When deciding to begin fertility treatment, it is good idea to gather all the necessary information in order to approach it safely. We turned to the team at IVF-Life Group to help us shed light on the first steps in the world of assisted reproduction
1).Choose carefully where you want to start your treatment
Once you have decided to start looking for solutions to your fertility problems, it is time to find the right clinic for your treatment. Wherever you go, one of the key aspects, besides the quality of the service, is to make sure that there is a relationship of trust between the doctor and the patient.
If you are unsure as to what to ask, in order to help you choose a clinic, take a look through these questions. You can also download the IVFbabble clinic checklist here for extra support and guidance.
At IVF-Life Group, we support our patients by assigning a personal assistant dedicated to maintaining constant communication and transmitting the necessary security and peace of mind during all phases of treatment. You can ask your personal assistant as many questions as you like throughout the journey.
Dr Elisa Pérez Larrea, Medical Director, and Gynaecologist specialising in Reproductive Medicine at IVF-Life Donostia says:
“Day by day we strive to ensure that patients have all the information they need to make a free and informed decision.”
2). Learn about the services a clinic offers
There are a large number of treatments for different cases and patients which may overwhelm you to look at from the start, however, there are a number of absolutely essential services that you should ensure the clinic has. This is what we offer:
Diagnostic tests: These tests are essential to assess the patient’s state of health and to determine all the details about the required treatment. In this sense, IVF-Life Group offers a wide range of diagnostic tests designed to provide an individualised diagnosis, specific to each patient’s characteristics.
Free first diagnostic consultation: This is the first contact between the patient and the specialist, as patients must not feel pressure of any kind. A free first diagnostic consultation is the starting point for a committed counselling aimed at achieving success in every treatment.
Success rates: We are talking about the certified success rate in a fertility centre, which are data issued by official agencies such as the Spanish Fertility Society (SEF) in its National Registry of Activity. For this reason, we recommend that the rates stated by the clinic be officially endorsed, specifically specifying what they refer to. IVF-Life Group has above-average success rates, making it a benchmark of success in complex cases.
A team of professionals: Fertility treatments consist of several steps that involve different specialties. The team at each centre must consist of physicians from the different specialties involved in reproductive health. Therefore, the presence of professionals such as embryologists, gynaecologists, and reproductive medicine specialists is absolutely necessary within the team of a good fertility clinic.
3). Take some time to read up about the types of fertility treatment that you have been offered
Knowledge of the different treatments offered allows patients to have a better understanding of the doctors’ recommendations, helping them identify the most competent and transparent clinic. Fertility clinics offer a wide variety of techniques, however, the following are some of the most common:
In vitro fertilisation: IVF is one of the most well-known treatments in assisted reproduction. In this procedure, the eggs are extracted from the ovary and fertilised in a laboratory through an in vitro process using the partner’s sperm or a donor. It is one of the simplest and most common treatments in the field of fertility and assisted reproduction.
Egg Donation: Egg donation is a treatment that includes an in vitro fertilisation process using eggs from a donor. It is a safe and reliable treatment that has high pregnancy rates. For our part, at IVF-Life Group, we perform an exhaustive donor selection process, aiming to find the most compatible person for each occasion and executing the strictest health safety protocols, ruling out the presence of infectious diseases through blood and genetic analysis of our donors.
Fertility preservation: Fertility preservation is one of the great medical advances in the field of assisted reproduction. Thanks to it, women can decide which is the best time in their life to start their own family, without necessarily depending on their ovarian reserve. Likewise, fertility preservation allows patients who have undergone chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatments to ensure that their eggs or sperm are preserved in an optimal state for later use many years later.
Ovarian and Uterine Rejuvenation: These are advanced techniques that reactivate these organs’ cells to improve their response during fertility treatments. Specifically, this therapy is carried out by biostimulation with Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) and is especially indicated for patients affected by ovarian failure, low ovarian reserve, or patients undergoing in vitro fertilization treatments (IVF).
ROPA Method: A reproductive treatment that allows female couples the possibility to start a family. The process allows both women to actively participate in the reproductive process, with one of the patients providing the eggs so that her partner can carry and give birth to their baby.
Insemination is performed by an anonymous semen donation adapted to the pregnant mother’s characteristics. This donation is not exempt from medical control, since IVF-Life Group conducts interviews and clinical tests on donors to ensure their compatibility.
Embryo adoption: Embryo donation allows the adoption of high-quality embryos donated by other patients who have already successfully formed their own families. Thanks to advances in reproductive medicine, it is now possible to devitrify embryos with a 100% survival rate. This treatment is an effective solution for patients who cannot access quality embryos without undergoing ovarian stimulation, thus speeding up treatment times and avoiding emotional and economic stress.
Escolástica, IVF-Life Group patient and Ananda’s mother says:
“If I had to start over, I would inform myself more and read more about the different fertility treatments.”
These are just some key aspects to keep in mind when starting a fertility treatment. However, many other relevant aspects are specific to each patient, therefore we recommend putting yourself in the hands of specialists who will treat your case with the utmost importance.
Visit IVF-Life Group for more information about assisted reproduction.
Related content:
Advice on what to bring to a GP appointment if you are struggling to conceive
