In 2017, an Oxford academic paper stated that 1,382 clinics provided care in 39 different nations. Given the variety of options available, it’s understandable why the prospect of IVF can seem overwhelming.
Research, research, research
The secret to finding a great clinic is research, but use your time carefully. Make a list of clinics that appeal to you. Visit their websites, and then check for recommendations on social media. Finding reviews and comments is fairly easy since there are many platforms devoted to IVF. That being said, there is one thing to keep in mind. Since every patient has a unique journey, what works for one individual may not work for you in terms of preparation and medication.
In addition to the typical Facebook groups, there are plenty of other websites that offer forums, such as Fertility Friends and Baby Centre. There’s something for everyone on these platforms. Why not start your own thread?
After doing your research, it’s time to make a shortlist of clinics and consider scheduling consultations.
When searching for your perfect clinic, you’ll need to figure out what’s important to you. You’ll know once you’ve found the right clinic. The journey itself can seem quite daunting. That’s why its important to arm yourself with questions that can be asked at the first consultation. Each time you think of a question, write it down. You’ll be amazed at how many questions you’ll think of when the consultation is over.
How soon can I start?
“How soon can I start?” is one of the frequently asked questions. Remembering this, be sure to include “Is there a waiting list?” in your list of questions. If a wait is required, it’s usually brief and tends to happen when looking for a donor or if pre-test results reveal an unknown issue . Donor delays typically result from the donor having recently finished a cycle or, if they are a student, being in the middle of a semester break or exams.
Experience and success
One of the first things you should look into is the experience of the doctors and personnel. If the information about their qualifications isn’t readily available online, the clinic should be able to supply it to you.
Success rates are also very essential. It is important for you to know about both live births (births from full-term pregnancies) and clinical pregnancies (when the fetus develops visual or audible signs that may be validated by ultrasonography).
How will I be guided?
It’s likely that you will experience emotional fluctuations during fertility treatment. Quick responses to your questions and concerns are what you’ll need. Verify whether you will have a coordinator assigned to you specifically. If not, find out precisely who you will be getting in touch with for those crucial queries and worries.
Communication is the key. Do all of the doctors and staff speak your native language, or will you need a translator? Be sure to ask this at the outset. For some patients, this can play a massive part in whether or not a clinic makes the shortlist.
Transport and accommodation
A certain amount of planning goes into getting treatment overseas, so don’t forget to ask the clinic if they can assist you with accommodation and travel. Some may provide whole packages that include flights, while others may collaborate with hotels that give their patients discounts.
How you’ll travel from the hotel to the clinic and back is another consideration. Does the clinic provide a taxi or have its own driver? Are they able to assist with airport transfers? Find this out and also ask if you’ll pay the driver directly or the clinic, and in which currency.
IVF rules and regulations
You should be aware that every facility has a different set of rules and regulations. For instance, all IVF clinics in Prague are required by law to hold a licence that is issued by SUKL( the State Institute for Drug Control). Clinics are inspected to ensure they are in compliance with the law at least every two years.
In Spain, clinics are regulated by the National Commission of Assisted Human Reproduction. They must also report their operations and clinical outcomes to the Ministry of Health.
Therefore, you might want to consider looking into the clinics’ accreditation status and governance/regulation structure while creating your shortlist. Every clinic ought to be able to provide the necessary certification upon request.
Meeting your personal IVF needs
Check to see if the country of your choice can accommodate your needs in terms of treatment. Could they be of assistance if you’re single or in a same-sex partnership?
Greece recently passed a law requiring a single woman to sign a notarial deed in front of a notary and a translator. You declare in this act that you want a child alone through infertility treatment.
In Spain, on the other hand, mothers have the right to start a family regardless of their marital status or sexual orientation. Always remember to double-check this important detail right away.
Donors and Surrogacy
There are a lot of questions that arise if you want to receive donation treatment.
You should be aware of donor anonymity. Do the donors have an identity, or are they anonymous? What specific information can you find out about the donation if they are anonymous? Will the clinic match you or will you be able to choose from a list of basic profiles?
Egg donors are often anonymous throughout Europe, with Denmark and Portugal being the exceptions. When children conceived by donors reach the age of 18, they are entitled to obtain their donor’s personal information, which includes their name and last name, in both nations.
Extensive research is necessary for anyone interested in surrogacy. Make sure you confirm all the details with the clinic on the legal structure. For assistance in navigating the paperwork and understanding the laws, they ought to be able to connect you with a fertility lawyer.
Embryos and embryo transfer
“What happens to my embryos if I decide not to have any further transfers?” is another issue that frequently comes up. Please ask each clinic this question. It is legal in some nations to donate them to other couples receiving therapy, but it is not in others. In the event that this is the case, you will be notified and asked to sign an “Embryo Disposal Form” authorising the disposal of your embryos.
Regarding embryo transfer, many patients prefer to have multiple embryos transferred at once. A clinic’s own cap will be determined by the patient’s age and medical history, even though caps vary by country. Whereas in Spain it is permissible to transfer three, most clinics have a limit of two. There can be no more than four embryos transferred at once in Hungary.
Embryo health
Some clinics only transfer embryos that are in a healthy condition. Discussions about this topic are common in forums and in the medical community. When your genetic test results finally arrive, it can be heartbreaking to hear that there are no viable embryos. For this reason, you should think carefully before transferring what is considered a “non-viable” embryo, such as a mosaic embryo (which consists of both defective and normal cells). If you are happy to do so, please bring up this crucial topic at your initial session.
Be financially prepared
If your research has already begun, you are already aware of the high cost of fertility treatment. Be as financially prepared as possible. When contacting clinics, be sure to clarify exactly what is covered. They should be able to provide you with a breakdown of the costs. If something does not go as planned, be sure you understand your rights to a refund.
While some clinics include your first embryo transfer in the cost, many don’t. This is because, in the unlikely event that a transfer doesn’t occur, you won’t have to deal with the additional burden of requesting reimbursement for that portion of the treatment.
When discussing cost, find out from your clinic about installment plans and financing possibilities. Find out which currencies are accepted (especially if you wish to pay with cash). Please ask about any additional costs if you decide to pay with a credit or debit card.
If you choose to make a bank transfer payment, we advise doing so in person at your bank (if you can) as opposed to doing so online. This is so that banks can notify you right away if any information is missing because they deal with international transfers on a daily basis. It might be a good idea to capture a screenshot and submit it to your clinic after your transfer is complete. They can then look out for the payment and will be aware that you have made it.
Will my insurer or employer pay?
Few individuals know that their insurance may pay for fertility treatment, so find this out. It’s likely that your insurance will cover you fully or in part if you’re in France, Belgium, or Israel. Find out exactly what documentation you need from the clinic in order to submit the claim by contacting your insurance company.
If you work in the United States, your company might provide fertility coverage based on the state in which you live. A few companies that offer this are Starbucks, Walmart, Adobe, and Google, so it would even be worthwhile to take a part-time barista position only to benefit from it; however, you’ll need to put in more than 20 hours each week.
IVF overseas, a mixed bag!
In conclusion, IVF abroad can be a mixed bag of chances and obstacles, so you should thoroughly investigate your options before deciding if it’s the correct option for you.
Examine the advantages and disadvantages, as well as the logistics. How would receiving medical care overseas fit with your schedule? Is it easy for you to take a vacation from your job?
Examine the clinic’s background, licences, and laws. Regarding prerequisites (age, married status, relationship status, etc.), does the clinic tick all your boxes? How will you be supported, cared for, and guided? Will this affect your choice if you require a translator? Verify whether financing options are available or if installments are possible.
Find your perfect fit
Choose a clinic that best suits your needs. A clinic that treats you like a person and doesn’t treat you like a number. You should feel at ease with the clinic and have complete faith in them.
Your future family is in the hands of the fertility clinic of your choice.
Choosing the right fertility clinic is one of the most important decisions in your fertility journey. Book a free 20-minute call with Procreate to discuss your options and find the clinic that feels right for you.
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