IVF meds bought from Cyprus or best t... - Fertility Network UK

Fertility Network UK

56,130 members59,610 posts

IVF meds bought from Cyprus or best to get over here in the UK?

DisneyHopeMagic profile image
6 Replies

Has anyone bought IVF meds from Cyprus and had them sent to the UK?Did they have to be refrigerated?

Did it cost extra to go through Customs and was there any delay in Customs?

Our IVF clinic has advised it can be done but this is our first time doing IVF at all let alone in a different country so just trying to navigate our way through!

Thanks in advance 😊

Written by
DisneyHopeMagic profile image
DisneyHopeMagic
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
6 Replies
DianeArnold profile image
DianeArnoldPartnerNurseFertility Network UK

Hi DisneyHopeMagic. I think by the time you have paid to transport medication back, plus you may need a cooling product to transport them in, you could be paying more than in the UK. You need to do some homework first. Good luck with what you decide and for success when you start treatment. Diane

DisneyHopeMagic profile image
DisneyHopeMagic in reply toDianeArnold

Thank you for your reply DianeArnold. I've managed to find out that I'm being prescribed Gonal f and Fyremadel. I've read that the Gonal f can keep for up to 3mths once it is taken out of a refrigerator but needs to stay below 25c temperature-wise. I'm in contact with a pharmacy in Cyprus which was given to me by the IVF clinic over there.

I am also contacting some pharmacies in the UK to quote as well. Once we've accounted for Customs charges etc it's coming in about £200 cheaper to do from Cyprus but I am a bit nervous about any delays with Customs over here too.

Jen85 profile image
Jen85

Hi,You must do what you feel is right for you. I can only share my experience. We get stuff from abroad often (not always medicine for clarity) and we are always smacked with some unexpected fee. What's worse, is they don't release it until you've paid the fee. In the meantime it's stored in a warehouse, and who knows what temp that is. If its a hot day they must get hot in there. Sometimes it's taken a week before we've had the email from customs asking for the money. Sometimes its a letter in the post amd they were slow before the strikes. Some items have been lost, and insurance accross country lines is complicated as its very hard to point to where it went wrong, even with barcode tracking.

£200 is alot of money, but given the stress, and potential to have to pay twice, I would have a good think.

DisneyHopeMagic profile image
DisneyHopeMagic

Ahh ok thank you Jen85, I really appreciate your experience. That does sound like more stress and I think that has helped me make my mind up, we'll get it over here in the UK instead. I won't be worrying so much then which is always a good thing to avoid. Thanks again😊

kipsmyth profile image
kipsmyth

Hi - I had treatment in Prague last year and bought the medication in Prague as it was considerably cheaper than the UK. Not sure how it compares with Cyprus, but we saved around £1k by buying out there. Didn't have to pay custom fees, but had to provide a letter from the clinic stating what medicines I had and carried in hand luggage. All the best!

DisneyHopeMagic profile image
DisneyHopeMagic in reply tokipsmyth

Thanks kipsmyth, we've decided on getting the medications over here in the UK and have managed to get a reasonable price I think.

We'll only be travelling to Cyprus to have the egg collection and then again to have frozen embryo transfer as we're having NGS testing done. So we won't be going before we need the meds however our clinic has already advised and prescribed us meds for what we'll need over here and the rest we can get while we're out there so that saves us money that way.

Just in case anyone reads this later and wants to know who we used it was Cherish-UK to convert the prescription and The Fertility Medication Centre who uses Stork Fertility for the medication.

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

IVF in the UK or abroad?

Hi everyone. My husband and I are new to this and we're exploring our options since funding was...

Had IVF Overseas, Meds & injections in the UK, where?

Hello ladies, Seeking your advice. Thank you for reading. My IVF embryo transfer procedure was...
Edie_2018 profile image

What’s the cost of ivf Icsi in Cyprus and what clinic do you recommend?

What’s the average cost of Icsi in Cyprus and where did you go? Recommendations for ivf in Cyprus...
Melrey profile image

Best way to get ready for ivf?

So I’m giving up ttc naturally now I’m going to go for ivf going to start the process at end of the...
sammejayne profile image

Privately funded ivf with a donated egg in the UK

We have had a little delay in getting going with our second ivf cycle, due to me having spinal...
Eltel81 profile image

Moderation team

See all
Claire_FNUK profile image
Claire_FNUKAdministrator

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.