IVF Cost

Twelve days after I sent my letter requesting information on the IVF cost, IVF success rate and IVF procedure at the Mediterranean Fertility Center & Genetic Services in Crete, Greece I received the reply below. This is great information with all of my questions addressed directly.

Their website is worth having a look at, there is some good general information on there as well as information about the clinic itself. Click here to go to their website. The full contact details for the clinic are:

Address:
Mediterranean Fertility Center & Genetic Services
Jacumakis Ioannis
24 Zimvrakakidon St.
Chania 73136 Crete,Greece

Telephone: +302821090955
Mobile: +306972247074
Fax: +302821090355
e-mail: ivflab@otenet.gr

The high rate of fertility together with the quality and devotion of our staff, combined with reasonable prices, attract patients both from Greece and from around the world.

We shall try to answer in a comprehensive way, to your questions:

What is the current success rate for your clinic?

–         The clinical pregnancy  rate (fetal heart beat detected by ultrasound) we obtained last year (2009) for IVF – ET /ICSI with fresh oocytes/embryos, by age for each started cycle, is as follows:

The clinical pregnancy rate (fetal heart beat detected by ultrasound) we

obtained last year (2009) for OOCYTE  DONATION  with fresh oocytes/embryos for each ET is:……55 %………………

How many cycles do you perform per year at the clinic?

In 2009 we performed ……702………. oocyte pick-up procedures for standard IVF and…522………… oocyte donation procedures, with fresh embryos.

What is the maximum age that you treat?

The law in Greece allows to treat female patients not older than 50.

–         Is there any fertility condition that you will not treat?

We treat almost all conditions, even those where egg / sperm donation are required. The law in Greece permits all these procedures.

What is your embryo transfer policy? How many embryos will you replace at     one time?

The Greek laws allows the transfer of 2, 3 or 4 embryos at one time depending on the

age of the  patient;  the policy we follow depends therefore on each single case: the doctor together

with the embryologist and the patient will discuss the single case, according to the

number of embryos available: sometimes, especially if there are many embryos it may be reasonable to develop the embryos to the blastocyst stage so

that a  selection of the best embryos will have occurred and the number of embryos

will have decreased through natural selection; if there are many embryos however we

have the facility to freeze extra embryos.

–         What is the basic cost of the IVF treatment?

–         What additional costs would/could be included?

You have to add the costs of transportation from your country to Greece and the costs of accommodation for approx. 1 week.

In addition, you have to add the costs of medication (for ovarian stimulation) and the costs for supplementary procedures, if needed, such as ICSI-IMSI, freezing of embryos, PGD .

–         What happens to the costs if the cycle has to be abandoned?

The costs will be much lower if for some reason we do not reach the transfer stage: for example if the follicles rupture before presumed ovulation (which happens quite rarely especially with nowadays down regulation protocols) or if  fertilization or subsequent cleavage do not occur

–         How long would I need to be in Greece for?

Usually, our foreign patients stay for 10 days; they are followed by their doctor during the first days of the ovarian stimulation and come to Greece only when they are close to the ovulation day. This prevents patients to come with  no follicles and reduces costs. If patients prefer to come to  Greece right from the beginning of the stimulation we will be very happy to welcome them all the same. The medical costs will not increase.

–         Who deals with the logistics of flights and accommodation?

Usually patients deal with the flights and hotels, but we can help to find hotel at low cost, since the Island of Crete is a touristic place, there are many charter flights coming from all over Europe during spring, summer and early autumn; therefore we inform patients of these opportunities.

–         How is the pre-treatment carried out?

The results of the blood tests and of all required examinations is sent to us by the patients by e-mail or fax. If they have some difficulties in doing these tests at home, they will do them in Greece, once they arrive.

–         How do I get medication?

Usually medication is acquired by the patients in their own country, through their doctors.

How will I be monitored?

Monitoring is performed by vaginal ultrasound examination and by  hormonal blood evaluation. Usually these are performed while the patient is still at home with their doctor and the case is discussed with one of our doctors here by phone. Monitoring is then completed here in Greece as soon as the patient arrives. Sometimes the patient arrives the day before ovum pick-up and therefore the whole monitoring has been performed at home.

How will I know that I am not being under/over stimulated?

If it is the first stimulation, it is not very easy to predict the degree of stimulation, even though there are clues that may help; if a stimulation has already been performed in the past, it is easier to know and decide the right dose of drugs to be used. Anyhow, since the drugs are being administered while the patient is being monitored, we know before ovum pick-up what will be the response of the ovary (under/over stimulation).

–         If I have a problem whilst in my country, who would I go to?

We are on call round the clock and you can call us any time. Moreover, we

have connections with some doctors in many countries.

–         Is the Clinic registered with any regulatory body?

–         Yes under the Helenic Authority of Assisted Reproduction,

–         as the HFEA in England.

I hope we have answered your questions.

Best regards

Monica Tsouroupaki ;  ivf director

Dr. Jannis Jacumakis  ; clinical director

Attachment with the couple investigation questionnaire:

FERTILITY CENTER CHANIA

Giannis Giakoumakis obs/gyne

M.Botsary 64 chania 76136

Crete Greece

Please answer the questionnaire,

Fertility history

Female name——————————–                   Age ——————-

Male name —————————————-           Age ——————-

Phone ———————-cell phone ——————-Address……………………

Number and outcome of previous pregnancies——————-none——————–

Viable birth———–spontaneous abortion——————induced abortion———–

Ectopic———–molar————-

Duration of infertility—————–

Previous investigation and treatment of infertility, explain————————-

History of previous assisted reproductive attempts ICSI or IVF

Fertilization failure————–,premature embryo arrest——————–,

Pregnancy failure—————-,early abortion——————–

Explain in details;———————————–

Clinical assessment of female fertility

Menstrual bleeding normal————–,abnormal—————–

Menstrual cycle  regular menses————-, other describe———————

Uterine cavity ( by HSG or Hysteroscopy ) normal———-,other describe————–

Test of tubule patenty

Right side normal———————,other describe——————————

Left side normal——————,other describe————————-

History of diseases with possible adverse effect on fertility:

Endometriosis—————–, Polycystic Ovaries Syndrome——————–,diabetes—————,Thyroid  disease————————,other describe———————-

Laboratories Assessments

1-     andrology investigation

2-     spermogram ( semen analysis )                lab results———————————

ll- endocrinology investigation:

On the third day of period

FSH———–LH—————Estradiol————–

Prolactine level——————–

III- Genetic investigation prior IVF

Chromosome analysis female        no———-yes———–karyotype—————–

Chromosone analysis partner           no———-yes———–kariotype—————-

Sperm apoptosis            no————-yes————–apoptosic index———%

Aneuploidy test in sparm by FISH    no———–yes—————-

( name which chromosomes were study ———————— result—————–

microdiletion of chromosome Y test no—————yes————-genotype———-

cystic fibrosis test of partner  no———- yes—————– genotype

IV-  microbiology assessments

CMV  no———- yes————

Chlamydia-            -no—————-yes—————

Tuberculosis      no——————-yes—————-

Other describe       ————————-

V  – immunology assessments

Antisperm antibody testing ———————

Describe results —————————

Autoimmune female disorder ——————–

Describe results————————-