Deciding on a Clinic in Europe

Deciding on the right fertility clinic in Europe is an important decision. With so many available options, one might think that it's best to just go with the most affordable.  However, not all clinics are right for everyone and its important to do your homework before making a decision.  Some things to consider when selecting a fertility clinic in Europe include the following:

1) Does the clinic have experience treating people from abroad?  Some clinics will have consultants that will be able to translate and coordinate treatment and in some cases assist with travel arrangements. 

2) What are the country's fertility treatment laws? Some countries have particular requirements as to who they will treat and may not offer the particular treatment you seek.  

3) Consider the ease and feasibility of travel to the location where the clinic is located. Some clinics may not have a major airport nearby, therefore you may need to take a train or a bus to your destination. 

4) Research the clinic and see what others are saying about it. You can find out what others are saying on fertility discussion forums.  You can also contact the clinic directly to see if one of the doctors is available to answer any questions you may have about treatments, tests, medical procedures, etc.  Many clinics also provide online consultations with the treating physician to answer any questions you might have. 

5) For some. price is an important factor to consider, but it should not be the only reason guiding your decision. It's important to do your research. You want to factor in safety standards, pregnancy results, what will happen if there are any complications, etc., when selecting a clinic.  

6) If you have gathered enough data, have had an online consultation, have asked questions and have a good impression of the clinic, go with your gut and trust your instincts.  

We chose Reprofit in the Czech Republic for the following reasons:


1) When researching clinics throughout Europe, we found the most favorable reviews for Reprofit on several fertility discussion boards. We asked lots of questions and compiled as much information as possible about their experiences with the clinic. 

2) We were able to determine that the level of medical care in the Czech Republic was comparable to here in America.

3) Unlike America, embryo adoption in the Czech Republic is completely anonymous. Reprofit also does not use left over embryos from couples IVF cycles. The embryos are created using donated eggs and sperm from anonymous donors.  The donors go through a lengthy screening process and are under the age of 32. 

4) Reprofit has no waiting period.  This made arranging the procedure around my vacation time much easier.  

5) All of our appointments were scheduled through a third party consultant (Miracles Waiting), which made communicating with the clinic easier then contacting them directly.

6) Finally, going through Reprofit was more affordable, even after factoring in travel costs, then embryo adoption in America. We were able to save money on our second visit through a Shared Risk program Miracles Waiting has with the clinic.

Are you trying to find a fertility clinic in Europe?  Do you have any resources to share that have helped you decide on a clinic?

Our 3 Little Miracles with Embryo Donation

As I write this post, my two and half year old daughter is drawing a picture on the floor beside me while my one year old fraternal twins are watching TV in the living room.  I can't help but think back to three years ago when I started writing this blog and how much I dreamed of this day.  I remember planning our first embryo transfer in the Czech Republic and how nervous and excited I was at the same time.  I had spent so many years dreaming of having children with my husband, and had almost given up hope.  It took three embryo transfers to finally make our family complete. We now have a new set of challenges ahead of us, such as which Pre-school our children should attend and when to tell them the story of their conception. So many things to consider.

As for our children, all three of them are beautiful and brilliant!  Our two year old daughter Big A, has a feisty and spirited personality.  She loves to dance and run around the house.  We rarely find her sitting down.  She's very busy. She's also a happy and very intelligent toddler.  At two years of age she's already speaking in short sentences, and has amazing recall.  She's also a very sweet and loving and absolutely adores her two younger siblings.  

Our daughter, Big F, is the oldest twin.  She is feisty and spirited and quite frankly a "little wild." She's a very happy baby and rarely has anything to complain about. She enjoys the company of her younger brother and occasionally likes to tackle him whenever she can steal his pacifier.  She's also mommy's girl and prefers to fall asleep in my arms whenever possible and is quite the little snuggle bunny.  

Her fraternal twin brother, Big D, is the polar opposite of his twin sister.  He's quiet and observant and always seems to be thinking about something. However, he has an incredible sense of humor and is always laughing and giggling with his daddy. He loves to play with his older sister Big A. I enjoy watching him interact with his sisters. I can already tell he is very thoughtful and protective of them.  If he hears one of them crying he will get our attention. He's definitely an old sole in a little man's body.  

Our unorthodox and nontraditional way of starting a family may not be for everyone.  However, it worked for us and our children have brought so much joy to our lives. We are very happy. 

Are you considering embryo donation? Do you have any questions?   

Why we chose embryo donation in Europe vs. the United States

My husband and I did our research and decided that IVF in Europe was the most affordable and ultimately the best decision for us overall. 

There were several factors that lead up to our decision to seek embryo donation in Europe instead of the United States.

1. Anonymous embryo donors

Egg and sperm donation is anonymous by law in Spain and the Czech Republic.    

2. Healthy young donors
Donors have to be between the ages of 18 and 35 years old.

3. Donors go through a rigorous selection process
Both sperm and egg donors are screened for sexually transmitted diseases (hepatitis B,C, HIV, syphilis, chlamydia). Additionally, egg donors also go through genetic evaluations for Karyotyping, and CFTR (cystic fibrosis) mutations.

4) No Waiting Period
Typically, most of the clinics in the Czech Republic and Spain have shorter or no waiting periods than clinics in the US. This made arranging our procedure around my vacation time much easier. 

5. Western Europe Medical Care comparable to United States
The quality of medical care in Western Europe is comparable to medical care in the United States. The facilities were clean and modern and the technology was state of the art.  Additionally, a lot of their doctors are trained in the US then go back home to practice medicine.

6. IVF is cheaper in Europe than in the US
Even after factoring in a.) the cost of travel and b.) the fact that we had to make the trip twice because our first visit was not successful, we saved money by going to a fertility clinic in Europe. We were also able to save money on our second visit through a “Shared Risk” program with our clinic.

7. A "Shared Risk" program

Many fertility clinics throughout Europe and the United States have "Shared Risk" programs.  If a pregnancy is not achieved after the program, an agreed upon amount is refunded.  

8. English is the international language of business
And finally, do not be afraid of any language barriers. English has become the international language of business. You will find that most clinics throughout Europe will have several English speaking representatives to assist you.