Skype Consult - Prague Fertility Centre

I woke up at 4:45 am for my 5 am Skype consultation with Dr. Stevikova at the Prague Fertility Centre. After introductions and pleasantries, the first thing she did was mention my extremely low AMH level of .2 (that's point 2, not 2.0), and suggest egg donation as a better path for successful IVF. When I said that I was not interested in using donor eggs, she dealt me some news that was hard to hear: "Your chance of a positive pregnancy with IVF is about 10%."

My AMH was .39 in 2014 which is not quite as low, but still low. I ended the conversation a bit defeated, but with plans to move forward with my third IVF at the end of July, while we are on vacation in Europe. When our Little Bean woke up, happy and with her infectious smile, I was reminded just how lucky blessed we are to have her. Yes, a sibling would be nice - I want her to have that - but, if that is not in the cards for us, she is more amazing that I ever could have imagined a baby could be. I have to remember that some couples going through IVF never make it this far, and that there are some advantages to being an only child (private secondary school, 100% inheritance, not 50%).

The total cost for IVF in the Czech Republic is 2,500 Euros, or about $2,800. Compare that to $15,000 here in the states, plus another $4,000 for medication. Although not planned, I am very fortunate that we are going to Vienna and Budapest before our stay in Prague, and are there long enough for me to start the stimulation medication after I arrive. This allows me to travel to Prague from Vienna (a 4 hour train ride) on our first day and pick up my medication for a third of the cost. The exact same medication would cost $4,000 here in America, thanks to the Food and Drug Administration, compared to $1,000 over there.

Here is my protocol and the amazingly reasonable cost:

Hello dear Megan,
the doctor has prepared the stimulation protocol.Till the day 8, when the ultrasound should be done the medication will cost:

Gonal F 620 Euro

Orgalutran 150 Euro

Clomifen aprox. 130 CZK

On the day 8 is usually decided if, and when so, how the stimulation will be prolonged = you will need more medication. So the price should be less then 1500 Euro for you for the medication.

This means that my entire medication will be less than $1,683 dollars! 

Here's a rough idea of the timeline associated with an IVF cycle. My stimulation medication will start on July 6-8 and last 10-12 days.

                                                                     Birth Control Pills

                                                                     (Approx. 14-21 days) 

                                                               

Stimulation Medication
July 6-8
(Approx. 12-15 days)

Trigger Shot
July 16-18

Egg Retrieval
Approx July 20th
(36-37 hours after trigger shot)

Embryo Transfer
Approx July 23
(3-5 days after retrieval)

Pregnancy Test
(14 days after retrieval)

So, while our chances may be low, at least the associated cost is as well. Remember, our first IVF which did not work set us back $20,000!