Feeling lost - ivf abroad?
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Many UK clinics do payment plans for multiple cycles or a refund programme where you get some or all money back if no baby. It’s worth shopping around and get started asap!
Realistically the money is obviously a concern but the biggest thing for me is actually the success rate. They just seem to be so much more successful abroad! And the people I know of who chose the go abroad had had multiple failed cycles in England before a successful first attempt abroad which is why I was considering it to be honest
Success rates can be super misleading. We did a lot of research before starting the journey - it is so much higher in my home country (Taiwan) and my husband’s too (Spain). We found out that in Taiwan multiple (>2) embryo transfers are a norm which is really what UK doctors are mostly against due to health risks to mothers and babies. Also some report pregnancies but not live births! Success rates do not pick up all these things. We also considered Spain but the stats are not much better to worth the hassle. My friends also told similar experiences but opposite from yours - they had several failures abroad and then decided to come back to do it in the uk for convenience. I think ivf is really down to lottery draw and patients’ individual circumstances matter a lot more than clinics tbh. Certainly if you take multiple draws you are more likely to succeed. What works for others might not work for you. It’s really personal tho so just want to share my experiences.
This article might be helpful for comparisons: https://fertilityroad.com/ivf/ivf-success-rates-explained/
@Wanyu thank you. I appreciate your help (all of you). It’s just such a minefield. I was really worried when looking at the success rates in England because unless it’s going to be payment plans,we simply can’t afford to have multiple go’s at 6-8k a pop! I’m so worried and have no idea what to do for the best.
Totally understandable. If your work is flexible then why not try abroad :) Until you go through it you really wouldn’t know what to expect (ohss risk, how many eggs collected, how many fertilise, how many left to transfer etc.) I have always had top stats (top ranked embryos, good lining, good response with 15 eggs collected each round despite being 37+), yet it still took me 3 years of ivf to get to age 40 now & 20 weeks pregnant, after 3 miscarriages & 1 chemical from previous 6 transfers. I was also very unlucky in fact that one of the successful fresh transfer almost killed me with an emergency surgery due to ruptured ovary and loss of 2.5 litres of blood! My doctor could not explain why and she was in shock too. Life is really a lottery draw!
@Wanyu I think to start with we just need to speak to someone. We need guidance. GP won’t help at all, says healthy lifestyle will resolve it! But sperm count has plummeted from 18 million to 3 million (motility & morphology improved) but sperm PH was 9! GP was clueless and said this is fine but even NHS website says that’s not right! It’s potentially a sign of infection, which would account for sudden sperm count drop. But actually getting to speak to anyone is impossible! Fertility Consultant discharged is so we now have no access to them for advice. I’ve heard people can have success with chlomid. But don’t think anyone will help us to get it 😢
I tried clomid - it helps with ovulation but if your issue is male factor + your age then it wouldn’t help much. Have you read “it starts with the egg?” Really good guidance as to what supplements to take for you both.
@Wanyu yes I’ve heard of women taking chlomid but I believe it can also be used for men. I haven’t read the book but have been recommended it. I’m just so frustrated I could cry. Partner won’t consider donor sperm or adoption and he’s the one with fertility issues and already has 2 children. So I feel like I’m just stuck in no man’s land and have no options of what to do,with time running out for me. I’m just desperate to have a child 😢😫
How old are you? Honestly even if you speak to any professional now they would simply suggest ivf. Sounds like your partner needs to be on supplements asap. Mine was taking coq10, d, wellman and everything suggested by the book. Also if you have had MMC before i you might have immunological issues (which I have too) and your ivf consultant should be able to run more tests. NHS wouldn’t investigate this until you have 3 miscarriages.
He’s taking coq10 and some other supplements (good ones but forgot name) and just ordered ashwagandha supplement today too. No chance of having miscarriages at the minute as I can’t even get pregnant with his numbers being so low 😢 the supplements have improved motility and morphology numbers are actually very good. But I’m so concerned about sudden dip in sperm count and GP just isn’t interested
I’m 38,nearly 39
@Margot I’ve had a full thorough check through the hospital. No identified issues with me but unfortunately there’s no test available to find out the health of your eggs.
At 38-39 I’d say just start ivf asap! We paid £10K for 2 ICSI cycles (because my clinic doesn’t offer refund programme for my age, 38-39 as well) and I think it’s not a bad deal. We ended up having 2 egg retrievals and 4 transfers, which would be a fortune if we did PAYG (more than 20K for sure). But if you’re lucky enough to be successful in your first transfer you’d lose tons of money. We had a previous nhs funded experience so we knew that it would be worthy for us.
I’ve done 3 cycles & 7 transfers in the UK including nhs and private. Honestly ivf is tough physically and emotionally. Things could go wrong in any stage and I would not recommend going abroad for your very first cycle (unless it’s your home country and you know the system well). After you know the ivf process (which can take long or short depending on how your body responds to meds) and feel emotionally okay it will be easier to plan doing it abroad combined with a holiday treat. Otherwise you will be taking too much stress really…