- You want to understand what the process involves before deciding on a country or clinic
- You're not sure how frozen and fresh cycles differ in practice
- You need to know how much time and travel is actually required
- You want to identify where timing or admin can complicate your decision
What the process involves
- If you need the simplest logistics, frozen cycles are usually more predictable and require less time abroad.
- If you are over 50, expect extra approval steps before treatment can start in some countries.
- If donor ethnicity or donor type is a specific requirement, matching timelines can vary considerably from the typical range.
- If travel complexity is a constraint, the difference between a frozen and fresh cycle matters more than headline price.
- If you're comparing clinic quotes for frozen and fresh cycles, they can't be read side by side without itemized breakdowns.2
The 8 stages
Treatment follows the same broad structure regardless of country or clinic. Each stage below notes where things vary or where delays are most likely.
Initial consultation
RemoteUsually a video call. Your medical history is reviewed, eligibility confirmed, and the clinic explains their donor program.
Medical screening
At homeHormone levels, infectious disease screening, uterine ultrasound, and semen analysis where relevant. Usually done locally at your own GP or fertility clinic.
Which tests are required varies by clinic and country. Sometimes covered by insurance.
Donor matching
RemoteYou provide physical characteristics. The clinic searches their donor pool and proposes a match.
Standard profiles: a few weeks to 3 months. Specific ethnicity or donor type: 3 to 12+ months in some countries. Donor info shared varies by country.
Medication and cycle preparation
At homeEstrogen to build the uterine lining, then progesterone closer to transfer. For fresh cycles, your timing is also synchronised with the donor's retrieval cycle.
Medication cost varies by protocol and country.
Embryo creation
Clinic labEggs are fertilized using ICSI and embryos are cultured for 3 to 5 days at the clinic lab.
Frozen: uses stored eggs, more flexible timing. Fresh: timed to the donor's retrieval, which is why the trip is longer.
Travel and embryo transfer
AbroadYou travel to the clinic. A final ultrasound confirms lining readiness. The embryo is placed using a thin catheter. No anaesthesia required. Most patients return home the following day.
Transfer timing is usually confirmed only after the final lining check, a few days before the procedure. Book flexible flights.
The two-week wait
At homeContinue hormone medications (estrogen and progesterone) at home. Most patients can work normally during this phase.
Pregnancy test
At homeA blood test measuring hCG levels at your local GP or fertility clinic.
If positive: the clinic arranges a follow-up ultrasound at 6 to 7 weeks. If negative: the clinic reviews the cycle and discusses options, including a frozen embryo transfer if embryos remain.
What's fixed and what varies
The structure is consistent. The variation that affects your shortlist sits in specific parts of the process.
| Process step | Usually consistent | What varies by country or clinic |
|---|---|---|
| Medical screening | Required before treatment | Which tests are needed, who arranges them, and cost |
| Donor matching | Clinic-led in most destinations | Wait time, from weeks to months+, and how much donor information is shared |
| Legal and admin paperwork | Usually handled at consultation stage | Whether permits, notarized documents, or ethics approval are required |
| Medication protocol | Estrogen and progesterone are broadly standard | Specific drugs, doses, cost, and who prescribes them |
| Embryo creation timing | 3 to 5 days in the clinic lab | Fresh: timed around donor retrieval. Frozen: more flexible |
| Travel and transfer | One trip abroad is typical | Usually 2 to 5 days for frozen cycles vs 5 to 10 days for fresh cycles |
| Post-transfer follow-up | Blood test around 14 days after transfer | Further monitoring, either at home or back at the clinic |
Where the process gets more complex
For most patients the process is manageable. These are the situations that typically add steps, time, or cost.
Fresh cycle coordination
A fresh cycle must be timed around the donor's retrieval. The trip is usually longer, timing is less flexible, and delays are harder to absorb. For many first cycles, frozen is the simpler starting point.
Specific matching requirements
Specific ethnicity requirements or donor-type preferences can extend wait times significantly, sometimes to 3 to 12+ months depending on country and clinic. In some cases, this becomes the main driver of the timeline. Ask for a realistic estimate before shortlisting.
Extra approvals for older patients
In some destinations, older patients may need extra approval before treatment starts. In Greece, patients aged 50 to 54 usually need a national permit. In North Cyprus, additional approvals may apply at older ages. Clinics usually manage the admin, but confirm the timeline impact before comparing countries.
Legal paperwork and notarized documents
Some destinations require notarized consent forms or donor agreements before treatment can begin. Usually managed at the consultation stage, but translation or notarisation can add time. Admin burden varies by destination, so ask about it early.
Travel timing uncertainty
Transfer dates are confirmed only after a final lining check, typically a few days before the procedure. Book flexible flights and avoid fixed checkout plans where possible. If minimising travel complexity is a priority, this matters as much as headline price.
Arranging monitoring at home
During preparation, you'll usually need local ultrasound scans to check lining progress. Not all GPs or local clinics will coordinate easily with an overseas provider. Ask early whether your clinic has a preferred monitoring partner or a template letter.
A clinic's headline price does not tell you whether the quote is for a fresh or frozen cycle. These differ in coordination, travel, and total cost. Confirm the cycle type before comparing figures across clinics.
Frozen vs fresh: the process difference that matters most
This is the single biggest process variable for most patients. The child page covers it in full, but here is the core trade-off.
The process is broadly the same across countries. What changes your shortlist is admin burden, travel complexity, and timing, particularly if extra approvals, specific donor requirements, or fresh cycle coordination apply to your situation.
- Timeline from first consultation to embryo transfer: 1 to 6 months (1 to 2 months for a frozen transfer, 3 to 6 months for a fresh cycle).
- What is included in a clinic quote varies by clinic and by cycle type. Frozen and fresh donor cycles are not directly comparable unless the included steps are clearly itemized.