Why an IVF deposit is harder to read than a surgical one
A surgical deposit usually holds one thing: a date in an operating room with a named surgeon. An IVF cycle is a chain of stages spread over weeks. These include tests before the cycle, ovarian stimulation with monitoring scans and blood work, egg retrieval, laboratory work, sometimes genetic testing, freezing and storage, and an embryo transfer that may happen in the same trip or a later one. Each stage can be priced, scheduled and refunded differently.
That is why the UK fertility regulator, the HFEA (2016), suggests asking a clinic abroad for a costed treatment plan that covers the whole package. It also suggests asking how often, and at which stages, you would need to travel. A deposit only makes sense once you can see where it sits in that plan.
The stages a deposit might be attached to
Ask the clinic to mark which of these the deposit covers, which are paid later, and which are not included at all.
| Stage | What "reserved" might mean | Question to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Initial consultation | A video or in-person appointment with a fertility specialist | Is the consult fee credited toward treatment if I go ahead? |
| Pre-cycle testing | Blood tests, scans or partner testing done at home or on arrival | Which results must you have before you confirm my cycle? |
| Cycle slot | A planned window in the clinic calendar for stimulation to begin | Is this a fixed date or an estimated window? |
| Stimulation monitoring | The scans and blood tests that track your response | How many visits are included, and can any happen at home? |
| Egg retrieval | Procedure room, sedation or anesthesia, and the team on the day | Is anesthesia included, and who provides it? |
| Laboratory | Fertilization, ICSI if used, embryo culture | Which lab techniques are in the base price and which are add-ons? |
| Genetic testing | Embryo biopsy and testing by an outside lab | Is it priced per embryo, and who bills for it? |
| Freezing and storage | Vitrification and a storage period | How long is storage included, and what does renewal cost? |
| Embryo transfer | A fresh transfer this trip, or a frozen transfer later | If the transfer is postponed, is it still included, and does it need another trip? |
| Donor eggs or sperm | A match with a specific donor, or a place on a list | What happens to my deposit if the donor becomes unavailable? |
Why IVF dates move, and what that does to the booking
IVF schedules follow your body's response, not a calendar. Retrieval timing depends on how you respond to stimulation medication, which is why monitoring exists. The response can also change the plan for the transfer.
Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is one example. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine's ReproductiveFacts (2023) says about one in three people have mild symptoms during IVF stimulation. It says that if OHSS develops, freezing the eggs or embryos and delaying the transfer helps it resolve faster, because pregnancy can make it worse or longer-lasting.
For booking, that has a direct consequence. A trip planned around a fresh transfer can turn into a "retrieve and freeze" trip, with the transfer moved to a later cycle. Before paying, ask:
- If my transfer is postponed for medical reasons, is the later frozen transfer included in what I have paid?
- Would a frozen transfer need another trip to Colombia, and roughly how long would it involve?
- Does storage between retrieval and a delayed transfer cost extra?
- If the clinic advises stopping the cycle before retrieval, how much of the deposit is credited to a future cycle, refunded or kept?
None of these answers predicts what will happen to you. They tell you what the booking does if the plan changes for a good clinical reason. For the broader picture of test results and conditions that can delay treatment, see medical clearance before a Colombia booking.
What a deposit usually does not cover
Low headline IVF prices often leave out costs that arrive later. The HFEA (2016) warns that advertised prices abroad may exclude fertility drugs, blood tests or the initial consultation. It notes that drugs alone typically cost hundreds of pounds. It also tells patients to budget for accommodation, living costs, flights, specialist medical insurance and unpaid leave, and to keep a contingency fund.
Medication needs special attention. It is often bought separately, sometimes from a pharmacy rather than the clinic, and once dispensed it may not be refundable even if the cycle changes. Ask whether medication is in the quote, where you would buy it, and whether you start it at home or after arriving.
If the plan uses a partner's sperm sample, ask whether the sample must be given on retrieval day or whether a frozen sample can be used. Ask too whether that changes the partner's travel dates. That detail can decide whether one or two people need to travel, and when.
Donor programs, storage and the decisions behind them
If your plan uses donor eggs or sperm, the deposit may hold a match rather than a date. Ask how long the match is held, what happens if the donor withdraws or is found unsuitable, and whether you are offered another donor or a refund. The HFEA also suggests asking how donors are recruited and screened for infectious and genetic conditions, what information you will receive about the donor, and whether counselling is offered before donor treatment.
Storage carries decisions that outlast the trip. HFEA suggests asking whether the clinic stores embryos, for how long, and what happens if one partner changes their mind. Get the storage term, the renewal cost and the consent rules in writing. You will likely be making these decisions from another country.
Transfer policy belongs in the booking conversation
How many embryos a clinic usually transfers is a clinical policy, but it affects your plan and your risk. The HFEA says multiple pregnancy is the biggest risk to the health of mothers and babies, that UK best practice is usually a single embryo transfer for most women, and that not all countries follow this. Ask the clinic's usual policy, and who decides on the day, before you pay rather than in the procedure room.
What your IVF deposit receipt and plan should show
- Patient name(s) and the treating fertility specialist
- The stages the deposit covers, by name
- Stages still to be paid, with prices
- Items not included: medication, specific tests, genetic testing, donor fees
- Whether the cycle start is a fixed date or an estimated window
- What happens if the transfer is postponed and becomes a frozen transfer
- What happens if the cycle is stopped before retrieval
- Storage period included and renewal cost
- Donor match terms, if applicable
- Expected number of trips and their approximate length
- Refund, credit and transfer rules
- How records will be provided to you
The Colombia Medical network
Ready to organize the booking?
Send the procedure, your timeline, and any quote or records you already have. We can help organize the next step and connect you with the appropriate Colombia-specific resource.
Start Booking on WhatsAppBefore you pay: protections that are harder to arrange from abroad
Treatment abroad changes who you can turn to if something goes wrong. The HFEA (2016) notes that it has no powers overseas. It recommends finding out in advance how the clinic handles complaints, and getting legal advice on whether your contract with the clinic would be enforceable. It also advises asking for a copy of your records to share with your doctor at home. In practice, that means asking for cycle summaries, lab reports and embryo records you can actually use later, especially if a frozen transfer might happen somewhere else.
Read the confirmation you receive after paying against the checklist above. Our guide to booking confirmations and appointment letters explains how to read the wording. The cancellation and rescheduling guide covers the general terms to compare.
Frequently asked questions
Does an IVF deposit guarantee my retrieval date?
Usually not. Retrieval timing depends on how you respond to stimulation, so most clinics can only give an estimated window. Ask whether your deposit holds a fixed date or a place in the calendar, and what happens if the timing moves.
If my embryo transfer is postponed, do I pay again?
It depends on the clinic's terms. Some include a later frozen transfer, while others charge for it separately, along with storage. Ask before paying, and ask whether a postponed transfer would need another trip to Colombia.
Is fertility medication included in an IVF quote?
Often it is not. The HFEA warns that low advertised prices abroad may exclude drugs, blood tests or the initial consultation. Ask where you buy the medication and whether it can be refunded once dispensed.
What should I ask if I am using donor eggs?
Ask how long the match is held, what happens if the donor becomes unavailable, how donors are recruited and screened, what information you will receive about the donor, and whether counselling is offered before treatment.
Can I get my records if I later do a transfer elsewhere?
Ask before you pay. The HFEA advises getting a copy of your patient records for your doctor at home. In particular, ask for cycle, laboratory and embryo records in a form another clinic could use.