IVF abroad (from North of Ireland)

[Fizzbizz8]

Hi just wanting to check anybody’s experience with IVF abroad? We are thinking Czech Republic or Poland, however open to suggestions but we are quite limited with flights from Belfast.
Our first round failed and we have been advised we need ICSI this time and don’t need donor.
Thanks in advance!!
Liz

Hi, I'm also in Northern Ireland. I'm currently waiting on my first FET. Did you go privately for your first round? Do you know why are they only recommending ICSI now and didn't do it for the failed cycle? I've no experience of looking abroad unfortunately. Sorry that your first round failed x

Hey no we were actually NHS in RFC Belfast.

We got 6 eggs but they wouldn’t fertilise as the egg and sperm wouldn’t meet even though there was no issues with semen sample, so we didn’t get anything to transfer. Bafffled ourselves!!

How exciting, I hope all goes well for FET x

Sorry your cycle didn't work out, and it sounds like the clinic have been very vague as to why.
I'd suggest getting your notes from RFC and arranging a consultation with the clinics you like. They may have more insight. I think they'd be mote proactive.
I'd also say if you're going abroad get there well in advance of transfer day, any delays are just too stressful (even without the current ridiculous flight situation!)

If you're in Belfast there's an Ultrasound Direct on the Lisburn Road where you can have monitoring scans if necessary.
You can secure a slot for about a £30 deposit so you can book a few slots in advance and cancel if necessary, much less stressful to lose £30 than not be able to get a scan when you need it.

Also you may find a clinic you like in mainland UK which is easy (easier) to get to and no language barrier and often no waiting list. Just a thought.

Heymona thanks for the info on where I can get scans. That’s great to know.
We are still waiting on feedback as to how we move forward. I find them a little slow as it’s over 6 weeks now but they seem to be extremely busy. I think am just grateful we got to try as we waited over 3 years. Unfortunate about the outcome but onwards and upwards

I don't know if your feedback is via an actual appointment but since it was NHS treatment I would probably request your notes now, I think they have 30 days to send them and can charge a fee for photocopying but that's a good starting point for a private clinic you may use.

I know it's rubbish that your first cycle didn't work, so if there's anything that can be learned from it for future cycles hopefully leading to a successful outcome that could help.
IVF provision in NI is not the best, there are also some women on here from the Republic of Ireland who have travelled either to England (usually London but also Birmingham) or abroad.

With so much collective experience hopefully you can get some tips.

Also in Belfast there is a company called Examen, they used to be called Sperm Comet. Their sperm DNA fragmentation analysis is a really useful tool.

Hi, as previous poster before you spend any more money on IVF, get the sperm fragmentation tests done.

If you don't need donor eggs and sperm don't go abroad, it's extra stress and hassle you don't need.

Embryo batch of you can and make sure you have ICSI weather they recommend it or not. Go for Assited Hatching too.

What is your age?

The only time I will go abroad is if I need a donor egg and that's because in the UK the donor egg will probably be from a white person and I will need a little more melanin so would probably choose somewhere like Greece.

I am 36 and we were told there is no issue with egg and semen sample so far. Obviously there is something but they wouldn’t say what side. So further tests would definitely make sense.
When I look it up they talk about the egg releasing ‘chemoattractants‘ selecting sperm but it must be rejecting all sperm. I was thinking it was my egg.
Its much cheaper for ICSI abroad so that kinda our reason for heading away.
thank you all for the info

Hi @Fizzbizz8 I was curious as to how you’ve got on.
My situation is similar to yours as in we had 1 round on NHS that failed. All tests came back fine beforehand. My partner’s sperm seems fine and my AMH is within the normal level.
My previous clinic has recommended ICSI going forward. Thinking of going abroad but still to do the research and decide.

Hey we actually done another round there end of Nov 22, it was ICSI this time. I had egg collection first week in Jan 22 and got 16 eggs (only 6 last time). 16 were injected, 13 lasted to day 3 and then I can't remember after that. However the day after egg collection I took unwell and very bloated and tender. I contacted RFC Belfast and they said come straight up. Dr said I had mild OHSS and couldn't proceed with egg transfer or I could end up very sick, explained all and sent me home with meds etc. Took about 10 days to feel normal when my period came.

On the up side they froze 3 of our blastocysts and we are back on a waiting list (said about 4mths) and then we do a frozen run. I don't think it's really sank in yet tbh, but I have to be grateful for how far we have came from the first time. We Def not go abroad now until we get through these 3 frozen ones. We are unexplained, all tests are fine for both of us but ICSI worked so much better so far.

A few friends of mine had 1st time success with an IVF clinic from Gdansk, Poland (if you need more info, pm). Clinics from Czech and Poland offer same quality treatment at (almost) same price. Simple you need to check what clinic you can get easier. However, if you also want to consider clinics from Spain or Cyprus, this site includes detailed info on best IVF clinics and Europe. Hope this helps.

Hey

Could I have some more info on the Poland IVF options please