Egg Freezing & IVF in Mexico

Tens of thousands of medical tourists, largely from the United States and Canada, go to Mexico for medical services due to proximity and low fertility procedure costs. Because of this, Mexico now ranks at #42 in the Medical Tourism Index. Its rich medical history dates back to the time when the Aztecs and Mayans used herbal medicines and performed simple surgeries. Some of the Mexican medical institutions renowned worldwide for exceptional care are Hospital ABC, CIMA Hospital, and Star Médica. Premier hospitals have received accreditations from the Joint Commission International (JCI) that guarantee international standards in healthcare. Facilities are certified by different regulation organisations including the General Health Council or Consejo de Salubridad General. Medical tourism is at the top of its game in Mexico City, Cancun, and Tijuana.

After a reproductive medicine procedure, doctors recommend medical tourists take a stroll or bike ride around Chapultepec Park and a boat ride through the Xochimilco ancient canals. History buffs can take a close look at Mayan, Aztec, and Olmec artefacts in the Anthropology Museum. Art enthusiasts will love the artworks displayed at Jumex, Museo Soumaya, and Museo de Arte Moderno. Always wear sunscreen to protect yourself from the hot Mexican sun!

Aside from its Mayan and Aztec legacy, Mexico is famous for its tacos, tequila, and tortillas. However, there is a huge gap between the rich and the poor, leading many to commit crimes and violence. For this reason, do not go around in flashy clothing and jewellery as you would make yourself an easy target for theft. Familiarise yourself with the timeshare scam targeted at unsuspecting tourists. They would offer you to invest in real estate and run away with your money.

Whether it's your first visit or not, keep your stay in Mexico safe by observing local laws and rules of conduct. Leave a tip of 10 to 20% for every service rendered. To avoid offending the Mexican people, do not stereotype them as drug lords and users. Remember that the majority of the population is not into illegal drugs. Drug cartels are fueled by the Western demand for it. Do not provoke locals by talking insensitively about undocumented Mexicans living in the United States.

To get around Mexico, you can easily book Uber and Didi rides online, cycle with the bike-sharing Ecobici program, and arrange transfer services with Blacklane and other providers. For public transportation, take the micros (microbuses), Metrobus, El Metro and Tren Ligero trains, local buses, and metro system.

Inequality barriers and lack of fertility laws in Mexico

The Mexican family structure is largely patriarchial. The culture of machismo dictates that men are expected to be dominant and masculine. There is a double standard in genders since older men can get partners more easily than mature women can. To adapt, many women either accept less-than-ideal partners to escape from the social stigma or choose to remain single and focus on their careers instead. This leads to a rise in infertility issues for maturing women without partners.

Since there are no laws governing infertility treatments in Mexico, a 2021 study published in Reproductive Health urgently called for the need to have these legislations in place. This aims to avoid discrimination and human rights violations in fertility treatment as well as improve its scientific methods and technologies. Meanwhile, a 2023 study published in F&S Reports enumerated the inequality barriers that many Mexican women face in getting IVF treatments. For example, affluent women with graduate degrees and private insurance had more access to fertility treatments than indigenous peoples, residents of rural areas, and others who had no means to pay out of pocket for private medical treatments.

There are no government health plans and private insurance coverage for reproductive medicine and fertility treatments such as elective egg freezing for citizens.

Mexico holds the distinction of being the world's largest Spanish-speaking country, with 94% of the population speaking it. Aside from that, there are 68 indigenous languages under the General Law of Linguistic Rights of the Indigenous People. English speakers comprise 10% of the people in Mexico. Other widely spoken languages are Italian, Portuguese, French, and Greek.