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Infertility

Our Infertility Support forum is a space to connect with others in the same position, discuss causes, treatment and IVF, and share infertility stories of hope and success.

Overseas IVF cost

100 replies

AniSL · 17/12/2017 22:52

Hi all

I am currently looking into IVF overseas, sadly we do not qualify on the NHS due to 36 being too old. I have looked at costs here and they are difficult to swallow with some clinics going up to 20k for one cycle. Even though we have some savings that could cover this, I do not want to blow that much money in search of a BFP when there are other options available. I would prefer to spend a fraction of that cost on the IVF and the rest on my child’s future. That being said, has anyone used clinics overseas in the last year? What was the cost of the actual treatment (excluding flights and accommodation)? Did it include drugs or where they additional? Was the experience a positive one and was it successful?

I have researched a fair few but people experiences are always better than the online reviews as these can be fake.

Ani

OP posts:
VanCoolik · 15/03/2019 11:12

We have been trying at Reprofit Czech Republic (Brno) for nearly a year and 3 failed mini IVF cycles. On their web, they claim that for each patient they prepare a tailored plan for every woman and every couple & use individual approach, but that is a lie. Every time we arrived at the clinic we met a different doctor and different nurse, we have never met our coordinator in person. We saw 3-4 different doctors each cycle. Besides, they already have got written stimulation protocols (with meds) that they give out to all patients, irrelenvant of their conditions or blood work. They rarely do further blood tests (e.g. genetics, immunology, haematology, PGS etc.), even if the patient is over 40. You basically have to beg for everything.

They also have a special incubator called Timelaps Geri, in which they can monitor development of your embryos thoroughly with a camera and without any other disturbance. However, they do not offer it to patients, each couple needs to specifically request it otherwise their embryos go into the main incubator with all other couples’ embryos (so your embryos are disturbed every time they need to check other couples’ stock).

Sadly, all questions are usually not answered fully and the communication between you & Reprofit’s doctor is done only by email, so the frustration is building up (on both sides) with every failed cycle and trust in your doctor is disappearing. You won’t see him at the clinic much anyway. They are very reluctant to changing their approach so they just simply repeat same cycle over and over again (without any slightest tweaks or improvements).

They treat well only patients who are after donated eggs (approx. £3,500-4,000). So, if you are 40+ and you want to try your own eggs first, please go elsewhere. Doctors at Reprofit Brno will defo not do maximum for each individual couple or cycle (especially if you are over 40) and will treat you like POS.

It is a huge disappointment to us both as this clinic was recommended to us by a very good friend. She underwent treatment there about 5 years ago but when we compared personal experience, she was shocked how much the place has changed (in a negative way). I really am tired of them treating me this badly when we invested so much into becoming parents (and I am not talking about money).

PS: Just recently I was told by other friend of mine that like me, she underwent 3 failed cycles there and was not happy with their approach either. They refused to investigate why the treatment was failing and still repeated exactly same cycle. She and her partner then changed clinics and got pregnat on the very first try, and she will be giving birth any day now.

I DO NOT recommend Reprofit Czech Republic (Brno) simply because I am not the only one with bad experience there. Furthermore, if you are over 40 and would like to try your own eggs, don’t bother, they will emotionally destroy you, and your partner. Most likely, their doctor will approach your stimulation with their standard approach for patients under 40 or even under 35 and if it fails, they will not investigate why and will just blame your age. Or if unhappy, they might even recommend changing clinics. Disgusting!

Viletta · 15/03/2019 13:30

@VanCoolik thank you for your feedback. I am planning to go to Reprofit in 3 weeks for the first cycle (had one failed in the UK). So far I have good experience. I've got same doctor following up via Skype and checking my test results. She offered me the Geri incubator proactively. Due to massive cost savings with Czech and also better feeling when we are abroad, we decided to go for it. I'll keep posted on my results. We are both in early 30s with severe male factor. Both trying own eggs and sperm so far. I'm a bit annoyed how light heartedly all clinics offer sperm donation. This is not something we consider at all at the moment but I guess for them it's a routine and they want us to know all options..

I'm sorry to hear you had such a terrible experience. Are you considering further treatments in the UK?

VanCoolik · 16/03/2019 00:57

@Viletta to be honest, we were quite shocked how light heartedly they offer donor eggs at Reprofit. They told us before our very first IVF cycle and they couldn’t even know then if I could or couldn’t produce my own eggs. I think that in your case they might be more open to look for other ways ‘cause you are much younger than 35.

Definitelly go for the Timelaps incubator. It is worth it.. To be honest, I believe that bad sperm is better than bad eggs and all IVF clinics have many ways of finding the right one or two “soldiers” to fertilise your eggs. However, ask them to tell you about every possible approach, also maybe read through their website. There is a lot of useful info there.

No, we will not try in the UK as the clinics are far better and affordable in CZ. I will take a brake for a couple of months to rest, find a new clinic and get all possible testing done before our next try. I need to find out if my age is our only obstacle to have a baby, or if there is something else.

All the best at Reprofit. I hope your doctor is better and has more empathy than ours.

Viletta · 16/03/2019 11:55

@VanCoolik I think the clinics often want best results for their stats to show good success rates for the future clients, and if they think the best result will be with a donor they offer it. For us though we want our genetic children and ready to be persistent and patient. Maybe tell them that donor is not an option for you at all to make them work harder. Every cycle is very different, you'll get there! Good luck xx

VanCoolik · 16/03/2019 12:12

@Viletta thanks. When the doctor mentioned the donor egg in nearly every interaction with us, we politely asked him not to mention it any longer as we wanted to try our own chances first. After that, it seemed like the doctor lost interest in looking for another obstacle in getting pregnant, I mean rather than my age. All doctors were like: what you expect at 40+? As you said, they don’t want any complex cases, they want their success statistics to go up. On their website, they claim that they constantly improve their success in patients of 40-43, but the reality is sadly very much different.

Our biggest disappointment was that the doctor did not suggest anything different than the standard approach, totally reluctant to ordering further tests or looking into the issue of our infertility further. No empathy whatsoever.

Hope you are more succesful at Reprofit with a female doctor than us with a male.

Viletta · 18/03/2019 17:26

Hi all, do you know how easy and quick it is to order meds once you've got a prescription? I've only got 9 days till my period and still waiting for prescription.. they want to wait till my husband's test is ready..

VanCoolik · 18/03/2019 17:48

Order it where? UK or Czech Republic? Fertility2U takes about 3-4 days but there is a pharmacy in London (Ali’s Pharmacy Shadwell) which will give it to you earlier. They accept Czech prescriptions from Reprofit. However, they are more expensive. I called them obe day and collected my meds the very same day (including needles).

VanCoolik · 18/03/2019 17:50

Sorry, I meant “ I called them one day and collected my meds the very next day.”

Viletta · 18/03/2019 18:23

@VanCoolik thank you! I'm south west, will probably have to order online with a delivery. Last time it arrived in freeze bags, I'm not sure how long it'll take for prescription to be processed at the pharmacy.. I guess I'll have to call rather then order online? Or do I order online and attach the prescription? Sorry for too many questions

Lauren83 · 18/03/2019 18:53

I agree with PP, I used fertility2u for scripts from Athens but also used Ali's pharmacy who were really quick but a little more expensive

VanCoolik · 18/03/2019 21:12

@Viletta yes, give them a call first. They will tell youi everything necessary.

Viletta · 11/04/2019 12:06

Hi all, fertility2u worked out really well, my meds were only £500 and they agreed to deliver the next day as I was worried af would come early.

My treatment in Reprofit Czech costs around 3000 euro, this includes: IVF with ICSI, Picsi and MACS, embryo freeze, bloodwork.

On top of that we spent around £800 on flights and hotel. Works out much cheaper than the UK where we paid £5000 on icsi alone without additional sperm diagnostics such as Picsi and Macs. I also got more eggs in Czech and all of them fertilized! Last time we only got 40% of our eggs fertilized. So far all goes well and I love the clinic, staff and Czech, lovely country!

GLH85 · 12/05/2019 18:33

Hi AniSL, please could you send me the spreadsheet?

Thank you x

VanCoolik · 23/05/2019 11:31

Hi ladies, anyone done a scan before FET in London. I am preparing for FET abroad and need to get a scan if everything is ok down there. Could you help with some tip for a scan in London?

Geluksvogel · 24/05/2019 16:58

@vancoolik - the birth centre on Harley Street are who we have used for our scan pre FET in Cyprus. You never seem to get the same sonographer twice but they’re good and friendly.

EarlGreyT · 24/05/2019 21:39

I have been to loads of different clinics for this. All have been fine and to be honest, I’d pick based on a combination of whichever is the cheapest and which has an appointment time to suit you. For a FET they’re mainly looking for your endometrial thickness and if medicated to check your ovaries look quiet so you don’t need them to have any super specialist skills and for a medicated FET you are only likely to need one or maybe 2 scans so I wouldn’t worry too much re continuity.

Sorry, back to your actual question- the birth company on Harley street, the GP surgery on St. George’s road in Wimbledon, sonoworld on Weymouth street, this is my (www.thisismy.co.uk/ultrasound-in-fertility-overview), you could also try ultrasound direct, but I never managed to find an appointment in a clinic location which suited me. All of these are fine and you just book a scan appointment directly with the clinic-you don’t need any kind of referral letter.

twinkledag · 24/05/2019 21:39

I've used the birth centre on Harley street and also Gennet Fertility May be able to help? They're in Farringdon.

VanCoolik · 24/05/2019 21:58

Thanks for great info, ladies.

FYI, I have called the clinics on Harley Street but the scans there cost between £150-220. So I then called Gennet (Farringdon) and they will do it for £130 but need a referral letter (which the clinic will send me on Monday).

Btw I was going to try the GP Surgery as they charge £120 for a scan but then decided for Gennet as my clinic works closely with them in Europe.

Thanks again :)

JEthel · 18/10/2019 16:27

Hei Ani, I've been reading your posts. I am planning to have ivf treatment in December this year, would you kindly send me a copy of your costing spreadsheet so I can make decisions on where to have the treatment. Thank you 😊

Leylavb · 28/10/2019 12:26

Hello @AniSL, could I have a copy of your spreadsheet if you don't mind? Please??
I did sent you a PM, thanks

mumsynet04 · 10/11/2019 14:31

@rintusa i have a had a very bad experience with North Cyprus IVF (They are also called Elite Hospital) do not go there. They do not bother after paying the full amount. They did not even respond to me when i left the place. I had to send so many msgs to them to get medication instructions after arriving in UK. Such bad service. Try Bahencei as i am thinking of going to them after my 1st failure. Please anyone has price information on Embryolab do share with me.
Good Luck Ladies...

mumsynet04 · 10/11/2019 14:31

@AniSL please share your spreadsheet with me as well.

Hopeful246 · 07/12/2019 19:21

@AniSL Please could you share your spreadsheet with me too?

Hopeful246 · 07/12/2019 19:34

Hi I wonder if anyone can help please? I am 45 and wondered if it’s too late for me to have ivf using my own eggs?

EarlGreyT · 08/12/2019 11:05

The HFEA quote 2% chance of success with ivf with own eggs age over 44.

Your chances may be a bit better or worse than this depending on what initial fertility investigations show-these would give you an idea on whether your ovaries are likely to respond to IVF meds. However, even if investigations are good for your age, the majority of your eggs are likely to be chromosomally abnormal and there isn’t a test for egg quality.

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