Fertility treatment in Brazil
Country profile

Fertility treatment in Brazil

Brazil has been a major centre for medical tourism for cosmetic surgery for many years. Procedures are carried out in dedicated plastic surgery clinics. Brazil has more recently expanded the availability of other types of medicine, including fertility treatment. The country has a total of 150 centres offering infertility treatments and over 20 medical centres in Brazil are accredited by the JCI (Joint Commission International). Doctors, fertility specialists and other senior medical staff in Brazil have often trained in the USA, and more speak English than a few years ago. Costs of treatments are highly affordable in comparison to the USA and western Europe, as the value of the Real is still low against the US$. Facilities in clinics offering fertility treatments are high and success rates are comparable with the best in the world.

Infertility clinics are usually registered with the Red Latinoamericana de Reproduccion Assistida, By Anvisa (a Brazilian Government Agency), the Brazilian Federal Medicine Council (CFM) and/or the National Surveillance Agency. Regulation is at statute level and there is a national licensing body. In January 2011, Brazil, a country that has the largest Roman Catholic population in the world, extended availability of IVF and other fertility treatments to lesbian couples, homosexual couples and single women.

ISCI

Allowed

Pre implementation generic diagonisis

Allowed (gender selection not allowed)

Micromanipulation

Not allowed

Assisted hatching

Allowed

IVF surrogacy

Allowed (surrogate must be related to prospective parents and payment is prohibited)

Average prices for IVF in Brazil

Costs for treatments vary with individual clinics; the following is a rough guide based on prices quoted in January 2012.

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The healthcare system in Brazil

Much of the medical care in Brazil is available in the private sector. At the turn of the millennium, two thirds of the 8000 hospitals were run privately, and a higher proportion, 87% of specialised medical centres were private. Brazilians are themselves are offered health insurance but around 70% do not have insurance. A recent World Bank loan is being used to improve infrastructure and facilities in rural areas, but this is of little relevance to couples seeking fertility treatment. Fertility clinics in Brazil are well-equipped and staffed by well-trained and experienced specialists.

Ironically, one of Brazil’s own current aims is to enhance its medical facilities generally to reduce infant mortality. With just over 21 infants dying before their first birthday (per 1000 live births), they have one of the worst rates of infant mortality in South America.

About Brazil

Brazil has had a stable economy and political situation since 1994, which has persisted through 6 presidential terms. Popular for many years as a medical tourist destination for cosmetic surgery, Brazil’s reputation as a centre for fertility treatment abroad is growing. Facilities are excellent, the attitude to assisted reproduction is liberal, and the country is keen to attract tourism of all kinds. Currently, the exchange rates mean that fertility treatment costs are favourable compared to many European countries and the USA, and the cost of living while you are there is also good.

Brazil is a large country in the northern part of South America and it has borders with Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia and Paraguay. Sao Paulo is the biggest city in Brazil and is popular as a tourist destination. Ancient religious buildings such as the Cathedral in Sao Paulo Old Centre can be seen close to the Martinelli Building, which was the first true skyscraper to be built in South America.

Brazil is an exotic tourist location, with a mainly tropical climate, with rainforests and beautiful coastal scenery. Couples can easily combine a cycle of IVF with a three-week holiday of a lifetime for a price that is substantially less than just a holiday in other locations.

Most fertility centres are in major coastal cities – Salvador, Fortaleza, Sao Paulo, and Rio de Janeiro, for example, which offer beautiful scenery. However, medical tourists need to bear in mind that the crime rate is high. Brazil’s prisons contain about half a million people and the use of guns is rife; a medical tourism agency will be able to provide you with detailed information about safety during your stay. Tourists resorts are fine, but straying into city locations for sightseeing needs to be done carefully.

Most Brazilians speak Portuguese, which is not a popular international language and English is not widely spoken. More fertility clinics that want to attract foreign business are now employing a higher proportion of English-speaking doctors and nurses.