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Archive for February, 2008

Surrogate Mothers in India - Costs, Laws, Medical Facilities & Culture

Sunday, February 24th, 2008

Surrogate mothers in India cost considerably lower (about fourth of what it would cost in the United States). The cost of surrogacy in the United States is anywhere within $50,000 to $100,000.

Surrogacy India Parents

Surrogacy in India has few legal hassles and a Government organization Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has set national guidelines to regulate it. Unlike many countries where surrogacy is banned or has many restrictions, India’s laws allow the surrogate mother to sign away her rights to the baby as soon as its delivered.

Surrogacy is a God send option for women having trouble conceiving due to a number of reasons. The procedure uses IVF technology, except for the fact that the embryo is planted in the uterus of a surrogate mother who can successfully carry the pregnancy to term.

Approximate Surrogacy Cycle Cost at a reputed hospital in India is about US $ 13,000. This Includes

  • Doctor Charges
  • Surrogate Work up
  • Antenatal Care
  • Delivery Charges
  • Surrogate compensation
  • Drugs and Consumables.
  • This does not include the cost of IVF / ICSI. IVF cost in India is about US $ 1,800. ICSI cost in India is about US $ 2,500. FYI, in India even more cheaper surrogacy options are available, but not advisable, due to potential higher medical quality issues.

    Additionally, what works in favor of India, unlike some developing countries, is the availability of advanced health care facilities and doctors who speak English. Surrogacy in India is about a half a billion dollar business.

    Remuneration is not the only reason for easy availability of Surrogate mothers in India, there is also a heartfelt desire to help others with the joys of parenthood and is accepted practice in many communities there.

    Surrogacy Procedure
    First step is to decide on the best the kind of surrogacy . There two types of surrogacy, genetic and gestational.

  • Genetic(Traditional) Surrogacy: The surrogate is the genetic mother of the resulting child. In this the surrogate is artificially inseminated with the father(or a male sperm donor). Genetic surrogacy is simpler compared to gestational surrogacy.
  • Gestational Surrogacy: In this the surrogate is not the genetic mother of the resulting child. The eggs(oocytes) are extracted from the mother(or egg donor) and mixed with the sperm from the father(sperm donor) in vitro(in a test-tube, culture plate or similar vessel) that has an environment that will simulate the fallopian tubes. The embryo is then transferred into the surrogate’s uterus.
  • In detail, in case of gestational surrogacy the donor is prepared by administering follicle stimulating (hormonal) medications to stimulate the production of eggs. This procedure takes about 4-6 weeks. These medications cause more than one egg to mature and they will be retrieved before they are released.These retrieved eggs are then fertilized by the sperm in a Petri dish in an incubator.

    When the fertilized eggs reach the four to ten cell stage of development; they are called embryos and are ready to be placed in the womb of the surrogate, which is simultaneously prepared to receive the embryo so that it could be carried to term.

    Not all eggs which are retrieved get fertilized and not all of the fertilized eggs are used in the current IVF cycle. Some of the embryos are cryopreserved for future IVF procedures.

    We at Medical Tourism Corporation will be glad to facilitate your needs relating to Surrogate mothers in India. Fill out an estimate request for for more information on your needs related to surrogacy in India.

    Surrogacy Resources:

    Low Cost Surrogacy in India - FAQ & Procedure Overview

    Infertility Resources

    AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR REPRODUCTIVE MEDICINE - Sperm, egg, and embryo donation and surrogacy guide

    Cervical Disc Replacement in India—Choosing the Right Hospital & Surgeon

    Saturday, February 9th, 2008

    A number of people from overseas visit India for cost savings on cervical disc replacement. Costa Rica is one more country where the the cervical disc replacement costs compared to North America & Europe is quite less. This article focuses on the things you should keep in mind while looking for a cervical disc replacement hospital in India. FDA approved this procedure in July 2007, although it has been performed for many years with success in Europe & India. Below is a Video showing how anterior cervical disc replacement works(no sound).


    Cervical disc replacement is an effective treatment for people suffering from disc herniations(where the inner core pushes back into the spinal canal). In cervical disc replacement, an artificial disc is inserted in place of the inter-vertebral disc. Cervical Artificial Disc Replacement is considered a better option than spinal fusion for treating cervical disc herniation. This is because cervical disc replacement maintains normal neck motion and helps the patient return to normal activity faster.In this procedure, the surgeon removes the damaged disc and replaces it with an artificial disc made of stainless steel. The artificial disc has a ball in trough design to simulate natural neck movement. The patient is typically hospitalized for 1-2 days and can return to work in 45 days {Refer: Neurologic & Orthopedic Hospital of Chicago}.
    The main reason for India’s popularity as a medical tourism destination is its cost effectiveness. A cervical disc replacement surgery can cost around $ 30,000 to $ 40, 000 USD in USA, Canada or Europe. Due of the newness of the cervical disc replacement treatment in the USA, it is not covered by all private insurers. Therefore, patients who cannot afford the high rate opt for getting the surgery in India where the cost of the surgery is as low as $ 8,500 in one of the best brain & spine hospital. Even after you add travel and accommodation costs, a cervical disc replacement surgery in India can result in substantial cost savings. You should look for a cervical replacement hospital in India that provides an all inclusive package at a fixed price. Another reason for India’s popularity is its impressive medical expertise. India has a large pool of US and UK returned surgeons. When looking for a cervical disc replacement hospital in India, verify that the surgeon you are considering has specialized in orthopedics. The surgeon should have a Master of Surgery (M.S. or M.CH.) degree in orthopedics. The surgeon should have undergone specialized training in spine surgery and cervical disc replacement. Ideally, the surgeon should have at least 5 years of surgical experience.

    India also provides a very high quality of private medical care. You should look for a cervical disc replacement hospital that is internationally accredited. Preferably, the hospital should be accredited by the Joint Commission International (JCI). JCI is a non-governmental body in USA which accredits international hospitals that meeting exacting American standards. A JCI-accredited hospital follows international standards of quality and cleanliness and has state of the art technology. You should also ensure that the hospital has a fully equipped operating room with specialized equipment, such as the Jackson Spine Table. It should also have a diagnostic center with facilities for MRI scan and computed tomography.

    Medical Tourism Corporation(MedicalTourismCo.com) facilitates cervical disc replacement & other surgery at world class hospitals abroad. You can submit a request for a free quote and more information.

    Refer: Is Cervical Disc Replacement For You?

    Low Cost Gastric Sleeve Abroad - Price Advantage of Mexico, Costa Rica & India

    Thursday, February 7th, 2008

    Compared to Canada, UK, & USA, the gastric sleeve surgery (also referred as “sleeve gastrectomy”) cost abroad can be about 50 to 60 percent cheaper. Popular destinations are, Mexico, Costa Rica and India. This article discusses what gastric sleeve surgery is and what are the things to keep in mind on deciding on a trip to Mexico, India or Costa Rica for this bariatric medical procedure. Also, discussed here is the price of this surgery at these overseas locations.

    Gastric Sleeve Picture

    In the gastric sleeve surgery the surgeon removes about 60 percent of the stomach resulting in its shape like a “sleeve” (Banana or tube shape). This is performed usually on individuals having a BMI of 60 or more. The Gastric Sleeve is many times used as the first of the two stage weight loss surgeries. The second stage being gastric bypass, after 80 to 100 pounds have been lost by the patient due to the gastric sleeve.Some surgeons overseas have started offering gastric sleeve surgery to low BMI patients as an alternative to laproscopic gastric banding (”LAP BAND”). Majority of the patients lose about 50 percent of their excess weight in the first 6 to 12 months after the sleeve Gastrectomy.

    Advantages or Gastric Sleeve Surgery
    - Does not involve cutting & rejoining of intestines
    - Simpler than gastric bypass
    - No fills or adjustments.
    - Safer even for high BMI patients (60 BMI or more)
    - Does not have the side effects experienced by bypass patients because the digestion system is unaltered.
    - Preferred by patients who are reluctant to have a device implanted in their body.

    Mexico is the most preferred destination for Canadian & US patients due to the geographic proximity. Costa Rica is also popular among North Americans as along with having one of the most low cost high quality hospitals & surgeons, it also is a great tourist attraction and has plenty of direct flights from most major cities. From Europe there are no direct flights to Costa Rica, a stop over(plane change) in the USA would be required. India also has recently started attracting a fair number of obesity surgery patients from North America, this is primarily due to the low price of the medical treatment, high quality medical professionals and internationally accredited hospitals. For UK patients looking for overseas gastric sleeve surgery India is one of the best option due to a number of cheap direct flights & smaller travel times. Example, price quotes from some leading hospitals in these countries are:

    Mexico $ 11,990
    Costa Rica $ 8,900
    India $ 7,500

    Weight loss surgeries are popular medical tourism procedure. With most of the insurance considering this as an elective medical procedure patients have to self pay for it. Going abroad is a good alternative. Mexico, Costa Rica & India provide a high quality low cost alternative to patients who in their home country cannot afford the procedure because the cost of gastric sleeve surgery very high or the other reason in some countries is the long waiting lines this bariatric treatment.

    Related: American College of Surgeons Report - Comparison of Gastric Sleeve, Lap Band & Gastric Bypass