Cross-border fertility care--International Committee Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technologies global survey: 2006 data and estimates.
OBJECTIVE
To collect data on the prevalence and reasons for cross-border fertility care (CBFC).


METHODS
Retrospective survey conducted by the International Committee Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technologies.


METHODS
Forty-nine countries who have previously participated with the International Committee Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technologies.


METHODS
Number of CBFC patients per country.


METHODS
Questionnaire.


METHODS
Number of CBFC patients and reason for travel.


RESULTS
The majority of replies were comprised of estimates for incoming and outgoing patients having CBFC. The main reasons for leaving a home country for CBFC included treatment anonymity and legality issues, whereas incoming patients most often traveled due to efficacy and access.


CONCLUSIONS
Few countries are able to quantify numbers of patients having CBFC, although our data suggest that incoming treatment seekers are more easily numerated due to clinic registration procedures. Standardization of data collection and creation of national databases are needed to collect quantitative information that will help reproductive caregivers to provide support for patients having CBFC.
Assisted Human Reproduction Canada, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Karl
K
Nygren
David
D
Adamson
Fernando
F
Zegers-Hochschild
Jacques
J
de Mouzon
D026683:Advisory Committees / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D019538:Health Care Surveys / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D007391:International Cooperation; D008297:Male; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies