IVF Cost at Sint-Lucas Hospital Gent, Belgium
Nine days after I sent my letter requesting information on the IVF cost, IVF success rate and IVF procedure to Sint-Lucas Hospital Gent in Belgium I received the reply below.
I have included the attachments and have added the approximate costs in US$ in red.
The English version of their website can be found here. Dr Tom Coetsier’s email address is Tom.Coetsier@azstlucas.be.
Head of the Department of Infertility of the Sint-Lucas Hospital Gent
Answers to my questions:
- What is the current success rate for your clinic? (preferably by age as I know that the success rate will be much lower for somebody of my age) averge 35%/cycle, above 40 : 15 %/cycle
- How many cycles do you perform per year at the clinic? 500
- What is the maximum age that you treat? 45
- Are there any fertility conditions that you will not treat? HIV discordant couples
- What is your embryo transfer policy? How many embryos will you replace at one time? above 40 at least 2
- What is the basic cost of the IVF treatment? see attachment
- What additional costs would / could be incurred? see attachment
- What happens to the costs if the cycle has to be abandoned? refund
- How long would I need to be in Belgium for? if folow-up stimulation performed in UK, only from pickup tll transfer (3 days)
- Who deals with the logistics of flights and accommodation? patient
- How is the pre-treatment carried out? see attachment
- How do I get medication? in UK
- How will I be monitored? see attachment
- How will I know that I am not being under / over stimulated? see attachment
- If I have a problem whilst in the UK who would I go to? obs/gyn or gen practitioner
- Is the clinic registered with any regulatory body? yes
Attachment 1:
Dear Mrs., Mr.,
Concerning : FERTILITY TREATMENT FOR FOREIGN PATIENTS
in AZ Saint-Lucas Gent
It is an honour for me to offer you the opportunity to be treated in our centre with medically assisted reproductive techniques. These include the full range of possible treatment modalities, including ovulation induction, artificial insemination with own or donor semen, IVF, ICSI with or without MESA/TESE, assisted hatching, cryopreservation of gametes and/or embryos, preimplantation aneuploidy screening, …
As an introduction, I would like to situate our hospital and to illustrate the way IVF-treatment in our hospital is structured.
The Saint-Lucas Hospital is a large regional hospital near the city centre of Gent, the capital of East-Flanders. It has almost 900 beds, employing 15 gynaecologists, with 2600 deliveries a year (largest maternity in Flanders).
The Saint-Lucas Hospital has chosen to cooperate with the University Fertility Centre of Gent. The intake of infertile couples, the ovarian stimulation and the ultrasound monitoring are performed in the Saint-Lucas Hospital or in the Gynaecologic Center Gent (private practice). The ovum pick-up takes place in the Saint-Lucas Hospital and the laboratory procedures (in vitro fertilisation and embryo transfer itself) are performed in the IVF-laboratory situated in the University Hospital in Gent after transport of the oocytes in a specifically designed transport-box (It has been shown that the oocyte transport does not influence the IVF-results). We perform about 500 pick-up’s per year, with an average pregnancy rate of about 30 to 35% per cycle (in Belgian patients, we are not allowed to replace more than 1 embryo in a first attempt).
The advantage of a transport-setting is that we can personally follow each couple, still having the benefit of using a laboratory with maximal expertise. This is not possible within a large university hospital, where it is custom that ever changing doctors and assistants care for the same couple, since a university hospital primarily has a teaching function.
The University IVF-laboratory of Gent (second largest in Belgium with 1400 IVF-cycles per year) has established a wide transport-IVF network with collaborating centres in Flanders, as well as in the Netherlands 35% per ovum pick-up. The University IVF-
laboratory of Gent is performing active research to develop new techniques in IVF. Numerous publications originating from our team have been published in scientific journals.
In our center there is no waiting list, which means that patients can be treated whenever it suits you. The only exception is oocyte donation and PGD-AS, with a waiting list of respectively 1 year and more or less 6 months.
We enclose hereby some documents describing the ways cooperation could be implemented in practice, and leave these notes for your comments.
Of course, we are at your disposal to personally comment or discuss the different aspects.
Looking forward to a successful cooperation,
We remain, Yours Sincerely,
Dr. Tom Coetsier Dr Nele Van Renterghem
Attachment 2 – Costs
Hospital : Private practice :
AZ Sint-Lucas Gent Gynaecologic Center Gent
Groenebriel 1 Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 142
9000 Gent 9000 Gent
BELGIUM BELGIUM
www.azstlucas.be www.gcgent.be
tel +32/9.224.63.92 tel +32/9.222.99.22
fax +32/9.385.43.66 fax +32/9.235.07.47
For emergencies or if no answer on one of the above mentioned numbers, contact the centre on the tel nr : +32/92350746
PRICE LIST IVF-TREATMENT 01/08/2008 – 31/12/2008
Visits to the clinic for consultation or ultrasound scan : 50,- Euro (approx. US$68)
Sperm analysis : 35,- Euro (approx. US$47)
Blood analysis : depends on the tests to be performed
Medication for 1 IVF/ICSI cycle (standard doses), if provided by our centre : 1000,- Euro (approx. US$1,357)
Hospital admission for ovum pick-up or TESE / MESA procedure : 800,- Euro * (approx. US$1,086)
TESE / MESA laboratory cost (identification of viable sperm cells, freezing of the tissue for 2 years) 350,- Euro (approx. US$475)
Extending conservation time till the maximum of 10 years (as determined by Belgian law) 600,- Euro (approx. US$815)
Donorsemen for 1 IVF/ICSI cycle : 150,- Euro (approx. US$204)
IVF or ICSI laboratory cost (IVF-laboratory University Hospital Gent), including 2000,- Euro * (approx. US$2,713)
oocyte identification, sperm preparation, micro-injection procedure,
embryo culture, freezing for 2 years, thawing of embryos
Extending conservation time till the maximum of 5 years (as determined by Belgian law) 300,- Euro (approx. US$407)
Laser assisted hatching 250,- Euro (approx. US$339)
Assisted oocyte activation 150,- Euro (approx. US$204)
PGD-AS (genetic screening of the embryos (aneuploidy-screening ,FISH)) 1000,- Euro (approx. US$1,357)
(we do not perform gender selection for non-medical reasons)
Intra-uterine ultrasound-guided transfer of embryos : 250,- Euro * (approx. US$339)
Oocyte donation (donor renumeration) : 600,- Euro (approx. US$815)
Coordination fee (incl tel contacts and e-mail correspondence) + administration 300,- Euro * (approx US$407)
Extra coordination fee in case of oocyte or embryo donation : 500,- Euro (approx. US$678)
These figures have to be added to obtain the total price. A typical IVF/ICSI-cycle with stimulation followed elsewhere costs * 800 + 2000 + 250 + 300 = 3350 Euros (approx. US$4,544)
P.S.
These prices do not include travel expenses nor costs for hotel accomodation.
The hospital AZ Sint-Lucas is near the city centre of Gent and is only 10 to 15 minutes walking from most centrally located hotels.
The Gent tourism office can inform you about hotel accomodation :
Tel. +32 (9) 266 56 60
Fax +32 (9) 266 56 73
E-mail toerisme@gent.be
Website: http://www.gent.be
Our staff speeks Dutch, English and French and understands German.
Attachment 3:
Route Description to the Gynaecologic Centre Gent
Coming from Antwerp (E17) take the exit “Gent Centrum”. Follow that
direction. At the second traffic lights the road makes a slight S-turn.
Follow the road for another 100 m or so untill you see theatre “Capitole” on
your right hand side. Keep left because at the next crossing you will have
to take the road between the “Zuid shopping center” on your left and the
“Eat @ Café” in front of you. The name of this road is Vlaanderenstraat (road
with tramrails). Once in the Vlaanderenstraat, take the very first road left
(Oudescheldestraat), passing the back of the shopping center. At the end of
this road, take left again (Kuiperskaai). At the first traffic lights, turn
right (Lammerstraat). At the next traffic lights, turn left : this is the
Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat. The “Gynaecologic Centre Gent” is at no.142 on the
right hand side : there is a private parking for patients accessible from the front.
The address :
Gynaecologic Centre Gent
Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 142
9000 Gent
BELGIUM
Tel. : +32/9.222.99.22
Fax.: +32/9.235.07.47
MAP : SEE WEBSITE : www.gcgent.be
i need cost of plane from alanta ga and motel cost and the whole ivf cost
I am also trying to find info on IVF cost. Would you happen to know the cost for Louisiana or surrounding areas?
Heather,
Unfortunately I don’t have any specific information on clinics in Louisiana. I must admit that I have focused more on countries that offer a lower cost alternative to IVF and have not as yet got round to the USA or the UK where the costs are known to be higher. Perhaps somebody reading the blog will have some information that they can share.
Best of luck,
Sue
im a tunisian ladie married since12 years no kids no pregnancy i have a small uterus +endometrios my doctor ask me to do dilatation of uterus
=ivf iwant to do it in your clinic and i want to ask about cost and if you can provide for me appointement on 18 or 19 september 2009 to discuss my case thank you (mustafa_henda@yahoo.com)
i need brief information about ivf if you can accept euro health car
hi i m md gynecologist i m having 2 yr jo experience now i want to join some courseof IVF n work as a gynecolist i m trained in sonolgist > 1000 case of pelvis n abdomain, hystero lapro scopy,>1000 LSCS,>500 TAH,>100 VH,>100 emergency operation like ectopic pregnancy,subtotal hysteretomy,twisted ovarian cyst onco gynecology so I REQUEST U TO SEND ME INFORMATION ABOUT IV course in ur hospital thanks
I’ve recently came across your blog a few days ago and have been reading along. I thought i would post my first comment! I dono what to write except that I have enjoyed reading. Great blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often!! 🙂
Thank you very much for your kind words, and I am glad that you are enjoying the blog.
All the best,
Sue
Iam enterested in having an ivf done .would like an appointment.
Yours sincerely
Dear Dr
I am intreasted to do training in IVF at your centre. Will it be possible? Kindly give some information.
Thanks
Dr Ved
Hi! from Munich. I really like your blog
I usually don’t normally post on many another Blogs, nevertheless I just has to say thank you… keep up the amazing work. Ok regrettably its time to get to school.
after surgery, is it likely for the pain to come back? And, if it’s painful whenever the menstruation comes, would that mean surgery wasn’t successful, and the pain can come back?
I would like to know the cost of IVF procedure,risks involved,time frame for the treatment and any other details for my wife. She is 41 years of age,in excellent health. She has done some tests and was declared to be in excellent health.I have 2 kids from my previuos marriage and will still wish to have more kids with my wife.
Medical specialist Gender Choosing techniques, which assists to you to decide on your baby gender. Our Centre help couples to have a choice baby gender before conceived. Arrange for your baby gender to fufill your ultimate. After Pregnancy, please visit Week after week pregnancy
I am from Slovakia is England and I would like to artificial insemination How much would it happen
HI. I would like to find the cost of IVf procudure in your country I am willing to travel there, also, looking for a half black half white baby the reason being I am from ghana and my to be husband is a white man Please send more info on e-mail no attachments please just write regular e-mail thank you Vida
Sir , pls i ‘ll like to know more abt your hospital , cus i and my wife needs to have an IVF . We live in london and we learnt that in Belguim and your hospital is the best best place in belguim to have an IVF , pls cld you kindly detail me in whot are the process we have to go through in other to have a good IVF alright , and cld you detail me on how much it will cost to have it done , and all the nessaccary process involved ok , my name is Mr Duke Ukoh Duke ok Tanx
Hi,
I am Lore, resident in belgium and had a partial hysterectomy at age 20. i am now 29 and married. Is there any hope for me having children??via any means ??
i came across this document and i hope i am making the right observation!!!
http://claradoc.gpa.free.fr/doc/375.pdf
Thanks and hope to read from u soon.
Will gladly undergo any medical examinations.
Lore !
This is the worst hospital, i have only been for a consultation , after seen a doctor(Turkish origin) i decided this not to place to be, his approach was inhumane, he told me that each IVF trial cost 5000 euro + medicine. So if you decide to have a baby, my recommendation to you keep away.Hospital staff also useless and they pretend they dont speak French or English.Definitly NO NO NO
I have had a response from Tom Coetsier regarding the comment submitted from efide leboeuf. This is what he says:
“I am afraid there has to be a mistake : we have never seen a patient with this name, nor have we a Turkish doctor in our team. Probably this patient refers to another hospital in Gent.
Best regards,
Dr. Tom Coetsier
Medisch Coördinator
Zorgprogramma Reproduktieve Geneeskunde”
All the best,
Sue
I am currently living in Belgium due to my husbands work I am 22 years old with pcos & my husband is 26 with very low motility 6% & we have recently had icsi cyle in our hometown of clane ( clane fertility clinic ) we received the devastating news today that our cycle has not resulted in pregnancy, we had 13 eggs collected 5 fertilized with icsi & 2 grade A 4 cell embryos transferd on day 2 I was put on short protocol due to risk of ohss on my 1st cycle 3 months ago which had to be cancelled ( too many follicles) I would like to know what you think our chances of succes second time around might be I am completely devastated as everything seemed to be going so well please contact me as soon as you can I would like to start again as soon as possible thank you
I have had 4 IVF procedures, 2 in Africa and other two in America without success. The reasons that the doctors tell me is low ovarian reserve. I’m 39 years old and would want a child of my own (no age donation). In one of the IVFs from America, I had an early miscarriage and since then I haven’t repeated.
Please I need to try again and with accuracy because I feel desperate
Let me know the experience in that line and the rest of information
Thank you very much
Isiv
Hi Isiv, i saw your comment, First of all i wish you best of luck. I am planning to go to a private clinic in Istanbul/Turkey in October . It has a very good success rate. I have been searching different IVF clinics in the various countries in Europe, i currently live in the UK however as i am 40 years old and i do not qualify thorugh health system. So i have to pick very carefully, I cannot afford to have it done 4 times therefore i have only one chance maybe two. if you want i can pass the details to you.Good luck again
Sir , Please could you kindly tell me how much it will cost me for an IVF treatment , knowing that i am coming from London in United Kingdom ok . Cheers
hi i live in belguim im so interested in your sucess rate.please i also want to do an ivf treatment in ur clinic.am i covered also by my insurance or i have to pay by myself.and if i have to pay how much is the cost for ivf treament?i work here in anwerpen.is it also posible for instullmental payment as an internal patient.thnx
we need to talk on my mail please
Please I want to make an enquiry for ICSI treatment. I live in Germany and have done the treatment here in germany twice with no success. I am 39 and would love to use donor egg this time. I need information on the treatment with donor egg, the price of the treatment.
i have married to a Belgian man for one year. I have no kids no pregnancy. i am 47 and healthy.If it is possible i want to ask about cost and if you can provide for me appointment.