STAT Investigation Exposes Exploitative 'Three-Parent IVF' Tourism for Older Women
A STAT investigation reveals that 'three-parent IVF' (MRT), a technique originally designed to prevent fatal mitochondrial diseases, is being commercially marketed to older women in the U.S. and Europe despite lacking scientific evidence for efficacy. An Illinois-based facilitator, International Fertility Group (IFG), connects patients with clinics in Albania, Ukraine, and elsewhere, charging tens of thousands of dollars for a procedure that experts say fails for most women over 40. While IFG claims high success rates, independent data suggests these figures are misleading or unsubstantiated. The practice remains illegal in the U.S. due to congressional bans, leading to a shadow industry of medical tourism. Critics warn that patients are being financially exploited and subjected to unproven medical experiments, while proponents argue it offers a last resort for those with advanced maternal age.