Thailand has become one of Asia's leading fertility hubs. Every year, thousands of foreign patients travel to Bangkok's state-of-the-art private clinics for IVF, egg donation and other fertility treatments. They come from China, South Korea, Europe and across Southeast Asia, looking for what may be harder to find at home: shorter waiting times, lower costs and, in some cases, fewer restrictions.
Bangkok's fertility clinics now cater to an international clientele, offering everything from hotels and interpreters to medical packages, fast-tracked appointments and personalised care. For many of these couples, Thailand is the latest stop on a journey that has already been long, expensive and emotionally draining.
But behind the gleaming, high-tech clinics lies a darker side to the industry. Demand from overseas, particularly from China and South Korea, has spawned a network of middlemen and agencies – and, in some cases, illegal operations. NGOs warn that young Thai and Cambodian women are being recruited as egg donors. Some are approached on social media or messaging apps and offered several thousand euros to undergo invasive medical procedures, sometimes with little information about the potential risks.
FRANCE 24's Theo Collet, Adrien Quilico, Morel Antoine, Adam Hancock and Aruna Popuri report.