IVF Treatment at Bumrungrad Hospital: What Bangladeshi Couples Should Know About Success Rates and Cost

Infertility is more common than most Bangladeshi families talk about openly. Millions of couples across Bangladesh struggle to conceive, and many spend years trying locally before they consider the option of treatment abroad. If you and your partner are at that point, and you’re looking at Bumrungrad International Hospital in Bangkok as a possibility, this guide gives you a clear, honest picture of what’s available, what it costs, and what to realistically expect. This is not a post that will promise you a baby. No honest fertility clinic anywhere in the world should do that. What it will do is give you enough accurate information to decide whether traveling to Bumrungrad is the right next step for your situation.

Why Bangladeshi Couples Consider IVF Abroad

The IVF centers that exist in Bangladesh have grown significantly in recent years, and some offer genuine quality care. However, couples frequently run into specific limitations that push them toward treatment abroad:

• Inconsistent success rate data. Many Bangladeshi clinics don’t publish age-stratified live birth rates per embryo transfer. Without this data, you can’t meaningfully compare clinics.
• Limited genetic testing capabilities. Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT), which screens embryos for chromosomal abnormalities before transfer, is not widely available at the standard required by international fertility guidelines.
• Restricted donor programs. Egg and sperm donation programs in Bangladesh operate under significant legal and practical constraints.
• Privacy. For many couples, the social stigma attached to infertility in Bangladesh is very real. Traveling abroad for treatment offers a level of privacy that isn’t always possible at home.
• Multiple failed cycles locally. Couples who have completed two or more IVF cycles in Bangladesh without success often feel they need a different approach, different lab protocols, or a fresh specialist assessment.

These are legitimate reasons, not signs of disloyalty to local healthcare. Infertility treatment is one of the most emotionally and financially demanding journeys a couple can undertake. Getting it right matters enormously.

Bumrungrad’s Fertility Center and IVF Clinic

Bumrungrad International Hospital has operated a dedicated Fertility Center and IVF Clinic for over a decade. It is one of the most experienced fertility units in Southeast Asia and operates within a full tertiary hospital environment, which is clinically important. If a complication arises during egg retrieval or embryo transfer, the full range of surgical, anesthesia, and specialist support at Bumrungrad is immediately accessible without transferring to another facility. The Fertility Center handles a full range of infertility conditions and treatments, including:

• Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) for mild to moderate male factor infertility or unexplained infertility
• In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) for blocked fallopian tubes, PCOS, endometriosis, severe male factor, and unexplained infertility
• Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) for severe male factor infertility where standard IVF fertilization rates are expected to be poor
• Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT-A and PGT-M) for couples with recurrent miscarriage, genetic conditions, or advanced maternal age
• Fertility preservation including egg freezing and embryo freezing
• Egg and sperm donation (subject to eligibility criteria and ethical committee approval)

The lead specialists at Bumrungrad’s Fertility Center include Associate Professor Dr. Phattaraphum Phophong, who holds an MSc in Prenatal Genetics from University College London and completed a fellowship in Human Reproduction at University College Hospital in the UK, and Dr. Nahathai Paktinun. The team works alongside the hospital’s Women’s Center, which means gynecological and obstetric continuity of care is available throughout and beyond the IVF process at the same location. More information on the Women’s Center is on our Women’s Center (OB/GYN) page.

IVF Success Rates at Bumrungrad: What the Numbers Mean

Success rate data for IVF requires careful interpretation. A clinic that publishes a single headline success rate without breaking it down by age group and outcome definition is not giving you useful information.

The most meaningful figure in fertility medicine is the live birth rate per embryo transfer, broken down by age group. Pregnancy rates and clinical pregnancy rates are also used, but live birth rate is the outcome that actually matters to couples.

Based on published data from Bumrungrad International Hospital:

• Women under 35: Live birth rates of 40% to 55% per embryo transfer for standard IVF cycles, comparable to leading clinics in Australia, the UK, and the US
• Women aged 35 to 40: Rates decline with age, as egg quality is the dominant factor in IVF success
• Women over 40 using own eggs: Bumrungrad reported a 90% IVF success rate for this age group between 2020 and 2022, though this figure reflects their specific patient selection and protocol
• With Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT-A): Success rates improve at all ages, particularly for women over 37 and for couples with a history of recurrent miscarriage

These rates are broadly comparable to what leading clinics in Australia and Western Europe report. They are significantly higher than what most Bangladeshi couples have been quoted by local clinics. The single biggest determinant of IVF success is the woman’s age, specifically egg quality. Everything else, including laboratory quality, doctor experience, stimulation protocol, and embryo culture conditions, matters but matters less than age. This is why a 32-year-old woman with unexplained infertility has very different prospects from a 42-year-old woman with diminished ovarian reserve, even at the same clinic.

What Bumrungrad’s IVF Process Looks Like

A standard IVF cycle at Bumrungrad follows the same fundamental steps as IVF anywhere in the world. What differs is the lab quality, the genetic testing capabilities, and the specialist experience in managing difficult or complex cases.

Step 1: Initial Consultation and Fertility Workup

Before any treatment begins, both partners undergo a thorough fertility assessment. For the woman, this includes blood tests to check hormone levels (FSH, LH, AMH, and estradiol), a pelvic ultrasound to assess the ovaries and uterine lining, and a hysteroscopy or hysterosalpingography (HSG) to evaluate the uterine cavity and fallopian tubes if relevant.

For the man, a semen analysis assesses sperm count, motility, morphology, and DNA fragmentation. Sperm DNA fragmentation testing is particularly important for couples who have had multiple IVF failures despite apparently normal semen parameters. This initial workup gives the Bumrungrad fertility specialist the information needed to design a protocol specific to your case.

Step 2: Ovarian Stimulation

The woman takes hormone injections over approximately 10 to 14 days to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple follicles rather than the single egg produced in a natural cycle. Bumrungrad monitors the response closely with regular ultrasound scans and blood tests, adjusting the medication doses as needed. The goal is to retrieve as many mature eggs as possible without causing ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), a risk that experienced fertility teams manage proactively.

Step 3: Egg Retrieval

Egg retrieval is a minor surgical procedure done under light sedation. A needle guided by ultrasound passes through the vaginal wall into each follicle to retrieve the mature eggs. The procedure takes around 20 to 30 minutes. Most patients recover within a few hours and don’t require an overnight stay.

Step 4: Fertilization in the Laboratory

The retrieved eggs are fertilized with sperm in the Bumrungrad embryology laboratory. Standard IVF involves placing eggs and prepared sperm together and allowing fertilization to occur naturally. ICSI involves a single sperm being injected directly into each egg, which is used when sperm parameters are poor or when previous IVF cycles had poor fertilization rates.

The embryos are cultured in the laboratory for 5 to 6 days until they reach the blastocyst stage. Blastocyst transfer has a higher success rate than day-3 transfer because it allows the embryologist to select the most developmentally competent embryos.

Step 5: Preimplantation Genetic Testing (Optional but Recommended in Specific Cases)

At the blastocyst stage, a small number of cells can be biopsied and sent for genetic analysis. PGT-A screens all 24 chromosomes and identifies which embryos are chromosomally normal (euploid). Only euploid embryos are transferred. This significantly reduces the risk of miscarriage and improves the chance of a live birth, particularly for women over 37 and for couples with a history of recurrent pregnancy loss.

Bumrungrad performs PGT-A and PGT-M (for known single gene disorders such as thalassemia, a highly relevant condition for Bangladeshi couples) in its on-site genetics laboratory.

Step 6: Embryo Transfer

A selected embryo is placed into the uterus using a thin catheter. This is a quick, painless procedure that doesn’t require sedation in most cases. The woman rests briefly and then typically returns to her accommodation. A pregnancy test is done approximately 10 to 14 days after transfer.

Any embryos not transferred in the current cycle are frozen for future use.

IVF Cost at Bumrungrad Hospital for Bangladeshi Couples

Bumrungrad’s IVF costs are mid-to-premium range within Bangkok, reflecting the hospital’s infrastructure and specialist experience. Based on 2026 data:

• Basic IVF package: USD 6,000 to USD 8,000 per cycle
• ICSI (instead of standard IVF): USD 7,500 to USD 9,750 per cycle
• Full IVF with ICSI and PGT-A (genetic testing): USD 9,750 to USD 12,260 per cycle
• Embryo freezing: Included or charged separately depending on the package
• Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET) in a subsequent cycle: USD 2,000 to USD 3,500

These costs include ovarian stimulation monitoring, egg retrieval, fertilization, embryo culture to blastocyst, and one fresh embryo transfer. Medications are typically an additional cost of USD 1,500 to USD 3,000 depending on the stimulation protocol required. For comparison, standard IVF in the United States costs USD 15,000 to USD 25,000 per cycle before medications. In the UK, private IVF runs GBP 5,000 to GBP 8,000 per cycle. Bumrungrad’s pricing offers comparable laboratory quality and specialist training at significantly lower cost than Western destinations.

Beyond the hospital bill, Bangladeshi couples should budget for:

• Return flights from Dhaka to Bangkok (approximately BDT 35,000 to BDT 75,000 per person)
• Accommodation in Bangkok for approximately 14 to 21 days for a fresh IVF cycle
• Thailand visa fees and processing
• Daily living expenses in Bangkok

Thai Medi Xpress can request a precise cost estimate from the Bumrungrad Fertility Center after reviewing your current test results, before you commit to travel.

How Many Times Should You Expect to Travel?

This is a practical question that directly affects total cost and planning. For a standard fresh IVF cycle, plan for one trip of approximately 14 to 21 days, from the start of ovarian stimulation monitoring to embryo transfer. If you have embryos frozen from the first cycle and need a frozen embryo transfer in a later cycle, that requires a second shorter trip of approximately 7 to 10 days. Some couples choose to do the initial fertility workup consultation on a first short trip, return to Bangladesh for any preparatory treatment (such as managing a uterine issue or starting hormone baseline medications), and then travel for the full stimulation and retrieval cycle on the next trip. Thai Medi Xpress can coordinate with the Bumrungrad Fertility Center to design a trip plan that minimizes unnecessary travel while giving the cycle the best conditions.

Important Eligibility Considerations at Bumrungrad

Bumrungrad’s Fertility Center operates under clear ethical guidelines set by its hospital ethics committee. Bangladeshi couples should be aware of the following before planning:

• Assisted reproductive technology (ART) is not available at Bumrungrad for women who test HIV positive. Men who are HIV positive may access treatment if their viral load is less than 50 copies.
• Egg and sperm donation requires ethical committee approval and is available for couples with specific medical indications.
• Bumrungrad does not provide embryo gender selection as a service. However, PGT-A selects the best chromosomally normal embryo for transfer, which incidentally provides information about sex chromosomes.
• PGT-M for thalassemia screening is specifically relevant for Bangladeshi couples, given the high carrier rate in the Bangladeshi population. Couples who are both thalassemia carriers can use PGT-M to select unaffected embryos for transfer.

A Specific Note on Thalassemia and IVF

Bangladesh has one of the highest thalassemia carrier rates in the world. Estimates suggest 7% to 12% of Bangladeshis carry the thalassemia trait. When both partners are carriers, each pregnancy has a 25% chance of producing a child with thalassemia major, a serious and lifelong condition.

PGT-M at Bumrungrad allows couples who are both thalassemia carriers to have their embryos screened before transfer. Only embryos unaffected by thalassemia are selected. This gives Bangladeshi couples a clinically important option that may not be widely available at the required laboratory standard locally. If you and your partner are both thalassemia carriers, this is worth raising specifically when you contact our team.

Getting Started: What to Do Before You Call Us

Before reaching out to Thai Medi Xpress to start the process, gather the following information:

• The woman’s age and a summary of your trying-to-conceive history (how long you’ve been trying, any previous pregnancies or losses)
• Any fertility tests already done (hormone blood tests, ultrasound reports, semen analysis)
• Any previous IVF or IUI cycle records, including stimulation protocol, number of eggs retrieved, fertilization rate, and outcome
• Both partners’ passports (to confirm eligibility and begin visa planning)

Having these ready speeds up the process significantly. The Bumrungrad Fertility Center’s preliminary review of your existing records allows them to advise on which treatment is most appropriate and what additional tests they would want to do on arrival.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is IVF at Bumrungrad Halal-compatible?

Ans: Yes. Bumrungrad’s IVF procedures are compatible with Islamic medical ethics under the standard frameworks accepted by most Islamic scholars for married couples using their own eggs and sperm. The hospital provides Halal food. Prayer facilities are available. Staff are experienced in supporting Muslim patients. Any use of donor material is subject to separate ethical and religious consideration, which couples should discuss with their own religious advisors.

Can a Bangladeshi couple use egg or sperm donation at Bumrungrad?

Ans: Yes, subject to medical indication and approval by Bumrungrad’s ethics committee. Egg donation is available from donors who have passed screening. Sperm donation is available from screened donors. Couples who require donor material due to medical necessity should discuss this specifically during the initial consultation.

How does Bumrungrad’s IVF success rate compare to local clinics in Bangladesh?

Ans: Bumrungrad publishes age-stratified live birth rate data and operates one of Asia’s most sophisticated fertility labs. Most local clinics in Bangladesh don’t publish comparable outcome data, which makes a direct comparison difficult. The meaningful advantages at Bumrungrad are the genetic testing capabilities (PGT-A and PGT-M), the laboratory standards, and the specialist training of the embryology team.

What if the IVF cycle fails at Bumrungrad? Do we have to start all over?

Ans: If there are frozen embryos from the stimulation cycle, a frozen embryo transfer (FET) can be done in a subsequent cycle at lower cost and with a shorter trip. You don’t repeat the full stimulation and retrieval process. If no embryos are frozen, a fresh cycle would be needed.

Does Thai MediXpress charge anything for helping us coordinate IVF at Bumrungrad?

Ans: No. Our coordination service is completely free. Bumrungrad’s One Price Policy means your treatment cost is the same whether you book through us or directly. Using Thai MediXpress gives you Bengali-speaking support, pre-travel report review, visa assistance, and ongoing communication with the hospital team at no additional cost to you.

How do we get started?

Ans: Call or WhatsApp our Dhaka office at 01844047060 or our Chittagong office at 01844 047063. Send us whatever fertility test results you have, and we’ll submit them to the Bumrungrad Fertility Center for preliminary review. You’ll receive a response within 3 to 7 working days.

Thai Medi Xpress is the official referral partner of Bumrungrad International Hospital in Bangladesh, operating from Dhaka and Chittagong since 2018. Visit our Fertility Center and IVF Clinic page for more details, or contact us at 01844047060 (Dhaka) or 01844 047063 (Chittagong). All services are completely free of charge.