Instituto Bernabeu - experiences?

[Botanica]

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?

[gfhun]

@Caroosje
I’m happy for you.
Feel really stupid what what does it mean?
🙄

[Caroosje]

Thank you...

Not stupid at all;)
I meant that my beta hcg level was 80
At day 8 past 5 day transfer.
And 80 is a good level for 8 days past transfer.
I hope this puts me ahead of the chemical pregnancys that i have had in the past

My hcg level did not pass 20 then.

How are you doing? Any news?

[sequinednostrils]

My scan was ok but measured small so I have to go back in 10 days. Trying not to catastrophise , there was a heartbeat . Next 10 days is going to be hard.
That's so great @Caroosje ! These milestones along the way are so important aren't they?

[EarlGreyT]

@sequinednostrils
Try not to worry-I know that’s easier said than done! The presence of a heart beat is really positive. I had exactly the same at my 6 week scan and only measured 5 weeks, was meant to go back 10 days later for a follow up scan, but couldn’t bear the wait so paid for an extra one a few days after the first (expecting them not to be able to reassure me), measurements were fine then and fingers crossed pregnancy has progressed ok since.

My clinic told me that at 6 weeks the embryo is so small that they are firstly hard to measure and at this stage secondly if they measure the embryo even a few mm out when they scan you, it can make a huge difference to the estimated gestation.

Fingers crossed for your next scan.

[sequinednostrils]

Thanks @EarlGreyT . I'm trying not to analyse every twinge .

[sequinednostrils]

Hi, thought I'd update after second scan. Not good news, they couldn't find a heartbeat and still measured small when I should be 8 weeks. This was a private scan so have been referred to epu for options. Just feel a bit numb atm.

[gfhun]

Hi everyone
I’m sure you are all aware of it, IB is closing from tomorrow. Not sure when they will be up and running again.
Gutted, was going for treatment in 4 weeks

[Caroosje]

I am so sorry for you! Will you be having another scan soon?
I have had bad news aswell..I got an early miscarriage last friday...
Hoped to start again soon but in has closed as from today...
Iets hope this corona virus will pass quickly...

[sequinednostrils]

@Caroosje so sorry for you too- it sucks big time. And that IB is closed for who knows how long, so trying again is on hold.
I think I'm going to go for tests, this was my third mc and if the embryo tests are ok then it must be me.
I'll have another scan at epu but it's just to confirm and talk options.
I don't feel any different, that's the cruel thing. I'm even producing colostrum 😞

[Caroosje]

This process is so cruel. Thinking of you!

[GreyGoose1980]

Hi ladies
I was following your thread as considering DE. I just wanted to say that I’m so sorry for your losses @Caroosje and @sequinednostrils.
💐

[CJ72507]

Hi ladies. I’m so pleased I stumbled upon this thread! My husband and I are looking to use IB for egg donation and we have so many questions. What were people’s experiences with the quality of the embryos? I’m worried that my expectations are too high in terms of grading having had multiple failed cycles with my own eggs...

[Caroosje]

Hi...we just had a failed fresh cycle with IB.
We got 8 eggs, six fertilized and 6 turned to blast. (5 aa and one ab) so that was really good. Unfortunately it ended in a chemical pregnancy.
I think they work very Professionaly.
If you have more questions just ask!
I got a mail yesterday that they are starting up work as from monday.
With the countries being closed i dont know when we will be able to have another transfer but you could start with all the preparations.
They demand a lot of tests and that took us almost two months.

[CJ72507]

Caroosje I’m so sorry to hear that. Life really can be so cruel. Lots of love to you for your next try, hopefully it won’t be too far away x

Do you mind me asking what grade your frozen embies are and what tests you needed? I think I’ve had every test under the sun so I’m hoping if done recently they won’t ask for retests. Probably not knowing my luck!

[Caroosje]

I have 4aa and 1 ab frozen.
Tests they required were
Thyroid
Measles and rubella antibody
Bloodgroup
Mammogram
Global health check up
Gyneacologist check up of my uterus
Ecg cardiogram
Karyogram from my husband
We had to do a mock cycle to see if my lining responded well to the estrogen.
We applied for the pregnancy guarantee program and I am over 45 so that accounts for a lot of extra testing.

Is this the first try with donor eggs for you?

[CJ72507]

Thank you so much, that’s really useful to know. I’m hoping that we’ll have a video consultation with them next week. We’ve completed all of the initial forms and made a small payment so fingers crossed. They’ve been extremely helpful so far!

I’m 33 and we’ve been having treatment with my eggs for about 18 months now. The first cycle resulted in an ectopic, second failed to implant, third was a FET but sadly miscarried at 6 weeks and the fourth failed too. Also had a couple of cancelled cycles midway through treatment which sucked. So yeh, first doner egg cycle which is exciting as feeling abit more hopeful. Our consultant in the UK works with IB and we trust him implicitly so it’s lovely to hear such good things about them from other ladies in our situation.

That’s great that you have some perfect little embies ready there waiting for you... Although the waiting must be extremely tough! I don’t think our consultant is able to instigate anything (not even paperwork) until HFEA say it’s ok but it works quite well for us as it gives us time to understand the processes. Will this be your second try?

How was your trip to Spain? I’m hoping we can pop over for the day on egg collection and then come back for transfer x

[Caroosje]

We stayed in Spain between egg retrieval and transfer and had a little holiday. We rented a cottage at the beach and it was really Nice.
I hope we all will be able to start again within a couple of months. Good luck to you aswell and keep us posted.

[Caroosje]

Hi...does anyone of you know when it will be possible to fly to Spain? We had contact with ib and they hope the next frozen transfer will be possible around the end of June.
I hope so too! They recomnended a natural cycle with no estrogen this time...has anyone had experience with a natural cycle?

[JeNeBaguetteRien]

Hi @Caroosje I'm with IB too, the Madrid clinic, also on a guarantee programme but due to have one OE attempt then two DE attempts.
It is technically possible to fly to Spain, there are very few flights though and I don't know about what insurance would cover. The FCO is advising against travel. There is also currently the 14 day quarantine plan on arrival to the UK, further details to be announced. But I think you can quarantine at your own home.
Anyway I was optimistic and ordered EHIC as it would cover public medical assistance.

@CJ72507 that's good your UK consultant works with IB, should be useful if you need any scans at home.
Regarding flying over on the day of egg collection/transfer I would suggest you go the day before in case of any delays to flights that might cause a huge amount of stress for a time-critical process. I know they could have your partner's frozen sperm already there as a plan B, but just something to bear in mind.

I haven't read back through the thread but on this page see the sad news from @sequinednostrils 💐 and @Caroosje 💐

[JeNeBaguetteRien]

@Caroosje there is still no news on when travel to Spain will be possible, although there are flights I spoke to the clinic and they said the borders are not open to non-resident foreigners (some exceptions but basically we wouldn't be able to enter the country.)
IB would want us to have Covid-19 antibody tests in the UK and test for active infection in Spain. They are being very careful about infection risks, which does mean for anyone having egg collection it would be cancelled if they have coronavirus.

[Caroosje]

Hi...Thank you for your reply..I read on the news today that Spain plans to open the borders for tourists as from the end of june....so I hope that will happen. I am trying to get an covid 19 igg antibodies test here and my gp promised that I could take a covid 19 PCR test just before departure.
How are you holding on?

[CJ72507]

Hey... How are you ladies getting on trying to get to Spain? We spoke to the British Embassy in Alicante but they couldn’t help ☹️ It sounds as though Spain are also implementing a 14 day quarantine period but I’ve read that they will allow you to leave your place of quarantine to visit a ‘Medical Centre’ - Hopefully that will cover trips to IB.

[JeNeBaguetteRien]

Hi @Caroosje I too saw that the borders may open at the end of June, though not planning treatment until I know for sure.
Madrid is just going into "Phase 1" a bit behind most of the country.
english.elpais.com/society/2020-05-22/spanish-government-will-allow-madrid-region-to-enter-phase-1-of-deescalation-plan.html

That is good your GP will do the PCR test.
I don't think mine will do anything like that, it was a bloody joke trying to get day 21 progesterone tests back in the early days of TTC, I nearly lost the plot ringing the blood test line only to be offered 2 weeks after I needed it.
I'm also going to need an antibodies test but will wait until I know when we'll plan on starting treatment. I saw that Superdrug were doing one for £69.

I'm holding up variably, sometimes positive and all philosophical that there are worse things going on, and other times so frustrated I could scream. How about you?

@CJ72507 I imagine the clinic will give patients a letter to take out with them in case they are stopped, it will probably say for medical treatment. I intend to stay close enough to be able to walk to the clinic.

Will also need to buy some masks!

I got an email from a new patient coordinator, hoping my usual one is not ill! My doctor at the clinic has already had coronavirus.

[JeNeBaguetteRien]

I'm hoping to start treatment at IB again over the summer.
Have found a clinic where I can get coronavirus antibody tests done (the Superdrug and other finger prick blood tests have been suspended).

[Caroosje]

Hi...I am planning a frozen transfer in a couple of weeks. Probably around the 24th of June. IB expects I will be able to come to their clinic as other people have been able to do so recently. They give you a letter to show to the authorities.
I took an antibodies test for covid 19 but it was negative.
Good luck to you...keep me posted!