IVF Spain: Experts in Difficult cases
Louise Brown is already 37. She was the first baby born after an in-vitro fertilisation technique,and became a new way of hope for those who, like me, are not able to start a family naturally.
Now that I am 38, I take a look back and I see all that I went through whilst trying to achieve my dream of becoming a mum. I now realise that everything was worth it. Every single visit I made to numerous clinics and fertility specialists, they were all wort h it, as eventually they brought me to IVF Spain.
When I turned 30, my husband and I decided to start trying for a baby.I remember thinking how easy it would be, just a case of stopping the birth control pill then I would fall pregnant. Well, I soon discovered how naïve I was to think it would be so easy. After one year of trying for a baby it became very clear to me that there was a problem. Just like the Browns we decided to seek the help of a fertility specialist in order to achieve o ur dream of becoming parents. 4 unsuccessful IVF attempts the line and the idea of being a mum was still just a distant dream. I had undergone 4 IVF treatments in 2 different clinics; I was beginning to lose hope. I couldn ́t understand why I wasn ́t falling pregnant, in my heart I knew I was destined to be a mum.
IVF Spain made it possible for me to achieve my dream of becoming a mum
One day we received a phone call from one of my closest friends, who was aware of my situation, she informed us about IVF-Spain as she knew someone who had been treated been them, and they had informed that they are experts in difficult cases, and that they had been successful in cases where other clinics had failed.
I hadn ́t really thought about travelling abroad for a treatment, however, we were running out of options, after speaking with my husband we decided that going away for a fertility treatment is actually a really good idea, as we would be able to disconnect from our everyday lives and really focus. We booked a consultation with IVF Spain. Once we were in the clinic which is located in Alicante (Spain), we were amazed by the beautiful facilities and the excellent patient service. The staff was extremely attentive and always smiling, checking that we were both ok. What really surprised me (in a good way) was how much time they spent with us. We were in the clinic for just over five hours for our first consultation, we underwent tests that were specific to our case, we were given extremely detailed explanations by our very friendly personal assistant, and we were able to meet with the embryologists.
Dr.Jon Aizpurua, the managing director of the clinic, spent a whole hour with us, explaining very clearly every part of the whole process. I remember him telling us that every woman, every couple is different from one another; therefore every infertility treatment has to be tailored to the patient. So, in order to know how to tailor the treatment according tome, they performed series of tests they tested my hormones and they performed an endometrium biopsy to test the Natural Killer Cells of my endometrium, they also performed genetic tests and tests on my husband’s sperm. Due to my miscarriage from my second IVF treatment, they informed me of a technique they could perform called EEVA, where they could monitor the embryos under video surveillance, they informed me that with this test they are able to select the embryo that is most viable and has the most chance of success. One of the strong points of this test is that you are able to select the best embryo and so, avoid a twin pregnancy. We decided to go for in-vitro fertilization using the latest technologies EEVA with a particular focus on the endometrium.
It became clear to us that IVF Spain had a much different, more advance approach to treating infertility, and that they recognise that each case or medical record must be studied in great depth in order to get to the route of the problem. We now realise the importance of having the right technology and scientific knowledge when transferring the embryo.
Something very nice and different from other clinics which we had previously known, was the fact that we had the chance to enjoy several acupuncture sessions, before and after the embryo transfer. We were assured that, through this kind of therapy, stress is significantly reduced and chances of pregnancy increase.
We continued my medication plan back home in the UK, and then during my stimulation phase we flew out Spain, we decided to stay for 13 days. The day of the egg retrieval came around very fast, on the day I was very nervous, I knew that realistically this was my last chance. My personal assistant was so kind to me and made me feel at ease. We retrieved 12 eggs, 8 of them fertilized with my husband ́s sperm. After the egg retrieval we had to wait five days for the transfer, in order to get our embryos to blastocyst stage.
5 days later we received a call from the embryologists informing us that the embryos had developed into blastocysts and through the use of the EEVA technique they were able to detect the most viable embryo to implant back into me. The day of the transfer, I was surprisingly calm, I really trusted the clinic, I was so comfortable in their care, I remember saying to my husband, if this clinic can ́t get me pregnant then I don ́t know who can!Everything was over; we had done everything we could, now the hardest part, waiting for the day of the pregnancy test. After the longest 10 days of my life, it was time to go and do the blood test, it was time to find out if we were pregnant.
After the test my assistant informed me that I would have to wait at least an hour for the result, me and my husband went for a walk, we went to a nearby coffee shop and got a bite, even though the butterflies in my stomach did not allow me to finish my sandwich. 1 hour later we received the call. At the other end of the telephone Dr. Aizpurua ’s voice confirmed us that we were pregnant.
I will never forget that moment; I burst into tears of joy!
Today, Paula is one years old. She makes me smile every day, and every day I love her more and more. We will be eternally grateful to IVF SPAIN for all they have done for us and our little growing family. We do plan on going back to IVF-Spain in the fu ture to give Paula a little brother or sister.