IVF abroad (Greece). How?

[MofM]

Hello lovely ladies here!

I am currently waiting to be referred to some admins (so they have been called by the consultant) to see if we can get an NHS-funded cycle but we are very scared that NHS will not fund us. Therefore, we would like to explore "private" options.

How to go private in the UK seems pretty straightforward, but we have relatives in Greece, where IVF is slightly cheaper, so we were thinking of going abroad. However, we have no idea of the logistic of this.

How do you get in contact with the clinic? How many times will you have to go there? How long would you have to stay? Are they asking for tests you can do in the UK and send there via email? What should we be taking care of?

We will be in Greece at the end of August for personal reasons, shall we try to make an appointment and see then, or better to contact someone now?

Thanks a lot!

[Cinderella5]

Im having treatment in Greece, however Im using DE which is slightly different from using your own eggs. You usually need to be out there for around 10 days for a fresh cycle but you also need to find somewhere that you can have intermitent scans in the UK, I used babybond. I would advise contacting clinics before you go over there so that if you want to go and see them when there you can scedule this in. They do ask for basic tests to start like, STI checks for you both and hormone levels like FSH, LH, TSH which can be sent via email. Most clinics operate the same way for the basics (like bloods etc) but if you contact them their coordinator can give you a bit more information and most offer a Skype consultation, or mine does anyway. If I can help at all send me a PM. Good luck.xx

[MofM in reply to Cinderella5]

Thanks a lot! We already have an idea of the clinic (it is in the city where our relatives live and it has been recommended by a friend) so we will try to get in contact with them and book an appointment for August. We had most of these tests done by the NHS between February-June 2018, hope they will be up-to-date!

I have I few more questions if you don't mind. How does the Skype consultation work? And the medication? What are the intermittent scans in the UK for?

[Cinderella5 in reply to MofM]

Youe bloods tests usually have to be 6 months in date so they may ask for these to be redone but you could have these done in the clinic when you visit. The other option if you are going to the clinic is you can think about whether you want to freeze some of your OH sperm in case he cant come with you for the actual treatment dates. The skype thing is easy if they do it. You would need to have skype on your tablet/phone and the clinic can ring you through through skype, its just like a video chat really. My clinic have a chemist in the UK that they send an email prescription to and I just have to call them up, pay for med and they deliver them to me next day delivery with a signature. The scans are usually to check you endometrial thickness after down regulation before starting down regulation meds and to track your follicles and how you are responding to stimulation meds but you may choose to do this out in Greece depending on how long you want to be out there for. All things that you can discuss with them.xx

[MofM in reply to Cinderella5]

This is a lot of useful information! Thank you so much!