IVF and Egg Donation in Russia
IVF in Russia - basic information
Egg Donation in Russia
brief information regarding donor eggs IVF in Russia-
Egg donation cycles per year1
4,335 -
Average egg donation success rates2
47.3% -
Egg donation
Anonymous -
Donor availability
Caucasian, Scandinavian, Asian
1,2 ESHRE 2016 EIM REPORT
| IVF and Egg Donation in Russia - availability and limits | |
|---|---|
| Maximum patient - woman age | No limit not specified by legislation, decided by each clinic individually |
| IVF treatments for single women | Allowed |
| IVF treatments for female same sex couples | Not allowed |
| Gender selection | Allowed only if there are medical reasons Not allowed for family balancing reasons |
| Maximum number of embryos to transfer IVF with donor eggs | 2 |
| Maximum number of embryos to transfer IVF with own eggs | 2 |
| Egg donor availability | Good |
| Egg donor age | 18-35 |
| Maximum number of donations per each egg donor | Not set |
| Sperm donor - maximum age | 35 |
| Maximum number of children born from the same sperm donor | Not set |
| IVF clinics in Russia | Check IVF clinics in Russia >>> |
Why IVF in Russia?
Russia – famous for its rich history, proud culture and one of the world’s top economies, the country is also home to one of the most extensive healthcare systems on the planet. Ever since the fall of the Soviet Union, private clinics and medical centres have opened their doors to foreign patients, attracting them with impressive standards of care. Today, IVF treatment in Russia is accessed by patients from all over the world. No wonder as Russia is home to over 160 IVF clinics which offer attractive IVF treatment prices and helpful medical staff that are fluent in English.
Reasons to go to Russia for IVF or Egg Donation
- 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)
- PGS and PGD widely offered to patients
- Wide donor–pools and no waiting lists
IVF clinics in Russia
According to the latest report by the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE), there were 199 clinics offering IVF treatment in Russia in that year, of which 151 reported the results of their treatments to ESHRE. The clinics offering IVF programmes for international patients are located mainly in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
In order to operate legally in Russian territory and perform tasks in the field of assisted reproduction, IVF centres in Russia have to obtain two licenses:
- one from the local authorities
- and the other from the federal district.
Most – but not all – Russian clinics also submit data about their treatments to ESHRE, which in turn aggregates the results into yearly reports. Unfortunately, these reports are published after a significant delay.
The Russian Association for Human Reproduction administrates a nationwide registry of IVF centres in Russia and publishes its own annual reports, which are released slightly more often than their ESHRE counterparts.
Fertility treatments in Russia
Russian clinics cater to a wide variety of patients: both married and unmarried heterosexual couples and single women. The standing legislation, however, does not recognize same-sex relationships. One of the most interesting aspects of IVF in Russia is the fact that it does not have a set age limit for treatments. Due to this, clinics often resort to implementing limits recommended by international advisory bodies, such as ESHRE. When choosing a clinic, make sure you ask about their age limits.
Russian law differs from that in other European nations, as it allows for both anonymous and “non-anonymous” donation treatments. But don’t let the name fool you – you’re not going to meet your donor or learn their name or address. You can, however, receive access to their pictures – both as an adult and as a child – along with their physical characteristics, and other supplementary information, such as a recording of their voice. The precise amount and type of information, however, varies between clinics.
Anonymous treatments are also available, and these work in a similar way to those offered by counterparts in European clinics; donors are matched based on the patient’s phenotype. There is no nationwide donor registry, however; clinics keep their own donor records.
When it comes to modern diagnostic techniques in the field of IVF, PGD and PGS are available to patients – as well as ICSI, assisted hatching or embryo transfer and vitrification. Sex selection is allowed, although only in cases in which the child would be likely to inherit a genetic disorder carried through sex chromosomes. Unlike most other countries, Russia also offers surrogacy services.
IVF for lesbian couples in Russia
IVF treatment for same sex female couples is not allowed in Russia.
Egg donation in Russia
If you are considering fertility treatment abroad Russia may be a perfect solution for you. The country’s large population makes for a diverse pool of donors – both European and Asian phenotypes are available, with a slight dominance of the former, reflecting the ethnic makeup of the country. Russia does not have a national registry of donors; instead, each clinic maintains its own database.
Egg donor information available in Russia
Russia’s rather liberal laws don’t enforce anonymity in donation treatments. It means that patients get access to much more detailed information about their donor. For instance, at some Russian clinics, the patient can see pictures of the donor as a baby, hear a recording of their voice, and more. The line is usually drawn at the donor’s personal information: their name, and address. Despite the possibility of non-anonymous donations, many clinics still perform treatments anonymously.
Egg donor qualifications
Regulations aren’t lax, however, when it comes to the donors’ qualification process. Sperm and egg donors must be aged between 18–35 years old and by law they must undergo thorough screening.
Donor qualification tests required by law:
- HIV 1 and 2
- Hepatitis B and C
- Syphilis
- Clinical blood count
- STD testing for chlamydia, gonorrhea, mycoplasm, ureaplasm, trichomonas, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex 1 and 2
- Anti-Rubella, Anti-CMV, Anti-HSV testing
On top of all that, a prospective donor also requires a statement from their GP, confirming that there are no health problems present which could result in complications through the donation process. A psychological examination is also required – this ensures the donor understands the consequences and impact of their decision.
There is no recommendation or guideline for the number of egg donor donations or offsprings.
Embryo donation in Russia
Embryo donation is allowed in Russia – waiting time may vary from clinic to clinic.
IVF cost in Russia
IVF treatment in Russia is often chosen by foreign patients due to the reasonable costs. The country offers results and a standard of care comparable to the clinics in Western Europe – at more affordable prices. It is enough to mention that the cost of a single own egg IVF cycle in Russia ranges from €2,000 to €5,000 while IVF with donor eggs in Russia may cost from €3,800 to €7,000.
| IVF costs abroad – popular countries | ||
|---|---|---|
| Country / IVF treatment type | Egg donation costs | IVF own eggs costs |
| Spain | €5,900 – €11,000 | €4,100 – €7,100 |
| Czech Republic | €4,500 – €8,000 | €2,700 – €5,700 |
| Greece | €5,000 – €8,000 | €3,200 – €6,200 |
| North Cyprus | €4,500 – €6,000 | €2,700 – €5,700 |
| Ukraine | €4,000 – €7,000 | €2,200 – €5,200 |
| Russia | €3,800 – €7,000 | €2,000 – €5,000 |
| Portugal | €6,000 – €8,000 | €3,200 – €6,200 |
| Poland | €4,000 – €6,000 | €2,200 – €5,200 |
| Latvia | €5,000 – €8,000 | €3,200 – €6,200 |
| UK | €10,000 – €14,000 | €6,000 – €10,000 |
Be aware that some clinics may not be as transparent as others about additional costs and fees that can accumulate over the course of treatment. Make sure you ask your clinic about whether these costs are included in their price quote:
- the donor’s fee, her medication and screening (if you’re interested in egg donation)
- egg retrieval
- sperm collection and sperm preparation
- ICSI
- IVF add-ons (techniques in IVF Lab)
- transfer of blastocysts
- vitrification (freezing) and storage of embryos/blastocysts
- frozen embryo transfer
IVF success rates in Russia
Most IVF units in Russia regularly submit their results to the European Society of Human Reproduction (ESHRE). The results reported by Russian clinics, along with those from other countries in Europe, are compiled into a yearly aggregate report.
Check Russian egg donation success rates compared to other popular IVF destination as per latest ESHRE report.
| Egg Donation Success Rates* per woman age in Europe – popular countries | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Country / Woman age | <34 | 35-39 | ≥40 |
| Spain | 53.8 | 57.4 | 53.7 |
| Czech Republic | 44.7 | 41.0 | 40.2 |
| Greece | 59.6 | 58.9 | 54.3 |
| North Cyprus | No data / not collected by ESHRE | ||
| Ukraine | 64.3 | 66.3 | 61.9 |
| Russia | 46.7 | 45.5 | 42.8 |
| Portugal | 43.7 | 46.4 | 49.2 |
| Poland | 45.3 | 44.2 | 40.3 |
| Latvia | 100.0* | 16.7* | 7.7* |
| UK | 41.9 | 44.0 | 41.8 |
IVF laws and clinics accreditation in Russia
The Ministry of Health issued order no. 107N in August 2012. This document serves as the legal basis for all assisted reproduction treatments in the country and applies to every federal state in Russia. The law lays out the proper procedure for diagnosing infertility (part 2, articles 8 to 19), indications and contraindications for the use of IVF procedures (part 3, articles 20 and 21, respectively), as well as an outline of a basic IVF cycle. Later on, it goes on to describe the rules for oocyte, sperm, and embryo donation and the medical requirements for donors.
Russian clinics are required to acquire two licenses in order to operate: one granted by the local authorities, and a second one, granted by the federal district, which allows the clinic to perform tasks in the field of assisted reproduction. In order to acquire both licenses, clinics must pass rigorous inspections. Appendices 1 and 2 of the Ministry of Health order 107N define the procedures carried out by an IVF clinic.
The Russian Association for Human Reproduction (RAHR) runs a nationwide registry of clinics and medical centres performing assisted reproduction treatments. Like ESHRE, they release annual reports detailing the efficacy of IVF treatments in Russia.
IVF in Russia – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How much does IVF treatment cost in Russia?
The cost of a single own egg IVF cycle in Russia ranges from €2,000 to €5,000 while an egg donation cycle may cost from €3,800 to €7,000. Taking into account Russia’s advanced IVF procedures and English speaking clinics’ staff, IVF are significantly cheaper than e.g. in Spain or even Latvia.
What kind of IVF treatment is legally allowed in Russia?
In Russia, IVF treatment is available to both married and unmarried opposite–sex couples and to single women. There is no legal age limit for neither female or male fertility patients. Preimplantation genetic screening/diagnosis (PGS/D) is commonly provided for patients, as well as ICSI, assisted hatching or embryo transfer and vitrification. Sex selection for medical causes and surrogacy are allowed. Russia allows non–anonymous donation, which means that intended parents are able to see pictures of a donor as a child or an adult or hear their voice. Anonymous donation is possible as well.
What are IVF success rates in Russia?
According to the ESHRE 2014 report, the overall birth rates for IVF with own eggs in Russia were 34.1% (for patients under 35 years old), 25.9% (for patients aged 35-39) and 14.5% (for patients over 40). The birth rate for IVF treatment with with donor eggs was 48.0% for all age groups.
What are the most frequently chosen cities for IVF treatment in Russia?
Russia is home to over 160 fertility clinics and most of them are located in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Understandably, these are the cities most often chosen by foreign IVF patients.
What major laws are regulating IVF treatment in Russia?
The legal basis for all assisted reproduction treatments in Russia is the Ministry of Health order no. 107N, issued in August 2012. It outlays the legal procedures for diagnosing infertility, indications and contraindications for the use of IVF procedures, defines the procedures carried out by IVF clinics and also describes a basic IVF cycle, rules for egg/sperm/embryo donation and medical requirements for donors.
Where can I find the information on IVF clinics in Russia?
The Russian Association for Human Reproduction (RAHR) administrates a nationwide registry of IVF clinics and medical centres in Russia and releases annual reports detailing the efficacy of their treatments. They can be found under the following link: http://www.rahr.ru/registr_otchet.php
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- Legislation and reimbursement of ART and IUI treatments in Europe,
https://www.eshre.eu/Data-collection-and-research/Consortia/EIM/Legislation-for-ART-and-IUI-treatments - Patients Enquiries Reports 2013-2019, Fertility Clinics Abroad Ltd., Edinburgh, August 2019.
- Patients Enquiries Report’s 2013-2019, IVF Media Ltd., Dublin, August 2019.
- ART in Europe, 2016: results generated from European registries by ESHRE
https://academic.oup.com/hropen/article/2020/3/hoaa032/5879305 - RAHR – Russian Association of Human Reproduction
http://www.rahr.ru - Accredited IVF Centres in Russia
http://www.rahr.ru/klin_centr.php - National IVF Success Rates in Russia
http://www.rahr.ru/registr_otchet.php
