Looking for "the best" IVF clinic abroad?

We analyse your needs, treatment type, destination preferences and find top IVF clinics for you.

Why IVF in Greece?

Greece passed its reproductive health legislation in 2005 – it’s widely considered to be one of the most patient-friendly and liberal IVF laws in Europe. No wonder – nowadays Greece offers the perfect combination of innovative medical services and reasonable rates. It is attracting international IVF patients with its highly trained and experienced medical professionals and state-of-the-art technological equipment. High average success rates are a great indicator of the clinics’ impressive experience in IVF treatments.

Egg donation and IVF in Greece – basic information

Egg Donation and IVF in Greece – cost and availability
IVF with own eggs in Greece – average cost€3,200-6,200
Egg donation in Greece – average costs€5,000-8,000
Average egg donation success rates in Greece*58.7%*
Maximum patient – woman age54
additional tests and qualification restrictions may apply to patients over 50
IVF treatments for single womenAllowed
signing a notarial deed is required
IVF treatments for female same sex couplesNot allowed
Gender selection / sex selectionAllowed 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
Age-dependent:
two if under the age of 35, three if over the age of 40, or the age of 35 if two transfers failed previously
Egg donation – anonymityAnonymous
Some characteristics, history and skills may be revealed to the recipient – depending on clinic’s decision
Egg donor availability in GreeceVery good
Caucasian, Latino, Indian, Arab
Egg donor age20-35
Maximum number of born children from the same egg donor10
Sperm donor – maximum age40
Maximum number of children born from the same sperm donor10
IVF clinics in GreeceBest IVF clinics in Greece >>>
Sources: Legislation and reimbursement of ART and IUI treatments in Europe >>> | IVF Aroad Patients Guide – 2023 >>> *ESHRE 2018 EIM REPORT​

IVF in Greece – reasons to go

  • Affordable egg donation costs (when compared to the respective costs in other countries)
  • Favourable legislation allowing most IVF methods
  • Experienced fertility specialists as well as high quality clinics and labs
  • Very good egg donor availability
  • No waiting lists
  • Attractive tourist destination for combining treatment with holidays

 

IVF clinics in Greece

Greece is known for some of the best egg donor clinics in Europe. Nowadays, the country offers over 50 IVF clinics, and most of them are located in the biggest Greek cities: Athens and Thessaloniki, and on Crete. The number of procedures performed and their comparatively high average success rate perfectly demonstrate Greek clinics’ experience in IVF treatments.

Featured Clinics in Greece
emBIO Fertility Clinic in Greece

emBIO Medical Center

The EmBIO Clinic in Athens, Greece, has been a beacon of hope since its inception in 1996. Over the years, the clinic has successfully assisted in the conception of more than 30,000 babies. Athens, with its many daily flights, is a convenient destination for all your needs. It is a

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NewLife IVF Greece

Newlife IVF Greece

Newlife IVF Greece is one of the leading fertility clinics in Greece that provides a full range of fertility examinations and treatments, including a highly successful program with donor eggs. The clinic has a broad experience with international patients. Their high pregnancy rates, fairly liberal Greek IVF laws, high-quality care,

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Assisting Nature in Greece

Assisting Nature – Human Reproduction & Genetics

Assisting Nature is a fertility clinic in Thessaloniki, Greece. If you have never visited the city or heard of it then you are in for a treat. The city of Thessaloniki is a beautiful port city with gorgeous seas to gaze upon, and is known for its many festivals and

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Fertility treatments in Greece

Greece is famous for its tolerant legal framework for IVF services. When it comes to IVF cycles with own eggs and egg donation, the age limit for women undergoing IVF treatment is 54 years old. There are no exceptions in terms of the marital status of heterosexual couples in the sense that all the procedures are available to both married and unmarried couples provided that the latter has signed a notarial deed. The same procedures are also available to single women after signing a notarial deed.

In all cases the treatment is anonymous – neither the donor nor the patients’ identities are released to the other party. Social freezing of eggs and sperm is also permitted; embryo freezing is also an option. Embryos, eggs and sperm can be stored for up to ten years. The number of embryos that is permitted to be transferred varies with age. Patients under 35 are allowed to transfer two embryos, unless they already had two failed embryo transfers; in that case, those patients are allowed to transfer three embryos. Patients over the age of 40 are also allowed to transfer three embryos.

Fertility patients in Greece have access to genetic testing options, such as PGT-A (also known as PGS), as well as PGD. Sex selection of embryos is permitted, but only for medical reasons, such as when the mother carries a disease transferred through the Y chromosome. Surrogacy is also an option – but only if the patients have medical documentation proving them incapable of having children of their own.

IVF for lesbian couples in Greece

IVF for same sex female couples in Greece is forbidden. Only infertile heterosexual couples and single woman can be treated in Greece.

IVF with donor eggs in Greece

The strong anonymity laws regarding egg and sperm donation in Greece makes it a very attractive option for women seeking to donate their eggs; as such, there’s a lot of willing donors of multiple ethnic backgrounds. This is good news for patients who decide to receive an egg or sperm donation treatment – there’s virtually no waiting list! Additionally, the average cost of IVF with donor eggs is still quite reasonable. All these factors make Greece an attractive option for patients from all over Europe who are considering undergoing egg or embryo donation abroad.

Egg donor information available in Greece

Greece offers the full anonymity of egg and sperm donation. Strict regulations prevent clinics from divulging any personal information about donors to patients. However, a comparatively high amount of metrics are available to patients. Apart from the basic information (such as the donor’s phenotype, blood type, age and race), patients also have access to the donor’s education history, athletic and musical skills and also genetic history. As phenotype matching is obligatory in Greece, patients have full confidence their child will look like them.

Greece’s anonymity laws prevent donors from ever contacting the children born through the donation process.

Egg donor qualifications

Donors in Greece are aged between 20 and 32 and they are allowed a maximum of 10 offsprings. In order to be qualified as a donor, a person has to have regular blood tests and karyotype testing conducted. Additionally, they are screened for certain serious diseases.

Donors are legally obliged to have the following tests:

  • Blood type and Rhesus
  • Hepatitis B & C
  • HIV 1 & 2
  • Syphilis
  • Hemoglobin electrophoresis
  • Sickle cell trait testing
  • Cystic fibrosis (CF) mutation
  • Fragile X testing
  • Conventional karyotype

Some clinics also perform psychological screening of their donors – although this is not required by law in Greece, clinics perform these tests in order to ensure that donors understand the consequences of the donation.

The maximum number of born children through egg donation from the same egg donor is 10.

IVF with embryo donation in Greece

Embryo donation is possible and usually turns out to be more affordable than egg donation. However, patients interested in embryo donation in Greece should prepare for a six to twelve-month wait.

Some clinics also offer a “double donation” – that is, two separate donations of egg and sperm cells.

IVF cost in Greece

As we mentioned earlier, Greece boasts 50 fertility clinics, an impressive number for a relatively small country. Taking into account this as well as the high quality of medical services – it must be noted that the prices of IVF and egg donation treatments are considered very good value. Egg donor programmes in Greece are between €5,000 and €8,000. In case of a single IVF cycle with own eggs, patients may pay around €3,200-€6,200.

Sources: IVF Aroad Patients Guide, WhereIVF.com >>> | Patients Enquiries Reports 2013-2019, Fertility Clinics Abroad Ltd., Edinburgh, August 2019 | Patients Enquiries Report’s 2013-2019, IVF Media Ltd., Dublin, August 2019

Remember that not all clinics are transparent about the costs associated with additional services. When you contact the clinic of your choosing, make sure their advertised price includes:

  • 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 Greece

The success rates of own eggs and egg donation IVF treatments are hard to compare because there is no way to access aggregate data published by a Greek, independent third party. However, patients do have access to Licensed In Vitro Fertilization Units (IVFU) & Cryopreservation Banks (CB) in Greece, where clinics accredited by the Greek National Authority of Assisted Reproduction are listed. If you decide to choose Greece for your IVF treatment, make sure your clinic of choice is listed there.

ESHRE is an independent source that publishes data on the success rates of IVF treatments in Greece; however, their reports are published with a large delay. 

IVF with donor eggs (egg donation) success rates in Greece as compared to other European countries according to ESHRE latest report. 

Egg Donation Success Rates* per woman age in Europe – popular countries
Country / Woman age<3435-39≥40
Spain53.8
57.4
53.7
Czech Republic44.741.040.2
Greece59.658.954.3
North CyprusNo data / not collected by ESHRE
Ukraine64.366.361.9
Russia46.745.542.8
Portugal43.746.449.2
Poland45.344.240.3
Latvia100.0*16.7*7.7*
UK41.944.041.8
*Pregnancy rates per embryo transfer. Source: ART in Europe, 2016: results generated from European registries by ESHRE >>> | *Only 101 ED cycles were reported for Latvia – not enough data.

IVF success rates in Greece as compared to other European countries according to ESHRE. As you can see, Greece enjoys a comparable level of success to the rest of Europe.

Best IVF clinics in Greece

There are many sources where patients post their reviews, opinions about best IVF clinics in Greece.  As you read through all information available you may be confused as the IVF clinic in Greece which is best for one patient may not necessary be the best for you.

Find out the list of best IVF clinics in Greece featured at eggdonationfriends.com.

IVF laws and clinics accreditation in Greece

IVF treatments in Greece are regulated by the Greek National Authority for Assisted Reproduction. They regulate the way clinics operate, as well as issue guidelines and perform regular unannounced inspections of clinics and cryopreservation banks in Greece. All accredited assisted reproduction units are listed in the register of Licensed In Vitro Fertilization Units (IVFU) and Cryopreservation Banks (CB). 

The basic legal framework describing assisted reproduction treatments in Greece is described in two laws:

  • law 3089 (“Medically Assisted Human Reproduction”, 2002)
  • and law 3305 (“Application of Medically Assisted Reproduction”, 2005).

IVF in Greece – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How much does IVF treatment cost in Greece?

On average, egg donation costs in Greece oscillate between €5,000 and €8,000. In case of single IVF cycle with own eggs, patients may pay around €3,200 – €6,200. Apart from hidden extras (such as consultations, medications, etc.), foreign patients have to remember about the costs of travel and accommodation – these are especially high in Greece during summer months.

What kind of IVF treatment is legally allowed in Greece?

In Greece, the maximum age for a woman who wants to undergo IVF treatment is 54 years old. Both opposite-sex couples and single mothers are accepted. Lesbian couples have to provide a notary statement, on the basis of which one of the patients is going through the treatment as a single woman. The law also allows anonymous egg donation and social freezing of eggs, sperm and embryos. The maximum number of embryos to transfer in IVF with donor eggs is 2. The number of embryos to transfer in IVF with own eggs is age-dependant: it’s 2 if patients are under 35 and 3 – if they’re over 40 (or over the age of 35 if two transfers failed previously). Preimplantation genetic testing (such as PGT-A and PGD), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), frozen embryo transfer, assisted hatching (AH) and surrogacy are also legally available.

What are IVF success rates in Greece?

According to the ESHRE 2014 report, IVF success rates in Greece were over the European average. The overall birth rates for IVF with own eggs were 43.4% (for patients under 35 years old), 32.6% (for patients aged 35-39) and 15.8% (for patients over 40). The birth rate for IVF treatment with with donor eggs was 51.5% for all age groups.

What are the most frequently chosen cities for IVF treatment in Greece?

When it comes to the most popular locations among fertility tourists in Greece, these are the country’s biggest cities: Athens and Thessaloniki. It’s where most IVF clinics are located in Greece.

What major laws are regulating IVF treatment in the Greece?

There are two most important IVF laws in Greece: Law 3089/2002, that resolved basic questions regarding “Medically Assisted Human Reproduction”, and Law 3305/2005 (“Application of Medically Assisted Reproduction”) regulating all assisted reproductive techniques.

Where can I find the information on IVF clinics in the Greece?

IVF clinics in Greece operate under the license from the Greek National Authority of Assisted Reproduction. The list of In Vitro Fertilization Units (IVFU) & Cryopreservation Banks (CB) accredited by this national body is to be found here: http://eaiya.gov.gr/en/information/licensed/

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If you are looking for an egg donation clinic abroad, use the eggdonationfriends unique patients tool – Clinic Matching Test. We analyse your needs and choose overseas clinics which match your expectations. Our database of IVF centres includes only trusted fertility clinics which have experience in providing high quality services to international patients.

Resources used in this article
Aleksander Wiecki

Aleksander Wiecki

Aleksander is a advocate of transparency and truth about IVF treatment and patients’ experience manager. With strong expertise and background in the IVF (infertility) industry including IVF clinics and genetic laboratories Aleksander strongly believes that there is a gap between IVF patients and clinics. This is a gap where patients may fall for the most common IVF treatment traps during their infertility journey. That’s why patients need help and support which they don’t necessary get from IVF clinics. The support which comes from an objective, trustworthy and reliable source. Aleksander is a regular guest at ESHRE annual meetings, the Fertility Show in London, the Fertility Forum, the IMTJ - Medical Travel Summit and Fertility Exhibitions and conferences around the world.
Find IVF and Egg Donation Clinics Abroad
Looking for "best" IVF clinic abroad?
We analyse your needs, egg donor availability, destination preferences and find top IVF Clinics for you.