Can I Get IVF with Gender Selection in Georgia?

Success Rate of IVF with Gender Selection in Georgia

For many couples, the dream of completing their family involves more than just having a healthy baby—it sometimes involves family balancing, or the desire to have a child of a specific gender. If you have found yourself searching, "Can I get IVF with gender selection in Georgia?", you are likely looking for a solution that combines high medical standards with supportive laws. The short answer is yes. Georgia (the country) has emerged as one of the world's leading destinations for reproductive tourism, offering safe, legal, and effective gender selection services.

Unlike many Western countries where sex selection is strictly prohibited unless there is a risk of a genetic disease, Georgia maintains a more liberal approach. Here, intended parents can utilize advanced technologies like PGD (Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis) and PGS (Preimplantation Genetic Screening) not only to screen for chromosomal abnormalities but also to identify the sex of the embryo with over 99% accuracy before implantation. This makes it an attractive option for couples who already have children of one gender and wish to balance their family dynamic.

Beyond the legal advantages, Georgia is renowned for its affordability without compromising on quality. You can access world-class fertility clinics in cities like Tbilisi for a fraction of the cost you might pay in the United States or the UK. Whether you are seeking IVF with gender selection for medical reasons or personal preference, understanding the process, costs, and requirements is the first step toward bringing your new family member home.

Is gender selection legal in Georgia?

The legal framework in Georgia regarding reproductive health is exceptionally favorable for international patients. The country's "Law on Health Care" explicitly allows for the use of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) like IVF. While the text of the law focuses on preventing genetic diseases as a primary reason for genetic testing, it does not ban the use of this information for sex selection.

This "permissive" legal environment means that clinics operate openly and transparently. You do not need to prove a history of gender-linked genetic disorders (such as hemophilia) to request gender selection. Most major clinics in Tbilisi and Batumi offer this service as part of their standard IVF packages for couples seeking family balancing.

It is important to note that while the procedure is legal, it must be performed as part of an IVF cycle. You cannot simply "choose" a gender through natural conception or simpler methods like IUI with the same legal and medical certainty found in IVF with genetic testing.

How does the gender selection process work in Georgia?

The journey begins just like a standard In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) cycle. The female partner undergoes ovarian stimulation to produce multiple eggs, which are then retrieved and fertilized with sperm in the laboratory. The resulting embryos are cultured for five days until they reach the blastocyst stage.

At this stage, a few cells are safely biopsied from the outer layer of the embryo (the trophectoderm), which eventually becomes the placenta. This biopsy does not harm the cells that will form the baby. The samples are sent for Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidy (PGT-A). This advanced screening counts the chromosomes to ensure the embryo is healthy (euploid) and simultaneously reveals the gender with near-perfect accuracy.

Once the results are back—usually within a couple of weeks—you and your doctor will consult on which embryos to transfer. You can explicitly request to transfer only the healthy embryos of your desired gender, ensuring the outcome of your pregnancy aligns with your family goals.

What is the cost of IVF with gender selection in Georgia?

Georgia is one of the most cost-effective destinations for fertility treatment globally. The cost of IVF with gender selection is significantly lower than in the US, where similar procedures can exceed $25,000. The price variance usually depends on the clinic's reputation, the specific type of genetic technology used (NGS vs. array CGH), and the number of embryos tested.

Below is a comparison table to help you understand the potential savings:

Country	Average Cost (USD)	Includes Medications?
Georgia	$7,000 - $12,000	Often Yes
USA	$25,000 - $35,000	No
UK (Private)	$15,000 - $20,000	No
Turkey	$6,000 - $9,000	Varies
Cyprus	$6,500 - $10,000	Varies

Keep in mind that travel, accommodation, and any complications or additional cycles will add to your total expense. However, even with travel costs included, most international patients save 50-60% by choosing Georgia.

Who is eligible for gender selection in Georgia?

Georgia’s regulations are distinct when it comes to who can access treatment. Heterosexual married couples have the most freedom and can access all services, including IVF, gender selection, and surrogacy. Cohabiting heterosexual couples also enjoy broad access to IVF and gender selection services.

Single women are also eligible for IVF with gender selection, often using their own eggs and donor sperm. However, legal restrictions in Georgia currently prohibit surrogacy for same-sex couples and single men. If you fall into these categories, you may need to look for alternative destinations or specific legal advice.

Always verify the current eligibility criteria with your chosen clinic, as internal clinic policies can sometimes be stricter than the national law.

What is the success rate of gender selection in Georgia?

It is important to distinguish between the accuracy of the selection and the success of the pregnancy. The genetic testing technology used in Georgia is incredibly precise; if the lab identifies an embryo as male or female, it is virtually certain to be correct.

The actual pregnancy rate depends heavily on maternal age. Younger women (under 35) often see success rates of 65-70% per transfer when using genetically tested euploid embryos. For women over 40 using their own eggs, success rates decline, but the use of donor eggs can restore success rates to over 70%, regardless of the intended mother's age.

Do I need to be married to get IVF in Georgia?

Unlike some Middle Eastern or conservative nations where a marriage certificate is mandatory for any fertility treatment, Georgia is more progressive. Unmarried heterosexual couples can undergo IVF treatment together. They will simply sign a notarized consent form at the clinic acknowledging their partnership and intent.

However, if you are considering surrogacy along with gender selection, the rules tighten. Georgian law specifically restricts commercial surrogacy to heterosexual couples who are married or cohabiting (though marriage is preferred for smoother legal processing of the baby's passport later).

How long does the entire procedure take?

If you are using PGT-A for gender selection, the timeline often shifts to a "Frozen Embryo Transfer" (FET) cycle. Genetic testing laboratories typically require 1-2 weeks to process the biopsy results. Therefore, most international patients plan two visits:

• Trip 1 (15-20 days): For stimulation and egg retrieval. Embryos are created, biopsied, and frozen. You return home.
• Trip 2 (3-5 days): You return 1-2 months later for the transfer of the selected gender embryo.

This split timeline actually improves success rates, as it allows the woman's body to recover from the fertility medications before the pregnancy begins.

Is gender selection safe for the embryo?

Modern PGT-A testing is far safer than older methods that biopsied embryos at Day 3. By waiting until Day 5 (blastocyst stage), the embryo has hundreds of cells, making it robust enough to withstand the biopsy of 5-10 cells.

Studies have shown that embryos that undergo this type of biopsy implant at the same rate as non-biopsied embryos. Furthermore, because the testing ensures you are transferring a genetically normal embryo, it actually reduces the risk of miscarriage and increases the likelihood of a healthy live birth.

Can I choose the gender of twins?

While many doctors advocate for Single Embryo Transfer (SET) to minimize the risks associated with multiple pregnancies, transferring two embryos is legal and common in Georgia. If your goal is to have twins, you can discuss this with your fertility specialist.

However, this is strictly dependent on the number of healthy (euploid) embryos you produce. You might need a higher number of eggs retrieved to ensure you have two perfect candidates of the specific genders you want.

What documents are required for IVF in Georgia?

The paperwork in Georgia is refreshingly simple compared to other countries. You generally do not need a visa if you are from the US, EU, or many other nations (Georgia has a 1-year visa-free policy for many citizens).

The critical documents are your identification (passports). If you are not married, the clinic will provide a specific legal agreement for you to sign that establishes your intent to undergo treatment as a couple. If you are using an egg donor or surrogate, additional contracts will be drafted to clarify parental rights, which are robustly protected under Georgian law.

Why is Georgia popular for medical tourism?

The country has heavily invested in its medical infrastructure. Many clinics in Tbilisi are equipped with the latest embryology technology (like EmbryoScope incubators) and are staffed by doctors trained in Europe or the US.

Beyond the medicine, Georgia is a beautiful country to visit. It is famous for its hospitality, wine, and stunning mountain landscapes. This allows couples to turn a stressful medical procedure into a relaxing vacation, which can positively impact stress levels and outcomes.

What happens to the remaining embryos?

Because IVF often produces more embryos than you can transfer at once, you will likely have "leftovers." If you have successfully conceived your desired boy or girl, you can pay a small annual fee to keep the others frozen. This is an excellent insurance policy if you decide to have another child later.

If you are certain your family is complete, Georgia allows for embryo donation (sometimes called "embryo adoption") to help other infertile couples, or compassionate disposal.

Are there age limits for IVF in Georgia?

While there is no strict "legal" age cap that applies to every clinic, ethical guidelines usually cap treatment around the age of natural menopause or slightly after. The uterus can often carry a pregnancy much later than ovaries can produce viable eggs.

For gender selection specifically, older women using their own eggs face challenges because they produce fewer chromosomally normal embryos. In these cases, using an egg donor is a common solution that makes gender selection viable and highly successful even for women in their late 40s.

Does insurance cover gender selection in Georgia?

You should expect to pay out-of-pocket for your treatment in Georgia. However, because the base cost is so low compared to Western prices, the total expense is often less than a deductible or co-pay might be for a partially covered procedure in the US.

Some patients may be able to claim reimbursement for diagnostic tests (like blood work or ultrasounds) done in their home country before traveling, so it is worth checking your policy details.

Ready to Start Your Journey?

Finding the right clinic for IVF and gender selection can be overwhelming. Let us help you navigate the options in Georgia.