Women travel abroad for unproven three-parent IVF marketed to older patients

STAT investigators found that women are journeying thousands of miles to undergo a mitochondrial‑replacement IVF procedure that is promoted as a fertility option for older patients, even though the science behind it is limited.

The technique, often called “three‑parent IVF,” was originally designed to prevent children from inheriting serious mitochondrial diseases. The investigation, which included interviews with 45 patients, doctors and clinic staff, says the method is now being advertised to older women despite scant evidence of its effectiveness for age‑related infertility.

The procedure is illegal in the United States, yet an Illinois‑based company has built a for‑profit network that connects U.S. and European patients with overseas clinics. Researchers observed poor record‑keeping at one of the clinics providing the treatment, raising concerns about safety and transparency.