Much of the information in the pack is also available on their website which can be found here. I must admit that I have spent quite some time going through the wealth of information that they have there – I also found that I liked their style of presenting much of the information, certainly worth a look.

The success rates for Sims can also be found on the website, I have reproduced them at the bottom of this post for your convenience.

The pack included a full price list for their treatments. Below are the prices, with approximate US$ equivalents in red, for the principal treatment procedures. Their treatment procedure charges include planning and co-ordination, ultrasound scans (carried out as part of the procedure), administration, anaesthesia, doctors / nursing fees and laboratory fees. Embryo freezing and storage for one year is also included if required. Medications, blood tests and counsellors fees are not included.

IVF                                          4,150 Euro (approx. US$5,654)

ICSI                                        4,450 Euro (approx. US$6,061)

IVF with Donor Sperm                4,720 Euro (approx. US$6,428) (inc. cost of donor sperm 550 Euro (approx. US$750) per cycle)

IVF with egg donation                8,400 Euro (approx. US$11,440) (includes donors; screening; counselling fees; consultation and compensation)

ICSI with egg donation              8,710 Euro (approx. US$11,863) (includes donors; screening; counselling fees; consultation and compensation)

Sims IVF Cycles using Fresh Embryos (Non-Donor Eggs)

Reference Group Comparison:

 * Based on the most recent IVF data reported from the European Society of Human Reproduction & Embryology, published in ‘Human Reproduction’ 2008; 23: 756-771, Oxford University Press.

Sims Cycles using Donor Eggs (Pregnancies per Transfer):

Reference Group Comparison:

* Based on the most recent IVF data reported from the European Society of Human Reproduction & Embryology, published in ‘Human Reproduction’ 2008; 23: 756-771, Oxford University Press.

** Sims Clinic is the only institution in Ireland offering published information on this service in Ireland, so no external reference group is available for comparison

Sims IUI’s (Intrauterine Inseminations):

Understanding Success Rates

IVF programmes do not always use the same criteria to report results. It is important to understand exactly what the numbers mean when looking at percentages. In our hands the following terms apply:

Biochemical Pregnancy: Positive home pregnancy (urine hCG) on Day 16

Clinical Pregnancy: An ultrasound confirmed pregnancy with a fetal heart beat detected.

Results are usually quoted per embryo transfer (ET) and on some occasions per cycle, where cycles refer to egg recoveries.

Rates quoted per embryo transfer and per cycle differ in that the later includes those patients who had egg recoveries but did not subsequently have an embryo transfer. This may have been due to a failed fertilisation, elective freeze or failure to reach the blastocyst stage in a blastocyst cycle.

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Thank you for your email.  I think the best way to answer your questions is
to say that the HARI Unit is really set up to provide treatment services for
people domiciled in Ireland.  We do not have any agreements with clinics in
the UK or elsewhere to monitor, provide prescriptions or deal with problems
our clients may encounter. Sorry we can’t help you further but I am sure
HFEA can provide you with the information you need on clinics in the UK.

Kind regards

Marie-Louise

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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:

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