IVF Cost at Cork Fertility Centre, Ireland
The same day that I sent my letter requesting information on the IVF cost, IVF success rate and IVF procedure to Cork Fertility Centre in Ireland I received a reply asking me to telephone and speak to the Nurse Manager, Mary McAuliffe, regarding my questions.
I didn’t get round to calling immediately but within a few days I had a call from the Centre. The conversation was very informative and the answers to my questions were as follows:
What is the current success rate for your clinic? (preferably by age as I know that the success rate will be much lower for somebody of my age)
The success rate has not been measured for my age group but is said to be 5% or less. The overall take home rate is 38%.
How many cycles do you perform per year at the clinic?
They perform 500 – 550 cycles per annum.
What is the maximum age that you treat?
The maximum age that they treat is 45 (ouch, I’m getting pretty close!)
Are there any fertility conditions that you will not treat?
The only time that they will not give treatment is when it is almost impossible to succeed and they genuinely cannot assist. This will generally depend on the FSH level (at 14/15 they will not give IVF, at over 10 the chances of success are low) and the condition of the ovaries. However each case is treated individually.
What is your embryo transfer policy? How many embryos will you replace at one time?
In under 35 year olds they try to transfer just one embryo; normally they can transfer two, however if the embryos are poor quality and the woman is older then they can transfer three. The quality of the embryos is a big deciding factor here and they do not want to transfer too many due to the dangers attached to multiple births.
What is the basic cost of the IVF treatment?
The basic cost of IVF is Euro 3,750 (approx. US$ 5,090), ICSI is Euro 4,250 (approx. US$ 5,775).
What additional costs would / could be incurred?
The embryo selection is an extra Euro 800 (approx. US$1,090). Drugs are extra, for Irish couples they have a Drug Payment Scheme (DPS) that limits the amount they pay for drugs to Euro 90 per month, however for international patients these will be the same cost as you can get at home.
What happens to the costs if the cycle has to be abandoned?
If the cycle has to be abandoned the cost will be dependant on the stage at which the cycle is abandoned. If the cycle is abandoned during stimulation the cost is Euro 950 (approx. US$1,300); if no eggs are collected the cost will be Euro 2,200 (approx. US$2,990), if the eggs fail to fertilise the cost will be Euro 3,000 (approx. US$ 4,080).
How long would I need to be in Ireland for?
The time that I would need to be in Ireland for would be approximately two weeks.
Who deals with the logistics of flights and accommodation?
I would need to deal with my own transport and accomodation although they could give me guidance if required.
How is the pre-treatment carried out?
They do an assessment to determine the pretreatment.
How do I get medication?
The Centre will give me a prescription which can be filled at my own pharmacy.
How will I be monitored?
I would be monitored through scans at the Centre.
How will I know that I am not being under / over stimulated?
I would be monitored through scans at the Centre.
If I have a problem whilst in the UK who would I go to?
I would go to my own GP or local hospital.
Is the clinic registered with any regulatory body?
The clinic is regulated by the IMB (Irish Medicines Board)
The contact details for the Cork Fertility Centre are:
More than anything my husband and I wanted a baby, we had been trying for a year with no success. My husband bought just about every book and program on the marketplace . We have been testing for ovulation everyday and saving up our baby making time for just when that little stick turned pink. Our next step was infertility treatment, we had been avoiding it mainly because our insurance would not cover it and for IVF and every thing that came with it , we have been looking at close to $30,000.00. Until we finally found something that worked, This is what worked for us and I am proud to tell other people today about it read my story here. I hope with all my heart this helps you and like me you too realized the joy of having a child.
My husband and I have been trying to have a baby for almost two years. We thought about going to an infertility clinic. I also saw this site online: Infertility Site. Do any of you have any experience in it?