SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1999, EUGIN CLINIC, LOCATED IN BARCELONA, HAS BECOME ONE OF THE FOREMOST FERTILITY CENTRES IN EUROPE IN TERMS OF NUMBER OF TREATMENTS. THE CLINIC OFFERS THE UNIQUE ADVANTAGE OF PERFORMING AN ONLINE DIAGNOSIS THAT HELPS ELIMINATE WAI

Anna and Gillian, who are lesbian mothers, talk about their experience of the process that led them to have Ethan, their first child born through a fertility treatment “You’ve always thought that one day you’ll be a mother and that you’ll have your own children… and when you find the right person to take on such an important project with you, you want to make it come true.” Anna, 38 year-old businesswoman, explains while Ethan, her son, plays with his baby bottle, oblivious to his mother’s words. They are accompanied by Gillian, a 42 year-old teacher who is also Ethan’s mum. In fact, she was the one who carried the baby boy in her womb. “We’ve been partners for over five years and from the moment we met, we knew we wanted to start a family together,” says Gillian. She assures us that the process of “getting pregnant” was “easy and fairly quick”. “We were looking for information online and that’s where we found out about the ROPA method (Reception of Oocytes from Partner). To us it seemed a lovely idea that we could both be involved in the process and so that’s how we did it”.

For this couple, it was Gillian, who wanted to get pregnant. “I had always been excited by the idea, and considering that I had already turned 40, I didn’t want more time to go by. ” Her partner agreed, and after the decision was taken they went to the fertility clinic, where after undergoing some tests, they were able to begin the treatment. Both followed a hormonal treatment: Anna had to stimulate her ovaries in order to obtain eggs, which Gillian would receive later and who in turn, was undergoing treatment to prepare her endometrium.

“Although we knew perfectly well that for the treatment we would have to turn to a sperm donor, we found the subject of choosing one quite intriguing. Would the choice be in our HOME INSEMINATION This option is becoming very popular. Semen donors’ websites are readily available and easy to deal with. It is also quite affordable. WHEN THINGS DON’T COME EASY One out of six women will find some sort of difficulty when trying to conceive and this ratio will increase even more rapidly when you reach your mid-thirties. 1. LEGAL Barcelona is a popular destination because Spanish Law says that all women can access fertility treatments regardless of their sexual orientation or marital status. 2. AUDITED SUCCESS RATES Look for Success Rates. This information is very important, so it is advisable to make sure that these figures have been audited by an independent body. 3. VERIFIED QUALITY As for any medical treatment, especially if you travel abroad, it is important to be confident that the centre meets international ISO quality standards. 4. LANGUAGE You are taking an important decision. You need to understand all the details, and, of course, to be able to express yourself in your own language. 5. EMOTIONAL SUPPORT Take it from us, fertility treatments can turn into an emotional roller coaster. Personal attention, years of experience, as well as having a dedicated emotional support team at your disposal are all important. 6. PRIVACY You will appreciate having your own space. Look for private room availability. 7. START WHENEVER YOU WANT There is no reason why you should have to wait to start out on your journey towards having a baby. Why not ask for a weekend appointment? They are readily available of course, and this may suit you better. 8. THE COST OF YOUR TREATMENT You have the right to know everything about your treatment, which obviously includes the cost clearly stated beforehand. When comparing prices, bear in mind other associated costs such as the price of travel, the stay, or how many days you will have to be away from home or from work. 9. MEDICAL ATTENTION 24 HOURS A DAY Although complications are rare in assisted reproduction treatments, make sure your centre provides a round-the-clock service. Peace of mind is priceless. 10. BLOOD AND GENETIC TEST Should your treatment require an egg from a donor, many women are concerned about blood group compatibility and often request a genetic test to rule out communicable diseases. 11. DONOR ANONYMITY It is the responsibility of the clinic to provide you with the best matching and an exhaustive medical screening. 12. RESEARCH AND TEAM Assisted Reproduction Techniques evolve very fast, and every month there are new developments, so make sure your centre is up-to-date. A very high level of research activity is a good indicator. Larger teams of more than 200 professionals per centre allow for greater specialisation.