Choosing a clinic and payment

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Hi all

DP and I have been TTC for several years now and started the ivf process just before covid kicked off so didn’t get any further than all the initial testing etc
Since then we’ve had a couple of unforeseen expenses which ate into our ivf money - that is now rectified.

I have two questions that I cannot for the life of me figure out the answer to

IF we were to go abroad where the cost seems a bit more realistic how can we know that A the clinic is legit and B it’s regulated etc - is there a website we can use to look? A bit like over here

Second question: the clinic that we decided on here has the option of the refunded cycles
Now realistically how many rounds on average did people have? We just don’t know whether to pay per cycle or to get a “deal” on three cycles - the cost is significantly different but obviously the “deal” on three cycles is way less expensive than paying per cycle

Please don’t think this is all about money because it’s not, we just want to spend our money wisely and not end up getting caught out with hidden costs - we know that there are extras to add on.

Thanks if you made it this far!

I can't help with a, but with b) the statistics of IVF working first time are around 33%...less if you're older ofc.. So I would do 3 cycles if there's a cost benefit.

It is also worth asking your clinic if you can pay for 3 and then get a refund if you don't require cycles 2 or 3. Both of the two clinic I've used agreed to this. Although of course when calculating your refund you would get back the amount you paid for (discounted) 3 cycle package less the full price of the cycle/s you've used.

I changed clinics after using 1 full cycle of a 3 cycle package and they honoured out agreement (get it on email/in writing of course) and refunded me what was agreed.

Good luck

sorry I've reread and see it seems your clinic would refund you.. I'm not sure of the issue then unless it's a problem with cash flow at the outset? Just pay for 3 and then if you don't need 1 cycle you'll only end up paying for that and getting the money back

Thankyou for your reply

Sorry I wasn’t clear on the refund thing. It’s refunded if there is no live birth. So my understanding is that you’d only get refunded if it’s unsuccessful but I could ask the question of being refunded for the cycles we don’t use if that happens

My gut feeling is to pay for three

Ah I see...yes check with them then. Both of mine were happy to refund if I just decided to stop part way through.

Thank you 😊

I've just had my first frozen transfer with IVF-Spain in Alicante. The doctor told me their cumulative pregnancy rate is over 80%. About 40% on first try, 70% in two tries, and over 80 by the third, which is apparently how it's generally measured. But of course this doesn't cover the egg collection itself, as it doesn't count in the percentages until there's a transfer performed, and some women won't have any blasts after undergoing IVF.

Also, I think that most centres might be reporting clinical pregnancy rates (this means 6 week scan shows a heart beat) and not all of these will make it to birth. I was told that IVF-Spain has had more than 7,000 births.

As for what they are like, their care is exemplary. I really can't fault them. Lovely, caring people, modern facilities.

We used Reprofit in Czech Republic. They have all certification available and reports on success rates. We had 2 fresh cycles and 2 frozen before success