Request for Feedback

Hello everyone,

I would really appreciate your thoughts on our situation, since I’m not sure if I’m clinging to a hope that might not even exist...

Here’s a brief overview of my situation:

My husband (39) and I (soon to be 38) have been trying to get pregnant for 3.5 years. About 2.5 years ago, I had a positive test (conceived naturally) but miscarried in the 4th week of pregnancy. For a very long time, I had regular cycles. My husband’s semen analysis was excellent. At the fertility clinic, they found an AMH level of 0.02, high FSH levels, and shrunken ovaries. One doctor there said she’d like to help us try in Germany, while another doctor immediately recommended IVF.

We decided on IVF so as not to waste any time. The initially quoted 8,000 euros has since risen to about 25,000... Three transfers resulted in no implantation, and the last blastocyst didn’t survive thawing. All of this is still quite fresh, and we definitely still need to process it.

During one of the ultrasounds about 8 weeks ago, a follicle was visible. And combined with the pregnancy and the doctor’s statement, the thought keeps coming back to me: should we try again in Germany after all? Is it really hopeless?

Here, at least part of the costs would be covered. We simply can’t afford another IVF cycle, and I feel like I haven’t tried everything yet. And now we’re left with expensive medications like Granozyte, etc., that were intended for the last transfer...

I know the chances are very slim. I know the quality of any remaining egg reserve certainly hasn’t improved in recent years, and it would be difficult to even obtain an egg.

But at the same time, I’m just not ready yet to accept a life without a child, and I simply want to make sure I’ve tried everything.

Ultimately, of course, only the fertility clinic can say how the situation has changed in the meantime and whether they would give us a chance. But I’d really appreciate your assessment, including advice on how to mentally prepare for the appointment...

Thank you so much in advance, and all the best,

Dear Dr. García-Villalba,

Thank you very much for your helpful message and your kind words. The costs at our clinic are indeed significantly above average. For the medical services there, we paid approximately 19,500 for the ESZ (4 blastocysts) + 4 transfers, although the fourth transfer unfortunately did not take place. It is not yet certain whether we will receive a partial refund. The remaining costs were for blood tests, ultrasounds, and medications (all of which we paid for out-of-pocket in Germany), as well as travel expenses to Spain.

Before the first transfer, we could have had the blastocysts tested for a significant additional fee. Since we were given a very positive prognosis at the time, we decided against it. After the first failed transfer, a hysteroscopy was performed, followed by a course of antibiotics (due to an infection). After the two subsequent transfers, no further diagnostic tests were performed, nor were any tests recommended. I asked about this several times because I simply couldn’t explain it and would have liked to know whether it was due to me or the blastocysts. The endometrium was always a nice three-layer thickness but had been slightly thin ever since the hysteroscopy; my hormone levels were excellent. I was simply told that I could repeat the hysteroscopy if I wanted to be sure...

Toward the end of cycles 2, 3, and 4, the medication protocol was adjusted slightly (to promote better endometrial lining growth), and for the last transfer, Granozyte and heparin would have been added.

A new EZS donation was now recommended (along with the information that our blastocyst hadn’t made it), which I found rather insensitive. Our clinic guaranteed three blastocysts. We had, after all, received them...

Overall, this whole experience was very unsatisfactory. But I’m afraid that with your recommendations—such as PGTA, etc.—the costs would still be very high even if we switched clinics.

I think we still have a lot to process, but I’m very glad this forum exists. It helps put things into perspective—knowing that things might go better at other clinics. But we simply can’t handle any further financial burden right now.

Thank you so much again!

I’d just like to add briefly that we’re getting a full refund for the transfer that didn’t take place, which I really didn’t expect and think is very generous, since the clinic also had to put in a lot of effort beforehand (protocol, thawing, etc.)...

Best regards