Cobb County couple travels to Caribbean for more affordable IVF treatment

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – An Atlanta area couple thought their dream of having a baby was over.

For years Kimberly and Orlando Graham said they prioritized their careers over starting a family. Eventually, they married, but Kimberly knew something was missing as she approached age fifty.

“I’ve always wanted to have kids,” Kimberly said.

With her biological clock unfortunately ticking, doctors told the Grahams that in vitro fertilization, or IVF, was likely their best path toward getting pregnant. But with the average American IVF treatment priced at about $20,000 per cycle, the Grahams weren’t sure they could afford it.

“They told us because of our age that it may take three times,” Kimberly said.

In the U.S., only 21 states require some form of insurance infertility coverage. Georgia isn’t one of them, according to the National Infertility Association.

One day while scrolling through social media, Kimberly saw a video of a couple that traveled to another country for infertility treatment. The Centers for Disease Control classifies this as medical tourism.

Kimberly did her research and the Grahams booked plane tickets to Barbados.

Dr. Juliet Skinner is the Medical Director of the Barbados Fertility Centre which has been in business for 22 years and boasts an IVF success rate higher than the United States for less than half the cost; averaging less than $10,000 including travel.

Dr. Skinner said this has to do with insurance and infrastructure, but also financial gain.

“The other element is what do the accountants put in as a profit margin? And clearly our profit margins are very, very different than the USA profit margins,” Dr. Skinner said.

After a consultation, followed by surgeries to remove a fibroid and a blockage, Kimberly and Orlando decided to go through with IVF at the Barbados clinic.

“They said this is how life begins and we saw the two little dots and it was absolutely amazing and beautiful,” Kimberly said.

On her 50th birthday, Kimberly said she took a test and found out she was pregnant. The Grahams now have two healthy, happy twin boys named Christian and Christopher who just turned one.

“I was so excited because I said ‘I finally get my boys,’” Orlando said. “People ask me all the time why we came up with those names. And I say well Christ is in both of their names. It’s Christ and Christ because it was a blessing!”

As the twins head into their second year of life, the Grahams couldn’t be more thankful and want to encourage other couples who may be in the same boat to never lose hope.

“I think that working with the right resources, it can happen. It can definitely happen. Don’t ever give up,” Kimberly said.

While traveling to Barbados was a great option for the Grahams, the CDC warns that medical tourism can be risky.

According to the CDC:

• Air travel could increase risk for things like blood clots and infection
• If there’s a language barrier, you could risk miscommunication and misinformation before or after a procedure
• Some country’s requirements to maintain medical accreditation and licensure may be less than would be required in the United States

The CDC encourages you to do your own research before traveling abroad for any medical procedure. Remember to bring your medical records and any needed medications.

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