OP if you are lurking just wondering what you have found out and if you have made any decisions?

OP here, thanks to whoever posted the link to that Network 54 site. Somehow in my obsessive surfing I never found that one, and it is really good!

I'm headed to the Czech Republic for business and vacation this week. anyone have an agency I could get in touch with while I'm there?

Check out the Network 54 Looking to Be a Mom through DE site and Pregnant after DE site. There are many women on those chats who have cycled abroad who might be able to offer you some advice and insight.

Anonymous wrote:OP beware of the last post, overseas clinics as well as local clinics post good reviews on sites like this one. I currently live in UK and returned to dc area to do a DE cycle. If your cycle in Eastern Europe and something goes wrong you have no one to turn to whereas U.S. clinics have to live up to high standards.

13:49 here. I agree, be cautious of who and what you believe and do your research. I am a real person and not represting any clinic (notice I did not mention the clinic I went to or the country where the clinic was located and I have no plans to). I am not from a clinic. I am a person who went through infertility hell. I am grateful to the people who shared their experiences with me about going overseas because if they hadn't I would probably still be childless. I am just trying to return the favor. And as for the high standards and having someone to turn to if something goes wrong...I have had some negative experiences with a couple of US clinics and have known others who have had negative experiences with US clinics. I also know people who had great experiences with those very same clinics. Unfortunately, you take your chances both here and overseas. Just because a clinic is not in the US does not mean it is subpar or not as good as US clinics. I think it is ridiculous the way we here in the US assume that we are so much better than other places in terms of healthcare. Often we aren't. So to the OP, yes, cycling overseas requires a leap of faith. When I first brought the idea up with DH he thought I was crazy. And I will never forget how sick to my stomach I was when we got on a plane to go overseas to do fertility treatment. I thought I might be crazy too. I have zero regrets. And even if I had not gotten pregnant I would have still recommended the clinic I went to as a viable and safe option.

Again, good luck!

Lots of Americans, and Brits go to the Czech Republic (in addition to Spain) for IVF Treatment. Most of the European clinics follow the same ASRM guidelines for their donor treatments that are used here by US Clinics. And generally you are working with a local cooperating doc who will do ultrasounds and track you after treatment. Even if you use an RE in the US, you graduate to your OB once you have a confirmed pregnancy. But there is no SART equivalent in Europe - each clinic posts their stats individually usually.

Panama is also an emerging option for DE abroad too. I started with IVF treatments here in the US before going to Czech. After my treatment in Czech, I started blogging about traveling abroad for IVF treatment. So, you might find this website helpful with lots of tips and suggestions for IVF vacations : www.ivftraveler.com

OP beware of the last post, overseas clinics as well as local clinics post good reviews on sites like this one. I currently live in UK and returned to dc area to do a DE cycle. If your cycle in Eastern Europe and something goes wrong you have no one to turn to whereas U.S. clinics have to live up to high standards.

Yes, the cost savings was well worth it and I was successful. I also LOVE travelling so for me it added some fun to something that would otherwise not have been much fun. I cycled in eastern europe. If you are interested in reading about eastern european clinics then I definitely recommend the FF UK website under the East Europe/North Asia forums. There are a couple of often discussed clinics on there and I went to one of those. I was lucky enough to have a long standing relationship with an ob/gyn who had seen me through years of IF treatments. This ob/gyn helped me with blood work and ultrasounds on the cycle where I went overseas because a couple of REs refused (one of whom I had done about 5/6 cycles with). She also helped after I returned by doing betas for me and early ultrasounds. I am so grateful to her for her help. I am not sure if it was because I had been her patient for so long or because she is just very laid back. Regardless, she helped me where I think alot of drs wouldn't. Hopefully you have a good relationship with an ob/gyn who might be able to assist? With the overseas clinic I ordered meds through a pharmacy that wasn't in the US. I think each clinic might be different but I found it was much cheaper that way as well. And, unless you have a dr here in the US willing to write you a prescription, you cannot fill the prescription from the overseas clinic here in the US because the overseas clinics do not have a DEA number (I think that was what it was called).

Thanks! May I ask which clinic, which country? Were you successful? was the cost savings worth the fuss of traveling? Were the local REs and clinics open to doing the monitoring? Is there anything else I should be thinking of?

13:07 here. You would be surprised, there are quite a few Americans on the FF UK site who post. I personally went to an overseas (European) clinic (not Spain) and had a great experience. I went onto the FF UK forum before going to get insight from people on there about their experiences. You can also google IVF in Spain etc and see if there are any Yahoo groups/listserves of people who have gone to a certain clinic/country. I am sure if you look hard enough you will find some people. I actually found a local person who went to the clinic I ended up choosing. This was after scouring the internet and IF sites. It can be done.

PS and thanks for your good wishes toward success!!

Thanks! Those are great links. There is tons out there on that forum, for sure. I have been able to find any Americans who've to Spain/Czech/etc, like brits. It would be great ot hear if someone locally ever had experience with them and how they compare to the local clinics. The success rates seem comparable (around 50% LBR) but of course quite a bit cheaper. Am not sure what else I should be taking into consideration...

I hear the Czech Republic is also good for IVF abroad. I would also check out Colombia. (Most of Colombia is safe now, especially Bogota.)

I recommend that you go to the Fertility Friends UK website and ask there. There are alot of women on the site who cycle all over Europe (OE and DE) and I bet they could offer some advice. To get there go to: http://www.fertilityfriends.co.uk/forum/index.php?board=511.0. This is the board for Central Europe and I actually see a post on there about DE in Spain. Best of luck to you. I hope you have success soon.

My initial research shows that IVF abroad, especially in Spain, extremely cost effective with "good'" results, but I am not sure if they have a European equivalent of sart.org or Resolve.org where I can get unbiased info. Anyone have any insight or experience with this?