent in English (and many other languages) and treatment is often less expensive than in the UK.

Travelling to Greece

There are several fertility clinics in Greece and flying there is relatively easy and cheap in most airlines. You can easily make a weekend trip and feel no jet lag. If you need to visit the clinic a few times as part of treatment, this is certainly something to keep in mind.

If you are considering treatment in the near future, you may be wondering about the impact of coronavirus in Greece. Greece had one of the lowest cases of coronavirus earlier in the year due to implementing safety measures early. At the moment, to travel to Greece, you must have a COVID-negative PCR test conducted in the country of departure within 72 hours of arrival in Greece. You must also complete a Passenger Locator Form at least 24 hours before your arrival in Greece. When you arrive in Greece, the Greek authorities will check your Passenger Locator Form and may require you to undergo testing for coronavirus, as part of health screening. Any passenger entering Greece may be asked to undergo a test, but you are more likely to be asked if you have arrived from a country outside of the EU (including the UK), either directly or via indirect flights. If you are required to test, you will need to practise social distancing and self-monitor for symptoms for 24h until you know the result of the test. If you have a positive result, will need to self-isolate for 14 days. This quarantine may be in government-provided accommodation. If authorities don’t request a test at arrival, you will not be required to self-isolate. In Greece, it is mandatory to wear a face mask on public transport, public indoor spaces (including medical facilities). Because of the current travel challenges, several fertility clinics are offering online consultations, allowing you to minimise the number of times you need to travel to Greece.

Greece is also a beautiful destination to relax. You can make a mini holiday out of your time there, enjoy the good weather and great food.