Why I Chose Shenzhen After Three Failed Cycles

I was 37 when I started IVF in San Francisco. By the time I reached my third failed cycle, I had spent $80,000, taken too much time off work, and watched my emotional reserves completely deplete.

My RE (reproductive endocrinologist) recommended a fourth cycle with a different protocol. The price quote: $28,000 for the cycle alone, plus medications I estimated at another $5,000.

I started researching international options.

Research Phase: Why China?

I looked at clinics in Mexico, Spain, Czech Republic, Greece, and Thailand. Each had merits. What drew me to Shenzhen was:

  1. Luohu Hospital’s volume — 5,000+ cycles annually, which suggested experience
  2. ICSI included in the base price — in the US, I’d paid $2,500 extra each time for ICSI
  3. The integrated TCM approach — I’d read research suggesting acupuncture alongside IVF improved outcomes
  4. Cost transparency — I received a full itemized quote before committing

The final numbers: $7,500 for a complete stimulated cycle including ICSI, medications, and fresh transfer. My fourth US cycle would have cost more than that alone.

The Logistics

FertiJourney handled everything I couldn’t figure out myself:

  • Medical visa invitation letter (I got a 10-year China tourist visa instead, which was easier)
  • Hotel recommendations within walking distance of the hospital
  • Airport pickup and first-day orientation
  • An English interpreter for every appointment

I stayed 16 days for the stimulated cycle, then returned 6 weeks later for the frozen transfer. The total cost including flights, hotels, and interpreter was $12,400 — less than half my fourth US cycle would have cost.

The Treatment Experience

What Surprised Me

The hospital was not what I expected. Luohu Hospital’s reproductive medicine center was modern, clean, and had separate international patient areas. My RE in San Francisco had described Chinese clinics as “behind,” but the technology and lab equipment were comparable to what I’d seen in the US.

The interpreter was with me every moment. Every conversation with doctors, every consent form, every ultrasound — my interpreter was there. In the US, I’d often felt like I was guessing at medical terminology.

The acupuncture was part of the protocol. Dr. Chen, the TCM specialist, worked alongside my IVF protocol. Weekly acupuncture sessions before and after transfer were included in my treatment plan.

What Was Different

  • Monitoring was every other day, not daily — but the team was available 24/7 if I had concerns
  • The trigger shot timing was more precise — they calculated it to the hour based on my specific response
  • The embryologist called me personally after the egg retrieval to give the fertilization report

The Outcome

I produced 12 eggs. 10 fertilized with ICSI. 6 made it to day 5 blastocyst. We transferred one and froze five.

Fourteen days after transfer, my hCG was 340.

Today my daughter is 14 months old.

What I Would Tell Others

Don’t rule out China because of assumptions. The medicine is evidence-based and the doctors are experienced. The cost savings are real, but the quality of care is not a compromise.

Plan for the total cost, not just the cycle price. Flights, hotels, transfers, food — budget an extra $3,000-5,000 depending on your standards.

Bring a support person if you can. I went alone for my first trip and honestly, it was lonely. My husband came for the transfer and it was much better.

The emotional journey is real regardless of where you go. Shenzhen didn’t make the two-week wait easier. But being in a place where I felt proactive rather than passive helped.

Considering your own journey to Shenzhen? FertiJourney offers free consultations to discuss your specific situation and provide accurate cost estimates. Read our patient stories →