Here is the reply to my IVF cost letter:

Dear Sue,

I will try to answer all your questions in green (after each question).

First of all, it is important to understand that success rate using your own eggs (at your 44 age) is really low. I have attached a graphic where you can see the success rate using own and donor eggs. Therefore, the main indication for you is using donor eggs. Nevertheless, there are some patients who decide doing an IVF using there own eggs (I can do both treatments, but I want to be sure that you understand your real chances of having a baby in each case).

I will tell you something about our egg donor program. I coordinate a huge Egg Donor Program in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Last year, more than 400 women/couples received donated oocytes, and almost half of them got pregnant (clinical pregnancy rate: 45-50%). About 10-15% of those couples come from abroad, and the coordination with them is not a problem.

We have a program based on sharing donated oocytes. It means that one donor donate her oocyte cohort to several recipients. Each recipient gets at least four mature oocytes (MII oocytes). We do ICSI to all of them. Sharing the oocytes this way, let us reducing costs and shortening waiting time, still having good pregnancy rates.

Egg donation is anonymous. However, we will try to match the donor with you as much as possible. Donors are medically screened very deeply (see www.fertilityargentina.com/services.html). Since you decide to enter the Program, in the following 2-3 months you will be here for the embryo transfer.

Total costs are the following:

• First office visit: U$D 300 (American dollars)
• Egg donor cycle: U$D 4,600 (American dollars)
• Embryo freezing (only when having good quality embryos): U$D 400 (American dollars)

Donor’s medication is included. Recipient’s medication is not included (but it is not expensive).

I will try to answer all your questions for both IVF and egg donor cycles..

I am looking to have IVF treatment due to a failure to become pregnant after over ten years. After all the tests the doctors in the UK say that this is “unexplained” and IVF is the way forward given my age – I am 44.

I would be grateful if you could give me some information on your clinic, both for my own use and so that I can also pass it on to others in a similar situation to myself through my IVF blog (www.ivfcost.net). I would be delighted if you can pass this information to other people in your blog. You can read more about us at www.FertilityArgentina.com

The questions I have regarding treatment at your clinic are:

1. 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). It is about 45% at 30 years old, 35-40% at 35 years old, 20% at 40 years old, <10% at 42 years old and <5% at 44 years old. Using donor eggs, the clinical pregnancy rate is about 45-50% at every age)
2. How many cycles do you perform per year at the clinic? More than 1,200
3. What is the maximum age that you treat? Using own eggs, it is 45 years old. Using donor eggs, 50 years old.
4. Are there any fertility conditions that you will not treat? No. In fact, we do some treatments that are not performed everywhere (i.e. IMSI and annexin columns for severly abnormal morpholoy sperm). I do treatments to women with no partner too (using donor sperm).
5. What is your embryo transfer policy? How many embryos will you replace at one time?  Using own eggs, 2 or 3 embryos, depending on the woman´s age and other clinical characteristics. Using donor eggs, only 2 embryos (we follow the ASRM guidelines)
6. What is the basic cost of the IVF treatment? Using own eggs: USD 4,000 (American dollars). Patients medication is not included.     //      Using donor eggs: USD 4,600 (American dollars). In this case, the donor´s medication is already included.
7. What additional costs would / could be incurred? First office visit: USD 300. In case that you use donor sperm: USD 400. In case that you have good quality embryos that were not transferred, freezing embryos cost is: USD 400. Accommodations and plane tickets are not included.
8. What happens to the costs if the cycle has to be abandoned? If the cycle is abandoned before the egg retrieval, you have no costs. You will pay once you are here, when I see that the egg retrieval is going to be performed.   //  In case of egg donation, we guarantee that you will receive at least 4 mature eggs and that you will have 2 embryos for the transfer.
9. How long would I need to be in Buenos Aires for? In case of IVF with own eggs: 10-12 days, if you start the ovarian stimulation at your place. If you want to buy the medication here (where is cheaper), you should stay 15-18 days.   //  In case of egg donation, at least 7 days.
10. Who deals with the logistics of flights and accommodation? You should deal with flights. I can give you some contacts (a personal concierge) to help you with accommodations (hotel or an apartment). If you want us to deal with flights, please, let me know (I would talk to the personal concierge)
11. How is the pre-treatment carried out? IVF with own eggs: a) You send me the screening tests. b) I give you a schedule. c) You start your medication there and come to Argentina in the middle of your ovarian stimulation; or you can start the medication here.   // Egg donation: a) You send me the screening tests. b) I give you a schedule. c) You start preparing your endometrium at your place and you come to Argentina once your endometrium is ready.  //  In both cases, I can send you some prescriptions for the tests and medications, and you can buy the medication through an international pharmacy (like IVFMeds.com)
12. How do I get medication? You can buy it at a local pharmacy using a presciption of your doctor, or you can buy in an international pharmacy (using my prescriptions).
13. How will I be monitored? At the beginning of the cycle, you will be monitored  at your place (you should send me the ultrasound and bloodwork results by e-mail in order to receive more instructions on how to go on). At the end of the cycle, I will do it here.
14. How will I know that I am not being under / over stimulated?  I will tell you that (we will be in touch as much as you need)
15. If I have a problem whilst in the UK who would I go to? You should be in touch with your doctor. Problems when doing IVF are more frequent at the end of the cycle (when you are here)
16. Is the clinic registered with any regulatory body? Yes, it has ISO 9001, and it is registered by SAMER (the Argentine Society of Reproductive Medicine) and RED LARA (the Latin American Registry)

I hope I could answer all your questions. Please, let me know your thoughts.

Best regards,

Dr. Demián Glujovsky
www.FertilityArgentina.com

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