Best clinic abroad...

[spinduffy]

After 3 failed cycles in U.K. We are looking abroad for next cycle. We want to go where success rates are highest and where they will be able to do the latest techniques. I struggle to find objective information. Does anyone have any suggestions?x

[Blondeshavemorefun]

There are several threads on this but off top of my head

Serum Athens
Ivf Barcelona
Reprofit Prague /chez
Ivi Madrid
Gest Prague

These get mentioned a lot

[Daisiesandgerberas]

IVI Alicante without a doubt.

Decades of IVF & ICSI in the UK.

First time there.....success

The clinic was like entering a spaceship, it was such an experience. No comparison between the UK or IVI.

Your own bedroom & en-suite, DH had to de-robe, shower, wear a hairnet, just like I did, we even had to walk over a mat that sterilised our bare feet.

We were shown all the fertilised embryos on a large screen, their English was excellent, they explained exactly why they would choose one embie over another, it didn't compare to here.

They know they're 'playing God' for want of a phrase but the level of cleanliness, willingness, their communication (they rang us twice a day to tell us how our embies were progressing) and passion is beyond words.

[spinduffy]

Thank you daisies... I had been looking at the IVI clinics. It's hard to tell prices and success rates from website.

Our clinic in U.K. Had all the sterility measures, but totally lacks the scientific knowledge. Despite a reasonable amh I have had 2 poor responses to cycles (1 long and 1 short protocol) and both times have ovulated before egg collection, so no eggs. They don't have answers and just tell me that the chances of this happening on 1 cycle is >1%, but on 2 cycles is unheard of.... I need the cutting edge science now to help!

I will look into Alicante. Plus our local airport has direct flights which helps.

[Blondeshavemorefun]

I would agree with daisy. Tho did their sister clinic in Madrid

But the whole experience with technology let alone cleanliness was so much better then my uk clinic

[spinduffy]

Are Madrid and Alicante equal in what they offer/ success rates etc?

[Blondeshavemorefun]

Don't know sorry. You will have to research. Rem to ask for live births not just who got preg

[Daisiesandgerberas]

I would imagine as they're the same 'company' they would be like for like.

We used Alicante as it is a 'satellite' clinic which means all the baseline scans etc were done here. We were given 2 weeks notice of needing to get in a flight.

Transfers at the other end were fine, we stayed at the Melia Hotel & took a 10/15 min taxi ride to the clinic.

I was PETRIFIED of the while situation never having had to do anything like that before but I would 100% go back with no hesitation.

I sound like a broken record & but the best advice I was ever given was ignore the stats. They're a good indicator but the reality is the odds are 50:50.....the procedure either works or it doesn't.

Blondes, under a different name we've spoken many times in the c/care & TV section - Congratulations on your news

Op, the decision you have to make can seem quite daunting (that's how I felt anyway) If I can help any more, please ask away....or rant if you need to I often ranted!

[spinduffy]

Thanks daisies... I am in a state of total confusion. 2 failed cycles here and still have an NHS cycle, but don't fancy my chances at it. We will definitely go overseas for 4th cycle and maybe try and make it a holiday later in the year. The procedure doesn't scare me, as I've been through it... failing again does though. We had looked at reprofit, but I think ivi looks more cutting edge... my case is far from straight forward: poor ovarian reserve and premature lutinization! I feel a bit lost x

[Daisiesandgerberas]

Well firstly yes, use it as a holiday We stayed for a week (just have to be careful after treatment about eating certain foods, as you know)

DH had loads of counselling as he was worried about how he'd take 'failing' on the last attempt. In a nutshell it was concluded he'd be able to 'start' living again (having had closure) and couldn't feel any worse than he already did so should just give it one more try.

If it's any consolation, we were the first ever couple in our clinic (that opened in 1979) they broke the rules for by allowing us to try a drug-free cycle 3 years ago. They could see how I was mentally suffering from repeated failed cycles so we all pulled ranks. They had concerns it would affect their stats and had numerous meetings with Head of this & Manager of that but it goes to shiw that there are some wonderful people out there.

The clinic you choose can make a massive life-changing difference. It's yet more pressure that we just don't deserve.

[Blondeshavemorefun]

Thanks daisies (who were you) been a long time coming

Op - use your NHS go. Save yourself thousands. I lost NHS ivf as df has kids in 20's so had to pay for all our ivf - £27k in all

Worth every penny now preg but if could have saved £5/6/7k and had NHS we would

Not sure of your age and what amh and fsh levels are but if diminished eggs maybe think About donor eggs abroad if 3rd NHS fails

Yes it is heartbreaking when fails 😢😢😢😢 and we thought often about giving up after our two failed uk cycles

but ivi madrid got far better results using higher drugs and think their blasting /labs far superior - so tho 3rd cycle failed we had 6 to freeze and would have tried all 6 and then maybe given up

or maybe saved and tried de as then Time to have saved money and not worried about age /timescale as obv de are much younger - I'm 43

[spinduffy]

I'm 38, but will be 39 in February.

FSH was 6.8 last year.

AMH was 17 in June, but down to 7.8 in November.

I'm not sure whether or not I'm ready for DE. Do you think I should?

Our NHS clinic has very poor success rates and tends to do a 'one size fits all', which I suspect is a waste of time with me, but we will give it a shot!

I also bought DHEA in USA lately and was going to try that.

[Blondeshavemorefun]

I don't have the knowledge to answer that but clinics should. So I would ask ivi and your current uk clinic

To drop that much in a few months isn't good imo but results do drop dramatically as get older

You are veering to the low end of low fertility with that score so probably in your position and if paying for it I would really consider de to give you a better chance

But it's how you and partner feel about it

I know several woman who have used de and couldn't love their kids more / do don't think that you wouldn't bond etc

[spinduffy]

The clinic thought it was a sharp drop, so re ran the serum and it came back at 14, but given my clinical response I suspect I'm more of an amh of 7😓.

I guess I'm not emotionall ready to have no genetic children. I'm an only child and have no siblings/ cousins and don't want to think of our genes ceasing- probably stupid I guess !

[Blondeshavemorefun]

Not stupid / it's how you feel / you may change your mind. You may not

All I can say is that if this cycle and the 3frizen we have left failed , I know I would prefer to be preg and use de if I had to , then not be a mum

Only you can answer that

[Blue2014]

My amh was worse than yours and DH had multiple sperm problems. Admittedly I only had one cycle of icsi but it worked (he's on my knee now) - thus I would highly recommend Reprofit Brno. They didn't adapt my treatment for low amh because we didn't know at the time, they tested it when I only produced 3 eggs. Dr says if I go back they will adapt treatment for it so I assume they have additional techniques.

Browse the fertility friends website, it's brilliant for info on clinics

[Hadenough200]

@blondeshavemorefun

This is yet another one of those posts I've read where you are encouraging women to use donor eggs.

Why?

Poor OP is apologising for wanting to use her own eggs!

You were 43 when you had your own genetic child after numerous failed attempts. You have not had a donor egg child. Why are you now advising women to go for donor eggs when you yourself have not gone through the pain/ heartache of not having your own genetic child?? Yes you say you would have gone to donor eggs. Would have but didn't.

It pains me to see you give life changing advice so casually telling women to go to donor eggs when someone at 42 could gave equally told you to do the same.

Practice what you preach. And leave the life changing "go to de" advice to gynaecologists or those who actually have donor egg children.