Gender selection tourism: going abroad when you can't get it at home
Nicola Chenery was the mother of 4 beautiful sons, but longed for a daughter, so much so that she travelled from her home in England to Spain, where medical gender selection for family balancing is allowed. PGD treatment costing $11,000 made Nicola's dream come true: she is now the mum of twin girls.
(The Chenery story was widely publicized in the British press; see links below.)
The Mastertons are a Scottish couple with 4 sons who wanted a daughter, after their only daughter Nicole died tragically at the age of 3. After trying in vain to persuade the UK government to permit them to use sex selection, the Mastertons went abroad and spent more than $50,000 on three IVF with PGD attempts, but failed to become pregnant. The Mastertons have given up their quest for a daughter, saying "time has run out for us biologically," but continue to support those seeking reproductive choice in the UK.
“I haven’t heard a valid argument yet to deny people that choice. People contact us constantly; most are partaking in infertility tourism.
“Seven couples that we know are going abroad this week, mostly to the United States. Their eggs will be harvested, fertilised, left for 48 hours, undergo testing and then implanted if they are the right sex.
“The technique costs about $20,000 (£11,000). We know of one couple who went four times and were successful on their fourth attempt
The Chenerys:
The Mastertons: