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Many people, if not most, will develop the strong desire to have a child at some point in their lives. While some people believe this responds to an inborn paternal instinct that is innate in most animals for the sake of the species preservation and propagation, others argue that it is a social construct what leads most parents to conceive a baby. Still, for many hopeful parents there are less biological or cultural factors and more personal reasons attached to this decision. Whatever the main motive is, the truth is that parenthood is both an objective to be fulfilled and a fulfilling experience for many couples and individuals.
Nonetheless, different reports claim that birth rates in Western countries are in serious decline due to a variety of factors. Generally speaking, it seems that today’s busy life of developed countries together with a change of mentality and a wider access to contraception methods have been decisive for many people putting off their plan to have children. The truth is that society is not what it used to be and getting an education, pursuing a career, travelling and achieving economic stability, among others, have taken precedence over creating a family. Another, perhaps less obvious but no less important, key factor are the prevailing challenges to combine family life and work. Not to mention the existing inequality between men and women in the labour market when it comes to having a child.
Hence, as a result of delaying pregnancy, infertility is increasingly becoming an issue for many parents, especially in the European continent where the the lowest birth rates have been recorded. That means that only 1.5 children per woman are conceived in Europe, compared to the 2.4 children per woman who are born at a global scale. To make things worse, the prospects are not really promising as childlessness is expected to decrease at speed of 8%-9% annually. Being infertile can cause frustration, stress and unhappiness for many individuals and couples to the extent that it has become one of the main triggers for divorce. Yet, not everything is lost for hopeful parents who are struggling to conceive as thousands of them have already found a solution in fertility clinics.
But, when is it advisable to seek the help of an infertility specialist? It goes without saying that the first step is to visit a gynecologist, and an urologist in the case of men, who will run the necessary testings and come up with the source of the problem. In general terms, fertility treatments are recommended to:
- Women who have suffered various miscarriages
- Women under 35 who haven’t got pregnant after one year of trying
- Women over 35 who haven’t got pregnant after half year of trying
- Men who have been diagnosed with poor semen quality
Once the specialist has evaluated the patients’ case, she or he will outline a treatment plan that will range from fertility medications, to stimulate the production of eggs or sperm; lifestyle changes, such as diet adjustments; to the so-called In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) technique when none of the previous have worked. However, although many people come to the conclusion that they need to go through some kind of assisted reproduction technique, selecting the most suitable clinic can be really nerve-wracking.
Choosing a fertility clinic
As a consequence of the growing demand for fertility treatments, the number of specialized doctors and centers in the field have not stopped growing in recent years. This has subsequently led to, on the one hand, the development of new and more effective techniques, and, on the other, the progressive reduction of prices thus facilitating the access of these therapies to a wider population. However, all fertility clinics are neither the same nor offer the same services. That is why it is necessary to do some research before making a sensible choice.
Key aspects you should keep in mind when deciding on the best clinic for you are: the percentage of success rates, previous customers reviews, the number of embryos transferred as well as the range of services and treatments provided. Needless to say, it is essential to make sure that these are certified centres run by a team of highly qualified IVF specialists that use the most innovative techniques. As the search can bit a bit overwhelming, we have created a ranking of the best fertility clinics according to the parameters outlined above.
1 – IVF Spain
If there is a IVF clinic that stands out from the rest, that is IVF Spain. Although their headquarters are located in Alicante, they have now opened branches in Donostia and Madrid to give response to the high demand of their services.
Despite the clinics listed above being guarantee of high standards, IVF Spain gathers all the essentials to be considered a leader in fertility medicine: excellent customer feedback, highly-qualified staff, modern facilities with the most cutting-edge technologies, an overwhelming range of services and, most importantly, great expertise in the treatment of challenging cases. In fact, IVF Spain is frequently the last resort for women patients who have suffered from repeated miscarriages and implantation failures as well as for those with immunology and genetic conditions that could not get pregnant in other centres.
Another aspect that distinguishes this clinic from the rest is their outstanding customer-centred approach. Aware of how stressful the journey of getting pregnant can be, a personal assistant will give you all the necessary support in your native language even before departing from your home country. You won’t have to worry about travel arrangements as additional services include free taxi transfers and special fares in nearby hotels.
As a result of all this, IVF Spain has achieved up to 80% of successful pregnancies, exceeding the Spanish and EU average in most cases.
2 – Sanatorium HELIOS, Czech Republic
In association with the prestigious Australian company Genea World Leading Fertility, the first to implement IVF in the world, Sanatorium Helios has been able to establish itself at the forefront of assissted reproduction medicine worldwide. As a result of this collaboration and their close contact with the sphere of scientific research, this team of professionals have been pioneers in the implementation of the newest procedures earlier than the rest.
Along with their assisted reproduction department, Sanatorium Helios is ready to provide assistance in the field of gynecology, genetics and cancer prevention in the most discreet and empathetic way possible. What is more, they count on one of the most complete databases of egg donors what makes it very easy to find a compatible one almost immediately. Last but not least, they are available for you 365 days a year without exception.
https://www.sanatoriumhelios.cz/
3 – Klinika Bocian, Poland
After 13 years of experience, 4 clinics in Poland, more than 23.000 patients annually and a GCR accreditation, Klinika Bocian is a true example of success. Just one look at their web page reveals that, unlike other fertility clinics, ready-made packages are not part of their offer as they strongly believe these do not cater individual’s needs. Instead, Klinika Bocian is willing to design personalised plans according to the particularities, needs and challenges of each case. Thanks to their great investment capacity, they are able constantly update their equipment and have access the latest technologies as far as IVF, ICSI, IMSI and egg donation are concerned. What is more, their competitive prices with respect to other European clinics attract national and foreign visitors alike.
4 – Dunya IVF Clinic, Cyprus
98% of Dunya IVF Clinic patients have claimed to be completely satisfied with their experience, something that is not surprising as they feature one of the highest percentages of live births. Actually, their high quality standards have been recognized by the ISO (International Organization for Standardization), thus certifying Dunya’s commitment to excellence and continuous improvement in customer care. Furthermore, the fact that reproductive medicine is the only area of expertise of this centre has allowed them to concentrate their efforts in what they do best to the extent that they offer especial support to women of advanced age as well as same sex couples who are willing to have a baby and find obstacles elsewhere.
5 – Tambre Fertility Clinic, Spain
Tambre Fertility Clinic in Madrid has provided assisted reproduction for over 40 years, making it one of the most solid and experienced clinics in the field. Conscious of the importance of scientific development and innovation, Tambre has been actively participating in research projects in collaboration with different universities and has made significant scientific contributions, especially on male factor infertility. Choosing Tambre Fertility Clinic to undergo your long-awaited fertility treatment is without doubt a guarantee of quality, professionalism and high chance of success, as they count on the most innovative equipment for assisted reproduction.
6 – GATJC Fertility Center, Italy
Proof of the high level of services, cutting-edge technologies and highly-qualified team, GATJ Fertility Center in Gioia Tauro has been accredited by the prestigious GRC (Global Clinic Rating). As well as obstetrics, gynaecology and reproductive medicine, GATJ is comprised by a multidisciplinary team of professionals specializing in anatomic and clinical pathology, psychotherapy and medical genetics. Whatever your case is, you can be sure GATJ will be ready to assist you with all the means and knowledge at their disposal.
7 – Serum IVF, Greece
Considering their excellent customer reviews, it is not an overstatement to say that Serum IVF is a benchmark in fertility medicine inside and outside Greece, where their premises are located. Besides the significant array of fertility treatments provided by this clinic, it is important to note that they also feature their own sperm bank for the convenience of patients. The access to state-of-the-art technologies at affordable prices has proven to be an essential aspect to their success. So, if you are on a tight budget but you don’t want to compromise quality, then Serum IVF might be an excellent choice.
8 – Repromeda, Czech Republic
For more than 21 years, Repromenada Clinic has been able to validate their motto: “We are helping to start a family”. In fact, they have made possible the birth of 5000 in their two branches of Brno and Ostrava. Beyond the high quality of their services and established expertise, Repromenada is especially recognized for having an outstanding customer care service. Additionally, this centre also offers its patients alternative medicine therapies such as acupuncture or phytotherapy as a complement to maximize pregnancy chances.
9 – Gyncentrum Fertility Clinic, Poland
Another highly-regarded team of assisted reproduction professionals is the one formed by Gynocentrum Fertility Clinics, located in Katowice and Krakow. When looking at the numbers of their popular “2+1 Program”, these centres stand out for achieving up to 90% of success rates. This In Vitro program includes two procedures at the price of 4000€ and offers patients a third attempt for free when the previous have been unsuccessful. Interestingly enough, those women who get pregnant at the first attempt receive a refund of 1600€.
Conscious of their international outreach, patients from abroad are ensured close assistance throughout the whole process, be it in the planning of the journey, the stay in the country as well as the departure, so that they get an experience that is as carefree and pleasant as possible.
10 – Medicana Fertility Clinic, Turkey
With more than 1000 IVF/ICSI cycles performed in their premises every year, Medicana Fertility Clinic has been regarded as one of the most solid fertility clinics in the Middle East region. Trained in Europe and the USA, Medicana team is a ready to offer their patients a remarkable variety of treatments at an excellent value for money. To name some, IVF, ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm injection), Embryo and Sperm Cryopreservation, Intrauterine inseminations (IUI), ovulation induction, and Co-Culture, are some of their flagship procedures.
Conclusion
Everything considered, it is right to conclude that there are more chances than ever before for infertile couples or individuals to fulfill their dream to become parents. Even when infertility has been caused by complex conditions. Recent advances in science and medicine have resulted in the development of innovative methods that are painless, more effective and more affordable. However, it is necessary to make sure you choose the best centre for you based on your economic possibilities and needs after carrying out thorough research ahead of time.
Finally, if you have read to here it is probably because you are considering the option of assisted reproduction. But, if you have already visited any of these centres, you know somebody that has or you just want to share your personal experience, feel free to contribute with any comments or suggestions that make us improve this ranking or expand our knowledge in the topic.
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