Navigating fertility care across countries

Many South Asian women and couples navigate fertility care across more than one country, beginning investigations in India before moving to the UK, continuing UK care during visits to India, or seeking treatment abroad because of cost, family support, or access to specific technologies. This split journey creates specific practical challenges that are worth understanding in advance.

The good news: most of the core investigations, semen analysis, AMH, antral follicle count, FSH, LH, thyroid, vitamin D, and basic uterine ultrasound, produce results that are internationally interpretable. You do not have to repeat all investigations when moving between countries, though reference ranges and lab calibration can vary.

The information here is yours to hold privately or share with your clinical team in either country. Your call.

Investigation results that transfer well: semen analysis (WHO parameters are international), AMH (nmol/L or pmol/L, note units carefully), thyroid function (TSH, FT4), vitamin D (25-OH vitamin D), and karyotype/genetic results. Blood group and rubella immunity also transfer.

What may not transfer without clarification: ovarian stimulation protocols (drug names, doses, and brand names differ between countries), embryo grading (some clinics use different scoring systems), and IVF success statistics (UK clinics report to HFEA; Indian clinics report to ICMR National ART Registry but public reporting is less granular).

Carry physical copies of your investigation results, PDF reports with the lab name, date, and reference ranges. Do not rely on verbal summaries. If results are in local units, a clinician in the receiving country can convert them, but they need the original numbers.

If you are planning to start or continue fertility investigations or treatment across countries, these practical steps reduce friction: ask both clinical teams to provide investigation summaries in international units; request copies of all scan images and reports (not just the printed summary); check medication availability, some drugs used in UK stimulation protocols are available in India and vice versa, but brand names differ; check visa and travel timing relative to treatment, egg collection and embryo transfer require you to be present at specific days in the cycle.

Consider whether frozen embryo transfer (FET) is an option, if embryos are frozen after retrieval in one country, transfer in a later cycle in the same or different country is technically feasible, though international embryo transport involves additional logistics, legal requirements, and cost.

Language of medical records: Indian clinic reports are usually in English. If reports are in a regional language, ask for an English translation before travel.