Top 10 reasons to have IVF in the Czech Republic
Deciding to go abroad for IVF is one thing. Choosing between IVF, donor-egg IVF and embryo adoption is another. But an equally important factor is which country to travel to for treatment. We chose the Czech Republic. Why? Here are the top ten reasons we went…
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IVF abroad – best option if the NHS won’t pay?
IVF abroad: the tragic answer to a NHS pickle. Earlier this year, the UK parliament realised that state funding of fertility treatment was in a mess. Of course, infertile couples already knew that. Across the country, patients are routinely being denied IVF treatment just when they need it. Welcome to the IVF postcode lottery. We witnessed it first-hand and had to fight hard for just one fresh IVF cycle on the NHS. When it failed, we were forced to pay for the next cycle. And the three after that. Then it was IVF abroad or bust.
Read More»The perfect IVF diet? Ask an avocado.
Pregnancy nutrition is a hot topic. But should IVF patients follow a different dietary path? It’s a question our own patients often ask us. Recent research from the Harvard School of Public Health suggests avocados may triple live birth rates for couples undergoing IVF.
Read More»IVF success rates: all in the numbers?
IVF clinic success rates are important: you want to rely on them to decide where to be treated. But just how important are they? Looking at the UK’s HFEA website, you need a degree in mathematics just to work out which figures matter and which don’t. A law degree would help. Its introduction to understanding the stats is over 2,000 words long. Faced with so many twists and turns, caveats and cautions, your head is spinning before you get to the numbers.
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Donor anonymity: best for birth parents or children?
Wherever you are, donor anonymity is a contentious issue. Should donor-conceived children have the right to trace their birth parents? In the UK, recent legislation said yes. The result? Prospective egg, sperm and embryo donors have not been sufficiently encouraged to come forward. Supplies have edged up very, very slowly in recent years and supply is still dwarfed by demand. Even taking into account the modest hike in egg-donor compensation earlier this year, that remains the case. Don’t believe those UK clinics announcing no waiting lists for recipients – it’s rarely the case you’ll get a great donor.
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