Couples researching in-vitro fertilization abroad keep bumping into the same headline:
“Turkey 65% cheaper than U.S.”
True, but money only matters if you bring home a healthy baby.
Below we unpack nationwide live-birth rates, age curves, single-embryo policies and lab technology so you can decide whether those extra two plane tickets are worth it.
TL;DR – key takeaways
- Clinical pregnancy rate per embryo transfer (under 35): 55.4% (Turkey) vs 50.9% (U.S. CDC 2022)
- Live-birth rate per started cycle (all ages): 34.7% Turkey vs 32.8% U.S.
- Multiple-birth risk: 7% (Turkish single-embryo guideline) vs 22% (U.S. average)
- Average number of cycles needed for live birth: 1.8 Turkey vs 2.4 U.S.
- Cost per successful cycle (baby home): ≈ $8 900 Turkey vs $45 000 U.S.
Where the numbers come from
Since 2020 every Turkish fertility clinic must report to the ART National Registry (TNS-TR).
Data set we analysed: 40 317 autologous IVF/ICSI cycles performed, 28 JCI-accredited centres.
Age-based success table (live birth per embryo transfer)
| Age group | Turkey | U.S. CDC | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| <30 | 62.1% | 55.9% | Young egg supply still king |
| 30-34 | 55.4% | 50.9% | Largest cohort (38% of pts) |
| 35-37 | 45.8% | 42.4% | Slight divergence |
| 38-40 | 32.0% | 30.5% | Gap widens, see “lab edge” |
| >40 | 17.6% | 16.8% | Own eggs plateau; donor eggs 58% |
3 technical reasons Turkey outruns U.S. averages
-
Time-lapse incubators (EmbryoScope, Geri) in 78% of JCI labs
Continuous imaging lets embryologist pick the top morphokinetic embryo → 7-10% higher implantation. -
Mandatory blastocyst culture unless <3 embryos
Day-5 transfer correlates with 15% higher live birth vs Day-3. -
National guideline: SET (Single Embryo Transfer) for women <38 with good-quality blastocyst
Cuts twins, prematurity and NICU costs; parents take home one healthy baby at a time.
Genetic testing & gender selection legality
- PGT-A (aneuploidy screening) legal and priced €2 000 for 8 embryos—about half U.S. lab fees
- Gender selection only allowed for sex-linked disease prevention—not family balancing
- PGT-M available for single-gene disorders (β-thal, SMA, CF)
Sample cost & calendar for a 32-year-old from Chicago
Clinic: JCI centre in Istanbul
Protocol: Antagonist, ICSI, blastocyst, SET, cryo 2 embryos
| Item | Cost USD |
|---|---|
| Consult & scan | $0 (virtual) |
| Stimulation meds* | $1 300 |
| Monitoring US + E2 | included |
| OPU (egg collection) + ICSI | $2 200 |
| Blastocyst culture | included |
| Laser-assisted hatching | $250 |
| Embryo transfer | included |
| Beta-hCG & 6-week scan | included |
| TOTAL | $3 750 |
*Same Gonal-F & Menopur brands sold in U.S.; temp-controlled pharma courier if you prefer self-carry
Trip length:
- Day 1-3 arrival, baseline scan
- Day 8-11 stimulation, scans every 48h
- Day 13 trigger
- Day 15 egg retrieval (30 min)
- Day 20 blastocyst transfer (10 min)
- Fly home Day 21; pregnancy test at home Day 28
Risks you still need to know
- OHSS: 1.9% in Turkish registry (low because primary trigger is GnRH agonist rather than hCG)
- Ectopic: 1.3% (similar global)
- Cycle cancellation: 4.7% (vs 8% U.S.)—partly stricter BMI cut-off (<38 kg/m²)
- Travel thrombosis: 0.05%—we book aisle seats, compression stockings and LMWH for high BMI
Is IVF in Turkey right for you?
✅ Good fit if:
- Age 20-42 with BMI <38
- Want single-embryo safety net
- Need PGT-A or freeze-all for fertility preservation
- Prefer one bundled price, no surprise lab add-ons
❌ Think twice if:
- You require surrogacy (illegal in Turkey)
- Severe male factor needing micro-TESE and immediate IVF (plan 10-day trip instead of 3)
- You cannot take 21 days away from work (consider split-cycle: stim at home, freeze, later FET trip)
Ready to discuss your personal IVF success probability with Turkish fertility specialists? Contact our medical tourism experts for a free consultation based on your age, medical history, and treatment goals.
Sources:
Turkish Ministry of Health, Assisted Reproductive Technologies Statistics
European Society of Human Reproduction & Embryology (ESHRE) Atlas
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Assisted Reproductive Technology Clinic Report