Just starting out on exploring this avenue after four failed attempts at IVF. It still feels like a large leap to make as I still had hope that I might be successful with my own eggs but starting to come to terms with this and now looking into alternate options.
My clinic works closely with IB in Spain, and I'd love to hear experiences from anyone who has been through a donor cycle with them. How did you find the whole process? What worked well and not so well? Any advice that you can share?
On the Mumsnet Donor Conception forum, you can discuss sperm and egg donation with people in the same situation.
Donor conception
Instituto Bernabeu - experiences?
Botanica · 26/10/2018 17:37
Mari0000 · 23/04/2023 05:08
hi there, Italian also, traveled to Madrid in 2021 after a disappointing experience in Italy Cortona, Toscana also with egg donation (IVF in Mestre before that). When we decided to go the donor route I had researched and talked to clinics all over Europe; Czech, Ukraine, Denmark, Spain, IVI based in Rome. We chose IB for a number of reasons; the consultation and assessment we had at the beginning—including feedback from the Dr and the professional follow ups of the admin team (this is very important!!), the reputation of the clinic and success rates, and convenient direct flights to Madrid from Venice (We were on covid lockdown at the time so traveling to most places was restricted, but Spain remained accessible).
We had a successful first transfer—baby girl is now 16 months old —and more embryos frozen. Good luck!
Starryeyes1984 · 24/04/2023 18:05
@Itagin I used IB Alicante and selected them because of the guarantee programme. In the end I wasn't accepted on it because I had some fibroids. This was really disheartening as I felt they didn't have confidence that I would get pregnant. However I still went on to have 2 successful pregnancies with my 2 transfers so really they saved me a lot of money by saying no! So my experience is that unless everything looks pretty perfect they don't let you onto the programme. It is a very good clinic, thorough and professional with high standards. Best of luck!
Mari0000 · 24/04/2023 12:15
@Itagin we didn't do the guaranteed program; the issue was clearly with my aging and few eggs otherwise everything else was perfect. In fact, I had a very good and comfortable pregnancy. So we were pretty confident it would work. I was 42 at the time.
We were followed by Dr GarcÃa-AjofrÃn (she was so lovely!!). And the admin team, again, was very helpful and responsive. They'll guide you through the exams and tests, and medication you'll have to take and will quickly respond whenever you have a doubt. If you would like to take my number and give me a call to talk it through, happy to share, just let me know :)
Starryeyes1984 · 25/04/2023 09:30
@Itagin we used donated eggs. I can't remember exact figures but we paid the standard DE treatment cost plus drugs and for a 3D scan - it was probably around £7500 at the time. Then second time we had frozen embryos so it was much cheaper to just do the transfer, maybe £2000 including drugs. The 3D scan they insist upon if you want to do the guarantee programme. Then obviously there are all the travel costs which were higher the first time around cause we needed to be there longer. Second time is quick as you can just pick the date for the embryo transfer
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