Athens for IVF tests

[91_ivf]

hello all, hope all my IVF ladies and gents are doing ok where ever you are in your journeys ❤️ I just wanted to see if anyone has experienced having tests in Athens for IVF. I have had 4 transfers 2 BFP which ended in MC at 3-4 weeks and 2 BFNs. My clinic in UK has advised NK cell and biopsy. I got a second opinion from Dr George in Athens ARK clinic who has offered these tests and more for a lot cheaper so due to go OCT this year. Has anyone been out there and how did they find it ? Thank you x

[Memacha]

I didn’t have tests through Ark but I had an ivf cycle there recently. I got my best results yet and currently 6+6 weeks pregnant thanks to the protocol they used there when the UK clinic just wanted to carry on doing the same thing that wasn’t working.It’s daunting going abroad for treatment but I’m so glad I did. There’s a facebook group for Ark if you want to ask questions and hear more about people’s experiences there x

[91_ivf in reply to Memacha]

Congratulations on your little miracle ❤️🙏 amazing news. Thank you for your reply means a lot I will have a look on the fb page. It is very daunting, but I feel it’s the best way ans the consultant said he would give me a protocol for my little frosty when the results come back x

[Norregirl in reply to Memacha]

Hi! Can you describe how ARK changed your protocol? Also do you know if they're good with 40+?

[Memacha in reply to Norregirl]

I had a combination of stimulation meds instead of just the one type, double trigger, antibiotics, probiotics, more progesterone including injections twice a day and clexane. They more closely monitor your hormones with blood tests in combination with scans to best time your egg collection so mine ended up being on the weekend which wouldn’t have been possible in the UK. They also used zymot to make sure they were using the best quality sperm. So changes at all stages of the process! I think they specialise in the more difficult cases and often take people who have had prior unsuccessful cycles elsewhere

[natalie030303]

I did all my tests with ark: nk cells, thrombophilia, sperm dna, uterine microbiome, x fragile and karyotype. We flew specifically out for tests and did all of them in 1 day, the results took a while to come back. Note that the place you get nk testing done is separate to the hospital so you need to get a taxi which is about 20 minutes away but the hospital arranged timing and give you the address to get a taxi. It was a bit of a manic day because we did so many tests but we were done by about 3-4pm and got to hospital about 10am x

[91_ivf in reply to natalie030303]

Wow that’s a lot in 1 day, I have been advised to go on the weds for a pre op for the biopsy which will be Friday and all the blood tests on Thursday. Back home Saturday. I would have preferred doing it all in 1 day though. When did you have your tests I might request all in 1 day if possible Dr has suggested all the same tests as yourself. xx

[natalie030303 in reply to 91_ivf]

We did ours in February with Dr George at Ark. To be honest though it was a lot, it was pretty exhausting. The bloods weren’t so bad, it was just the biopsy was painful (more than I was expecting) and we had to travel to the other clinic to do nk test after the biopsy. I would’ve preferred to do it the other way so I wasn’t so crampy.

There’s also a lot of waiting so they can scan id documents and get payments sorted so it becomes a very long day.

[91_ivf in reply to natalie030303]

Aww bless you that does sound a little back to front, like you say would have been better to do the biopsy last which I think that’s what they have suggested. And fly home Saturday. What documents did you have to take and did you wait long for the results ? I don’t know how I feel about results am thinking if I do have something it gives me some answers and then if I don’t it’s a lot of money and just have to carry on, going to be interesting. As I originally started ivf because of blocked tubes now I have under-active thyroid which I believe was from ivf meds as I have never had thyroid issues. But they have said I had the level 1 bloods in uk which showed the antibodies for hashimotos and folic acid resistance. To 2 MC and 2 BFN oh and now low oestrogen levels on my last 2 transfers which resulted in BFN. I have lost confidence with my clinic but I have paid for a package deal and Dr George has advised against moving embryos as he doesn’t like transporting embryos long distance. It’s a bumpy journey we are all on and I thinking of others in my shoes daily hope yous are all doing ok and smashing through them bumps xx

[Suki27]

Hiya I used a clinic in Thessaloniki, who I cannot praise enough. Agree with Memcha below, UK clinics seem happy to carry on pushing things that you both know won't work, just for financial gain it seems. Was daunting going abroad as you hear horror stories but I was actually recommended the clinic by a friend and it was amazing. The technology they use seems to much more advance than the uk.

I had some issues with my amh which were not apparent until mid way through stims but the protocol was changed and although i didnt get many eggs, my 1st ever ivf cycle resulted in the best news, I am currently 14 weeks pregnant!

We did 3 trips, initial 1 for tests and planning (3 day weekend) , 2nd for egg collection and embryo freezing (around 3 weeks), 3rd for transfer (3 day weekend). We did use a London clinic pre transfer for bloods and lining scan who the clinic recommended. Wishing you all the luck in the world ❤️

[MyLittlePinkness]

I used Serum in Athens for tects, can’t recommend them enough!!!!!!