Body begins: Opening with a "doctor's decision logic" perspective
10-year consultant During an internal case discussion, a reproductive doctor repeatedly compared Thailand and Georgia plans: "Patient is 41 years old, AMH 0.9, needs PGT-A and may involve egg donation, budget around 300,000 RMB. Which side do you recommend?" This scenario repeats almost every week. The core choice is not "which country is better," but "which country's medical system is more suitable for your physical condition, legal needs, and financial budget." The following analysis is based on actual decision-making dimensions.
Core Conclusion of Thailand vs. Georgia IVF Comparison
For couples who can use their own eggs, need PGT-A technology and high embryo lab standards, Thailand (e.g., Jetanin, BNH, IVF Center) is the better choice. For patients needing formal commercial surrogacy or with limited budgets (especially involving egg donation + surrogacy), Georgia (e.g., GGRC, Chachava) has legal and price advantages. The two paths are not interchangeable and must be decided based on individual fertility disorder type and legal environment.
Fundamental Differences in Legal and Medical Backgrounds
Thailand: Surrogacy Restricted, but Egg/Sperm Donation Relatively Mature
Since the enactment of the Assisted Reproductive Technology Act in 2015, Thailand has banned commercial surrogacy, allowing only relative surrogacy based on blood ties between spouses (with strict approval). However, legal egg and sperm donation is feasible at designated centers. Thailand has over 20 years of assisted reproduction experience, with embryo lab standards leading in Asia, high PGT-A adoption, and some centers capable of embryo mitochondrial replacement (with special permits).
Georgia: Surrogacy Legal, Clear Medical Cost Advantage
Georgian civil law allows foreigners to engage in commercial surrogacy. Surrogacy contracts are legally protected, and children can directly obtain the biological parents' nationality after birth (subject to prior confirmation of home country consulate requirements). Local IVF medical costs are about 60-70% of Thailand's, and egg donation fees are also lower. Disadvantages include smaller embryo labs, lower PGT-A adoption than Thailand, and some centers still needing to send biopsy samples to Europe or the Middle East.
Main Hospitals and Technical Features
| Dimension | Representative Hospitals in Thailand | Representative Hospitals in Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Institution Examples | Jetanin, BNH, Safety Fertility Center (SFC) | GGRC (Georgian Reproductive Center), Chachava Clinic, IVF Georgia |
| PGT-A Lab | In-house genetics lab, capable of PGT-A/SR/M, biopsy + genetic testing cycle about 4-6 weeks | Some centers have basic PCR, complex PGT requires outsourcing; cycle about 6-8 weeks |
| Egg/Embryo Vitrification Survival Rate | ＞95% (mature vitrification method) | About 90-93% (some centers have improved recently) |
| Egg Donation Resources | Local egg banks and "egg banks," donor background information relatively comprehensive | Mostly Eastern European donors, flexible options like height, hair color, but some institutions have limited genetic screening |
| Language & International Services | English + Chinese translators often available, high standardization of procedures | Mostly English communication, Chinese services need confirmation, contract details require independent legal review |
| Success Rate Reference (<35 years, own eggs) | Live birth rate per single transfer about 55-65% (depending on embryo grade) | Live birth rate per single transfer about 45-55% (note different statistical cycles) |
The above data comes from public medical reports and peer exchanges. Different hospitals have different cycle inclusion criteria, so direct comparison should be cautious.
Cost Composition and Key Variables
The cost difference between choosing Thailand or Georgia is mainly reflected in the following items:
- Own Egg IVF Cycle (including PGT): Thailand about 80,000-140,000 RMB (excluding medication); Georgia about 50,000-90,000 RMB.
- Egg Donation Package: Thailand egg donation + IVF about 120,000-180,000 RMB; Georgia about 80,000-120,000 RMB (egg source fee varies by donor background).
- Surrogacy Total Package (including legal, medical, surrogate compensation): Not applicable in Thailand due to legal restrictions; Georgia about 350,000-550,000 RMB (depending on surrogate screening, insurance, newborn documentation).
- Other Hidden Costs: Flights and accommodation (Thailand about 45 days; Georgia about 60 days depending on process), translation accompaniment, embryo transport fees, birth certificate apostille, etc.
Four Most Easily Overlooked Details
1. Feasibility and Risks of Embryo Transport
Some patients attempt to undergo PGT diagnosis in Thailand and then transport embryos to Georgia for surrogacy. This involves embryo import/export regulations of both countries, transport company qualifications, and liquid nitrogen tank temperature monitoring chains. Thailand allows embryo export (requires ethics committee approval), Georgia allows import, but the process takes 2-3 weeks, and survival rate may drop by 5-8%. If the number of embryos is small (<3), it is recommended to complete the entire process locally.
2. PGT Result Turnaround Time in Georgia
Since most Georgian centers lack NGS platforms, biopsies must be sent to Dubai or European labs. Transport and customs can delay result return to 5-8 weeks, potentially exceeding some patients' available cycle (especially those with diminished ovarian reserve needing fresh transfer). Thai local genetics labs usually provide reports within 4 weeks and can simultaneously perform blastocyst vitrification.
3. Handling of Male Sperm Requirements in Different Countries
Some Thai hospitals for severe oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (<5 million/ml) tend to use ICSI + embryo culture to blastocyst then biopsy; while some Georgian centers for very low sperm count cases may recommend donor sperm (due to limited local donor sperm options and long waiting times). It is essential to complete repeated semen analysis and sperm DNA fragmentation testing before departure.
4. Priority of Legal Documents
When undergoing surrogacy in Georgia, the commissioning party (traveling to Georgia) must sign parentage recognition documents before the child's birth and apply for a passport. If the commissioning party is a single male (not legally recognized in some regions), prior consultation with the Georgian Civil Registry is necessary. Thailand does not have this scenario.
Three Real Pitfall Cases
Case 1: A couple completed egg retrieval and PGT in Thailand, obtaining 3 healthy embryos. Due to budget constraints, they switched to surrogacy in Georgia. During transport, the liquid nitrogen alarm was delayed by 12 hours, leaving only 1 viable embryo after thawing. Additionally, Georgian law requires the surrogate to be a citizen and married, and the surrogate's spouse's refusal to sign caused a 2-month delay in transfer.
Lesson: Cross-border plans need simultaneous handling of legal details and logistics backup.
Case 2: A patient chose a Georgian hospital without an independent embryo lab through an intermediary. PGT samples were sent to Cyprus, resulting in a mosaic underreporting error (due to different interpretation standards between labs), leading to miscarriage after transfer.
Lesson: Ask in advance whether the PGT report issuing lab has CAP or ISO15189 certification.
Case 3: A woman used a mix of donated eggs and her own eggs for retrieval, but the hospital did not inform her that mixed eggs undergoing PGT cannot distinguish genetic origin, leading to failed screening for a genetic linked disease.
Lesson: If there are special genetic needs, clarify with the doctor whether separate management of donor and own egg embryo batches is required.
Five Most Frequently Asked Questions by Patients
- Which side is better for low AMH (<0.5)? —— Thailand has more experience in egg retrieval and offers more high-dose stimulation protocols; but if surrogacy is also needed, only Georgia is an option. It is recommended to first do a stimulation trial in your home country to assess follicular response.
- Is the single transfer success rate really higher in Thailand than in Georgia? —— For women under 35 with PGT screening, top Thai centers achieve about 60%, while Georgia achieves about 50%. However, the difference partly stems from lab technology and partly from patient selection bias (more complex cases go to Thailand).
- Can a child born via surrogacy in Georgia directly apply for a Chinese passport? —— Chinese nationality law follows the principle of bloodline. As long as the biological parents are Chinese citizens without permanent residency in another country, the child can apply for a Chinese travel document or passport. However, a亲子鉴定 (parentage test) and birth certificate apostille must be prepared in advance.
- How far in advance should I prepare? —— The overall process in Thailand (examination + stimulation + transfer) takes about 2-3 months; in Georgia, if surrogacy is involved, from case creation to delivery takes about 12-14 months. Both parties' passports should be valid for the entire cycle plus at least 6 months.
- Which side is more friendly for advanced age (>42)? —— At this age, live birth rates drop significantly (<20%) regardless of country. Thailand tends to recommend using donor eggs rather than own eggs. Georgia allows trying with own eggs, but the implementation cycle may be longer.
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