IVF/ICSI Abroad?

[nellis10]

Hi Folks!

Some of you may know me from the TTC boards, but I am now joining you guys in LTTC/AC.

DH has had 2 recent SA and they didn't come back good....vitality about 10% and Motility about 8%.

So DH and I have decided to look at ICSI as an option for us (we already have one DS who's 4) but obviously this will have to be done privately.

We don't have a lot of money (who does these days) so we are looking at a cost effective approach....UK seems to be very expensive and I am currently looking at a clinic in Turkey which seems to have had good success.

Is anyone else looking at IVF/ICSI abroad or has already has some success or experience?

Thanks so much in advance!

 

[MissAma]

Not following you, promise LOL but there are not many ladies that have done ICSI on the board yet, hon much less many crazy enough (like the pair of us) to do it abroad

First and foremost congratulations on springing back into action and wanting to do something about it! Also congrats on the two of you sharing the same goal and hurry! Exciting times ahead of you and you'll be preggers in no time, in retrospective it will be good that you got this result or else you would have tried on your own forever and not know.

We had our go in Spain. Typically it takes a few months to get scheduled and plan an operation like ours but like you two, we were impatient and dealt with the nastiness of not having many strong swimmers by springing into action and wanting to get the ICSI started right away so it was 2 and a half months after we contacted the clinic that I had the ET, and that was uber fast. - You said your DH wants to try before Xmas, not so sure it's gonna be doable because even if you call a clinic tomorrow and agree on a price and they have no waiting list there is an extensive array of tests they want the results of and then they need to down regulate your cycle then wait for AF and pump you full of hormones and that, even on a short protocol takes 45 days.

Another thing to consider is that when you go abroad -btw, if it's Jimened you're thinking of even more so!- you have plenty of other expenses other than the cost of treatment such as the flights, the hotel, the meals and the drugs. All those add up quick and in the case of some places like this Jimened clinic, there are businesses built around the clinic -like the expensive hotels they recommend- that are designed to cost you a lot. So you would have to plan very carefully. Also to remember that this will be at least 2 trips, 1 for the initial consultation and the tests and one nearer EC and ET and that you will need a local clinic to coordinate scans and blood tests results to be sent to the abroad clinic with or else you need to be abroad for over 3 weeks for the entire procedure.

In short, not to burst your bubble but just to caution you, if you expect it to cost nothing and be fast and painless without a lot of planning and carefulness then it will be stressing and disappointing.

Oh and if you are thinking of it as a vacation opportunity as well why not choose India -a great clinic there!- or Spain? Or even the Czech republic.

 

[nellis10]

Thanks babes!

Yep it was Jimined and we did think about doing it as a combined vacation due to their packages....

Still investigating, but am hoping within the next 3 months we can begin preparations for it!

 

[maz]

Hi Nellis

I am undergoing IVF at Origin in Belmont Road right now, and have a friend who is having ICSI there too. Her treatment including meds cost just over £4500. By the time you pay for treatment, book flights and accommodation, organise scans and blood tests (which could be done at home but may be chargeable), would it be much cheaper for you?

 

[MissAma]

That sounds like a far better outlook! The more of a deadline you can give yourself the less disappointed you will be! You can absolutely start the ground work for it a.s.a.p and do all the investigations and the clinic comparisons and all today!

Give that indian clinic a gander, I can look for the name if you can't find it, there was a three tries guarantee I was more than impressed with! -Hmmm maybe I should look at them again .... they had no BMI requirements...-

Edited: Found the email. Dr. Malpani. 4 cycles and if no baby full refund. They said it was "for you because we are confident you can succeed and we can give you a baby" but I'm pretty sure that's marketing!

 

[nellis10]

Hi Maz!

Yep I was looking at Origin and they did seem very expensive...and their success rates didn't seem very high! But we really want another child so it may be worth it.

How long did it take for you to get seen and started on IVF?

 

[maz]

I'm waiting for my NHS appt to come through - god knows how long that's going to be. Even the private slots at the Royal are about a nine month wait.

I got my doctor to refer me end of August, had my AMH test done within a week, got the results and had my pre-treatment consultation two weeks later, and started next cycle. My next cycle started two weeks after my consultation, and on CD21 of that cycle I started down regging.

We thought Origin were going to be quite expensive too but compared with going private at the Royal it's only an extra £1000 - which we thought was well worth paying considering the waiting times involved.

 

[nellis10]

Good to know about the comparison between Royal and Origin as I was trying to look into that too!

9 month waiitng list for Private!! Wow! That's a long wait!

I think I might get DH's doc to refer us to Origin and see what happens!

 

[maz]

It's certainly worth a look into. And what with the Health Minister making another £800k available to the NHS for fertility treatment, the private side of things at the Royal is likely to come to a halt. If I'm not successful this cycle, I'd definitely go to Origin again. It's a nice clinic, and everyone is really helpful. Nothing is too much trouble, which is great.... let me know how you get on.

I might ask them for a finders fee - heehee

 

[nellis10]

lol Refer one, get one free!!! Now that would be a great deal!!

I'm also looking at the Kaali Institute in Budapest...been reading good things about them!! Plus I've always wanted to visit Budapest!!!

 

[MissAma]

You can also look into Egg Share if you are trying to get your costs down.

I looked at the Indian clinic's name for you and all of a sudden my wheels started spinning so now I'm researching egg sharing like mad... maybe there's a way that we don't have to wait for the free go. I've emailed them for an estimate.

 

[maz]

Oooh - happy days - two people for me to obsess over now!

 

[maz]

lol Refer one, get one free!!! Now that would be a great deal!!

I'm also looking at the Kaali Institute in Budapest...been reading good things about them!! Plus I've always wanted to visit Budapest!!!

Wouldn't it just - but not bloody likely. Even if the second was at a reduction it wouldn't be quite so bad... Oh well - I'll still go again if needs be.

 

[nellis10]

At 37 I'd be too old for egg sharing unfortunately!