I know IABU posting this here but I'm really hoping for some info on private IVF

[Rainbunny]

So I live in the USA currently and we have enough insurance/resources to do one round of IVF and possibly a second round - but that would be a stretch. We actually have very good health insurance but IVF in this country is insanely expensive! I've heard that private IVF is much cheaper in Europe, does anyone have any recommendations? I think it's probably cheaper in the UK too which at least means I could stay with family if we did it there. Sorry for taking up the AIBU page but I'd so appreciate any response!

[Rainbunny]

Interesting Spare - again as I'm in the USA perhaps testing protocols are different but I don't have any tests specifically for AFC. My doctor is aware my AMH is not brilliant so I assume they will take that into account as we proceed. I will ask though. Thanks for the other information, I'll have to investigate testing for that. There is so much information out there and I feel silly for not being more proactive about research rather than just getting all my information straight from the fertility clinic.

[sparechange]

Don't feel silly.
There is a bewildering amount of information and research out there, and it is one of the few areas of life where there is some onus on your to chose your treatment options rather than doctors telling you what is best.
On the plus side, you get good at reading scientific research papers! It has made me regret not doing science a-levels..!

There is a thread on the conception boards for over-30s ttc #1. Lots and lots of IVF experience and support to be found there. The current thread has something about PomPoms in the title...

[Vdara27024]

Blue2014,
I am provisionally booked in to Reprofit in Brno on 14th September for treatment. We just need to have it confirmed before arranging flights and hotels. What would you think the minimum time we will have to be there for?
Also did you use your own eggs or donor eggs?
I am very excited and feeling positive about clinic after 2 failed private IVFs here in UK over last 10 months.

[RobinsAreTerritorialFuckers]

You might want to lurk on the donor conception thread (in the 'Becoming a Parent' topic). It's quite useful - there's a few people doing IVF and at least one I can think of who's doing it with a Euro clinic.

[blue2014]

Vdara - I'll try to work it out later and let you know. Are you on the fertility friends site? It was invaluable for me

[BlueLeopard]

I've been on a fertility board since 2010, and have quite a few real life friends who have undergone IVF abroad. Two clinics that my friends would recommend to me are Gennet in Prague, and Serum in Athens. Both have excellent results.

I've decided that should we go to IVF it will be abroad and to one of those.

[JessieMcJessie]

We used Guy's in London. Success on second cycle, am now 35 weeks pregnant. It wasn't as much as some of the figures mentioned for UK treatment here- basic treatment package was just over 3k, with another grand for drugs on top of that. They have a price list on their website. Hopefully you'll hit jackpot with your insured cycles in the US first though, good luck. Ask your doctor about DHEA.

[MrsTerryPratchett]

I know the sum total of fuck all about this. However, I also live on the West Coast and there were adverts a while ago for a place in Seattle that was a flat fee until you conceived. Expensive but you could have multiple attempts.

Have you checked out different resources in the US?

[blue2014]

Vdara - I arrived two days prior to my second scan (had first in the uk) which was probably a day too early. I then only went to Prague for 1 day between collection and transfer when now I would be more confident in booking 4 days away and waiting for 5 day transfer. I also waited 2 days after transfer but that was good because Dr wanted me to do very little for a few hours after embryo transfer and that allowed for that

[Lambzig]

I hugely recommend Institut Marques in Barcelona. So helpful and after multiple failed IVF attempts in the uk, I got pregnant first go with DD and then second go with DS there. They have fantastic results.

[Feilin]

Origin Belfast first go with ICSI worked perfectly . Cost 6.5k worth every penny . Fertility friends is a fantastic help . One of my close friends went to Czech Rep near Prague and had a successful donated embryo transfer that cost her all told 2.5 k

[Vdara27024]

Thanks blue2014 for details of how long you had to be in Brno for. We haven't booked flights yet as waiting for exact dates in September, all dependant on date of my next bleed. Can I ask did you stay at a specific Brno hotel and would you recommend? Is there much to do there? We are hoping to turn it into cheeky extra city break!!!

[maggiethemagpie]

I have heard of places abroad that do a deal where for ££££ you get up to 3 gos, so you pay more if you get lucky first time but less if you don't. That makes more sense to me than paying per cycle.

[sparechange]

maggie
Loads of clinics in the UK and mainland Europe offer 3 cycle packages. They tend to be roughly the same cost as 2 rounds

Some let you 'embryo bank' by doing three collection rounds back to back while freezing everything and then having a frozen transfer afterwards
Others make you do the rounds one at a time
Some count a 'successful' round as having a life birth. Others will count it as successful once they see a fetal heartbeat on ultrasound, usually around 7 weeks. So if you get pregnant on your first round and then miscarry at 8 weeks, you will lose all your money and have to start again
So you need to think carefully and read the clinic's small print before signing up to one...

[TheWormThatTurned]

First of all, sorry you're going through all this, IVF is such a draining process.
I'm in the us too (MA). Not sure where you are, but have you thought about getting a second opinion over here? I know it's more $ out of pocket, but might help in the long run? I've heard great things about CCRM in Denver, as well as one of the NYC universities, I forget which one.
Other than that - a family had a great experience at Care Nottingham after a miserable time at another clinic.