For 1st cycle, would you go abroad or stay in UK?

[FirstTimerIVF]

I wondered if anyone would be willing to share their opinion and/or experiences on something ...

We're hoping to do our first own egg IVF cycle this summer. Having never had any fertility treatment before, we're unsure whether to go straight abroad or have a cycle in the UK first to get used to the way my body responds to the fertility drugs.

Where did you have your first cycle - and would you do it again or choose a different option? I know there have been a few threads on this in the past, but none appears recent / the outcome of decisions wasn't clear.

Thanks in advance for anything you can share - feeling wary of doing it abroad but the cost in the UK is really high for arguably similar success rates!

If it has any bearing on the advice you'd give me, the two clinics I have corresponded with are Reprofit (Czech republic) and Serum (Greece). Both have advised me to have a hysteroscopy before starting treatment, which I wasn't really expecting ...

No advice but just wanted to say we are in pretty much the same position. Looking at doing self funded IVF this summer and are thinking of going abroad and not bothering with the UK. I have been in touch with Alicante and Reprofit and so far leaning towards Alicante. We are going to head to the fertility show in Manchester in March because it seems like you can get a lot of info on overseas clinics in one place. Might be something to consider?

We went straight for the abroad option due to the cost. We went to Reprofit and were really happy with the treatment. Would thoroughly recommend it, the cost of UK treatment is daylight robbery. Good luck x

In hindsight I wish we went abroad

Did 2 UK fresh cycles £12k - both failed and none left to freeze

Researched and costs abroad so much cheaper

Yes scary going abroad but the clinics all have English speaking staff and personally I think the technology is more advanced abroad

We used ivi MADRID and tho 3rd fresh cycle failed I had more embryos that survived and some left to freeze

Def look abroad

And yes having a hystercopy is often normal to check inside of you etc

Thank you so much for your advice and experiences, it is incredibly helpful to hear about them.

After a long wait I had an appointment with a UK fertility clinic today - got the results back for DH's sperm analysis which are: normal count (22 mill per ml), low progressive motility (14% vs >32% reference) and low morphology (1% vs >4% reference). Although the consultant was lovely, the meeting confirmed my decision to go abroad, where ICSI tends to be included as standard vs. the UK when it is charged for additionally. I probed the consultant for details of the likely protocol to be used, including the brands and doses of medication, and frequency of ultrasounds etc., as a yardstick for discussions with other clinics re: their recommendations.

My own reproductive organs seem to be in good health and AMH is 21.6 which apparently means I ought to respond to the drugs.

We are now erring towards Serum in Athens for sure, after emailing with them a few times. I will go ahead with the hidden infection testing when I get my next period but I'm still really not sure a hysteroscopy is necessary. I've had very thorough ultrasound evaluation and apparently the endometrium, blood flow and shape of uterus are normal (with no polyps or fibroids) and ovaries have quite a lot of antral follicles. DH's suboptimal sperm analysis means that we will start the Serum sperm improvement protocol early (ahead of his visit there for a further analysis) as that's what I think we would be recommended if we'd had this initial analysis with Serum. I'm hoping to confirm this, and discuss the hysteroscopy, by Skype with Peny (the doctor) soon... They offer a package of 2 cycles (in the same year) for 4000 euros (excl meds).

This is beginning to feel very real. The thought of it not costing as much as a UK procedure is very appealing.

Go abroad! I was persuaded away from Penny in a Serum and I’m now going via Leeds and Cyprus but it’s not the most organised process I’ve ever had TBH... and it’s costing me thousands more. If I could do over I’d be brave and get on the plane.

We went to invicta clinic in Poland for our first and only round - we did the package that included the stim meds (lucky really as I needed a few extra days because I was a slow responder) and icsi. The package cost around £2750, and I think with all the flights and stuff it was about £5000 all in but it was worth every penny - my twins are now 4 months old. Wherever you go, good luck!

I have just come back from a holiday in Greece that also doubled up as treatment time for us. We did extensive research on which clinic we would choose for our first round of IVF, clinics abroad beat tye UK clinics hands down on cost, success rates and practices. Everything that is done here for eye watering prices is done so much cheaper abroad. We were happy with our clinic.