When I first reached out to Dr Paraschos, my emails were heavy with five years of pain and struggle. Marcus, my partner, and I are both forty, and we had already faced two heartbreaking IVF failures back in the UK. I felt a fierce, raw urgency, like I was in a desperate race against my own biological clock. "My body is failing me," I remember writing.

This whole struggle was taking a toll on my mental health and confidence. It felt deeply unfair that a woman's fertility window is so much shorter than a man's, especially since I had waited nine years for Marcus to finally feel ready to start a family. That feeling of being in a race was constant.

I carried a deep-seated fear as well. I worried Marcus had "power" over my last eggs and could stop me from using our embryos if we ever split up. That anxiety pushed me to be a very determined advocate for my own health. I was desperate, asking about any and every treatment that could possibly help us. I wanted control over my own future.

Dr Paraschos' Plan

Dr Paraschos answered my emotional honesty with real compassion, but also with a clear, scientific plan. "I understand how difficult and emotionally draining this situation can be," he wrote, which made me feel seen and less alone.

He was smart about the logistics. Right from the start, he introduced the clinic's IVF coordinators (Anna and Konstantinos), as my primary contacts. These people were there to handle all the day-to-day planning, logistics, scheduling SKYPE consultations, and answering any queries. This allowed the doctor to focus only on the high-level medical strategy, which felt incredibly reassuring.

Dr Paraschos confirmed the difficult truths of our case. He said our infertility was not just one thing. First, Marcus had significant male-factor issues; his test results showed the sperm has issues. On my side, I had a low ovarian reserve. My previous tests were low, and a recent scan showed my antral follicle count was only four. He also noted that my records suggested I might have adenomyosis, a uterine condition that could make implantation difficult.

Because of our two previous failures, he proposed a full investigation. He suggested karyotypes to check our chromosomes and a hysteroscopy to look inside my uterus. He also recommended immunological tests, like ANA, anti-TPO, and anti-Tg, to see if my body had any autoimmune issues that might mistake a pregnancy for an invader.

Based on all the facts, he built a highly specific strategy just for us:

• For my Eggs: He recommended the hormone supplement DHEA to try and improve my ovaries' response.

• For Marcus's Sperm: He planned to use two advanced lab techniques: Microfluidic Sperm Sorting (ZYMOT), which uses a special chip to select the healthiest, fastest-moving sperm, and PICSI, where the embryologists pick sperm based on how well they bind to a special surface that mimics an egg.

• For Implantation: He listed several adjuvant therapies like Intralipid, steroids, Coenzyme Q10, aspirin, and heparin to support the embryo after transfer.

When I asked about Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) for uterine and ovarian rejuvenation, he confirmed they offered it. He was honest, calling it experimental but also promising. Crucially, he directly addressed my deepest fear by advising me to freeze my own eggs. That step gave me independent control over my future, which was a huge emotional relief. I fully agreed to his plan, writing, "I want to have the best chances possible."

The Birth of Iris

The clinic's approach—combining advanced science with genuine emotional support—worked. In October 2025, I sent Dr Paraschos an email that started, "I hope my email finds you well." I told him the amazing news: "I am assuming that you've been informed that on 01/06/25 we've been blessed with our little girl Iris."

The difference between my previous failed cycles in the UK and this one was profound. After years of emotional turmoil, the birth of Iris after the successful IVF treatment in Greece was the turning point I needed. I now feel an overwhelming sense of peace and gratitude. The success didn't just give us our child; it restored my faith in the process and in my own body.

Iris is absolutely perfect. She is a very strong baby, so aware and inquisitive right from the start. This miracle has so renewed my hope that I'm already looking to the future. In that same email, I was already tracking my cycle and making plans, ready to start the treatment for a second baby.