ABOUT THE CLINIC

What should I consider when choosing the clinics?

City, location, transport, personality, credibility and gut instinct.

Google the clinic, check out chatrooms, search on the actual consultants and call them. It’s a lot to do with gut instinct as well as the basic facts. If you call them, do they spend time talking you through everything? Do they have a long waiting list? See below for more questions.

What questions to ask at the Clinic

• What procedures do they offer?
• Are there any research treatments that you may be considered for (maybe costs less?)
• Do they usually work with overseas people?
• What is their waiting time for treatment?
• Do you have any internal scan contacts in England?
• Who are their 24/7 contacts to call in any emergencies or anxiety attacks?
• What are their success rates – live birth, pregnancies etc?
• What pre-treatment information do you have to bring?
• What are the post treatment steps?
• How do you get the drugs?
• Do you need to have a scan on the first meeting?
• Are there any language difficulties (maybe not with the consultant, but what about the nurses, admin and reception side?)
• What is the full agenda for the IVF month?
• Are they open at weekends and holidays?
• Do they provide full documentation about every step?
• Are there any governmental or country costs related to fertility treatment that I should know about?
• Do they have any testimonials?

Embryo freezing & thawing

If you are able to have some embryos frozen at the clinic, they will always remain in that clinic. It is highly unlikely you will ever be able to move those embryos back to the UK or another country.

Also check how long they can store them for. For example, Denmark has only recently raised embryos storage from 2 years to 5 years.