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Why is Spain the leader in assisted reproduction treatments in Europe?
Spain has established itself as the leading European reference in reproductive medicine. According to the latest data published by the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE), Spain performs the highest number of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatments on the continent.
This is no coincidence: behind these figures lies a combination of clinical, legislative and human factors that make Spain the preferred destination for those seeking to fulfil their dream of becoming parents.
We spoke with Dr Katharina Spies, medical director of Vida Fertility in Madrid, an internationally renowned fertility clinic, and analysed why Spain is a leader in this field and how personalised protocols and diagnostic innovation make the difference.
Spain: number one in fertility treatments in Europe
Spain tops the European ranking for in vitro fertilisation treatments, accounting for 15% of all procedures performed in Europe, ahead of countries such as France (12.9%), Germany (11.6%), Italy (9.2%) and the United Kingdom (7.6%). These data, collected by the ESHRE, confirm a sustained leadership over time.
Reasons why patients choose Spain for their assisted reproduction treatment in Europe
Favourable and modern legislation
One of the fundamental pillars is Spanish legislation on assisted reproduction, considered one of the most advanced in the world. Unlike other European countries, Spain allows:
- Treatment for single women or lesbian couples.
- Egg and sperm donation with complete donor anonymity.
- Techniques such as double donation, fertility preservation and preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGT-A, PGT-SR and PGT-M).
- Scientific research with embryos under strict ethical controls.
This creates a secure, inclusive and progressive legal framework that offers patients confidence and guarantees, but also the freedom to choose the treatment best suited to their circumstances.
Delayed motherhood: a European reality
Another reason for the boom in treatments in our country is the general delay in maternal age. More and more women are deciding to become mothers after the age of 35 or even 40, a trend that is particularly noticeable in Spain.
With a network of private, specialised fertility clinics and highly qualified professionals, Spain has been able to respond to this need. According to our database at Vida Fertility, more than 90% of our patients are over 37 years old and have complex clinical situations that require an expert and personalised approach.
“Every day in our clinic, we see how social change directly impacts motherhood. Most women come to us seeking their first child at increasingly advanced ages. It is important to remember that, from the age of 35 onwards, fertility begins to decline significantly, and after 40, the chances of natural pregnancy fall below 20%,” explains Dr Katharina Spies, medical director of Vida Fertility Madrid.
Personalised protocols: the key to success
At Vida Fertility, our philosophy is based on individualised protocols. This means that each treatment is tailored not only to clinical parameters, but also to the history, expectations and emotional state of each patient.
‘One of the keys to our success is listening, studying carefully and designing the most appropriate treatment for each person. Reproductive medicine cannot be standardised: every body, every history and every embryo counts,’ explains Dr Spies.
The treatments we offer are not standard. They are based on an accurate diagnosis, including medical protocols and advanced fertility tests such as:
- Endometrial receptivity study (ERA test)
- Endometrial immunology
- Preimplantation genetic diagnosis of embryos (PGT)
- Genetic compatibility test
This diagnostic accuracy allows us to maximise success rates, minimise emotional frustration and avoid repetitive treatments that do not address the true cause of infertility.
High-quality assisted reproduction centres
Spain has leading centres for assisted reproduction, among which Vida Fertility stands out for its human approach, state-of-the-art technology, modern facilities in each centre and its integrative vision.
At our clinics in Madrid and Alicante:
- We work with embryologists and gynaecologists who are fertility specialists trained at the best European universities.
- We apply total traceability systems in the laboratory (WITNESS® System).
- We perform procedures under controlled environmental conditions.
- We are committed to constant innovation and the continuous training of our team.
This comprehensive approach allows us to attract hundreds of international patients every year who are looking for safe and effective care.
Predicting egg quality
At Vida Fertility, we offer our patients pioneering technology that transforms the way eggs are vitrified: VIOLET™, an artificial intelligence tool capable of analysing the quality of oocytes before freezing them.
Thanks to artificial intelligence, VIOLET™ analyses images of each individual egg to estimate its reproductive potential. This non-invasive system, trained with tens of thousands of images, can predict the probability of fertilisation and development to blastocyst stage.
Reproductive tourism: international patients choose Spain
Every year, thousands of patients from countries such as Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Italy and the Netherlands travel to Spain to begin their assisted reproduction treatment. This phenomenon, known as reproductive tourism, is due to:
- Legal restrictions in their countries of origin.
- Long waiting lists in public systems.
- Less access to donors or techniques such as IVF with egg donation.
- Higher success rates in private Spanish clinics.
- Affordability, as treatments in Spain are usually cheaper than in other European clinics.
- Complete anonymity of egg and sperm donors.
At Vida Fertility, around 70% of our patients are foreign nationals. We offer multilingual support, medical coordination with their countries of origin and a treatment plan that adapts to their schedule and availability.
Are you looking for assisted reproduction treatment in Europe?
Book an appointment with our specialists at Vida Fertility and discover why Spain is the best choice to start your journey to motherhood.
Your baby starts here, with a medical team that believes in you.
Ask for a consultation
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Located in one of the best areas of Madrid, Vida Fertility fertility clinic was born from the union of a group of specialists with a high international reputation. We are able to offer our patients a unique and exclusive experience, combining personalised care with the application of the latest innovations in Assisted Reproduction Technologies (ART).
📍 C/ Palermo 15, Hortaleza, 28043 Madrid
📞 Phone number: +34 919 29 83 23
🕒 Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 8am to 7pm
In the heart of Alicante, Vida Fertility, one of the most welcoming clinics in Spain, was established. One of the keys to our success is to make accurate diagnoses, which allows us to design personalised treatments for each of our patients.
📍 Av. Óscar Esplá 1, Bajo, 03008 Alicante
📞 Phone number: +34 919 29 83 23
🕒 Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 8am to 7pm
ℹ️ The information published on Vida Fertility is reviewed by our fertility specialists and medical team, following up-to-date scientific criteria and evidence-based medicine. Our team is a member at scientific societies such as SEF, ESHRE and SEGO.
