DR. JOSÉ JESÚS LÓPEZ GÁLVEZ, DIRECTOR OF THE REPRODUCTION UNIT AT HOSPITAL CLÍNICA VISTAHERMOSA, AND SALOMÉ LÓPEZ GARRIDO, DIRECTOR OF THE INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT AT THE REPRODUCTION UNIT OF CLÍNICA VISTAHERMOSA TALK TO PRIDE LIFE ABOUT THEIR WORK.
When was Clínica Vistahermosa founded?
The Hospital Clínica Vistahermosa was founded 50 years ago. It is the most important private hospital in the region of Alicante (www. urvistahermosa.com), including 100 private rooms with en suite bathroom. We offer the most advanced medical treatments and techniques.
In terms of assisted reproductive treatments what services do you offer?
We deal with all treatments permitted by Spanish law, being experts in embryo adoption, egg and sperm donation, fertility preservation through gametes (sperm and eggs), inseminations, in vitro fertilisation.
Are there any other services you provide either before or after the treatment?
Of course. We assist patients to book their accommodation as we collaborate with the best hotels and apartments of the city. We deal with their airport, clinic and hotel transfers in Alicante and any other service they may need while they stay here.
What services do you provide which are particularly suited to LGBT people?
We provide fertility preservation through gametes (both sperm and donation), donor insemination for single women or lesbian couples, and in vitro fertilisation with donor sperm. In case of a lesbian couple, we could fertilise the eggs of one of them with donor sperm and transfer the resulting embryos to the couple. Both of them will be biological mothers. We also collaborate with clinics for surrogate pregnancy in LGBT, where screenings and monitoring are carried out in our clinic, as in Spain it not permitted to carry out the complete treatment.
How are the Spanish laws on assisted reproductive treatment, particularly in regard to single women, different to those in the UK and Ireland?
Spanish law permits assisted reproduction treatment to single women, where donors are anonymous. It is not possible for the donors to have details of the recipients, neither if a pregnancy has been achieved. It is relevant to inform the readers that the DNA of all our donors is kept in the BIOBANK at our genetics unit for more peace of mind and tranquillity about the baby’s health.
How do you select egg and sperm donors?
Spanish law is very strict in the selection of donors. All of them must have a medical record, family tree, general screenings, metabolic, genetic and infections tests. Furthermore, the psychoemotional status is evaluated.
How long does the treatment take on average, and what is your success rate?
In the egg and sperm donation or embryo adoption, the treatment lasts between two and three months, from the initial screenings until the embryo transfer. When we speak about IVF or insemination, it lasts approximately twenty days. Patients will attend Ur Vistahermosa twice and spend between two and ten days in Alicante, depending on the treatment, as part of their treatment will be in their own country. The success rate in egg and sperm donation is approximately 80% in two cycles, 65% in three insemination cycles and 40% in one cycle of IVF/ICSI.
Where do the majority of your patients come from?
Most of the patients come from Europe, although patients from the United States, Australia or the Middle East are increasing.
How does one set about arranging a consultation? Does this have to be done in Spain?
Normally, we recommend that our patients come in for an initial consultation of one day, but it is also possible to arrange a Skype or telephone consultation. In this case, they should previously send some details about their medical history. We may request additional tests to achieve an accurate diagnosis and proceed with the most indicated treatment. Screenings can be carried out in our hospital or in their local clinic.
What sets Clínica Vistahermosa apart from other similar clinics?
We are a service located in a university hospital, where teaching and research are major pillars. This involves more professionalism and tranquillity for our patients. We have the most advanced technology in medicine and we can treat all medical cases together with our Genetics Unit. Effectiveness, rapidness and competitive prices are possible because we are a hospital and nothing is outsourced to other centres.
On a personal note what has been the most satisfying part of your work?
José: The possibilities as a doctor of helping people to make their dream of having a child come true.
Salomé: It is very rewarding to know that someone has delivered a healthy baby and you are part of the story.