Online Reviews

I’m 50. We were interested for egg donation. I don’t have any other children. Embio clinic is perfect. A nice place to be when someone wants to conceive a baby. When we checked on the internet we made a contact with the IVF coordinator and she sounded so positive. We were worried that when we went there they’d say they can’t help us.  But they told us that they would try.

The treatment was not difficult at all. The embryo transfer was OK, everything went fine. No pain, but I felt very sentimental.

The first time we came we stayed for three days to discuss with the Doctor and decide on the first medication. We could do that from Sweden but we decided to go to Embio for that. Three weeks later we came again and stayed for four days.

The clinic looks very professional, very clean, very modern, to be honest, much better than I expected.

The clinic is not far from the airport. It’s very easy to come here. We stayed at a hotel nearby and we can go on foot to the clinic.

Everything was OK. We would recommend Embio and Dr Paraschos to everyone who wants to have a baby via egg donation.

I’m 44. We’ve been trying for 3-4 years to have a child.  Four times I’ve tried with IVF at home. But even with IVF, I only created one embryo each time. It never worked with me for more embryos. So three times they cancelled the cycles. Finally we got one fertilized egg, and that wasn’t successful.

An Anonymous Egg Donor in Greece

One of the doctors there recommended I come to Greece for a donor. In Australia the egg donor is not private, there is no confidentiality. The biological mother’s got the right to be part of the life of the conceived child. There was an instance once when the biological mother said “I want my child back.”

That’s not so with donor sperm.

My sister came to Embio and she’s pregnant!

We came to Embio in Athens for an egg donation treatment. My sister came here and she’s pregnant with triplets. She’s fine. They’re growing very well, too.

Apart from close family, I don’t want to say too much, because people judge you. I just believe you keep certain things private.

An Egg Donor free of Thalassemia

We didn’t want the donor to be a carrier of Thalassemia. Maybe this was why it wasn’t working.

Embio Medical Center is a modern IVF clinic

The clinic is nice, very modern, the staff very nice

The staff is very friendly. I was supposed to be here 4 weeks, for the timing with the egg donor. It took a bit longer than my sister, maybe because I still have my own eggs. I started the treatment in Sydney and today was the transfer. It felt like a Pap smear.

In Greece you can have donor egg IVF with fresh eggs. In Canada we have to buy frozen eggs.

Here at EmBIO (in Athens) we could have fresh eggs. But even if you want to buy frozen eggs in Canada, you cannot. You have to buy them from the United States and it’s almost 20,000 Canadian dollars for 6 eggs. Imagine I did that 4 times in Canada and in 2 IVF cycles there was no embryo.

So it’s also a matter of cost for a donor egg IVF treatment.

Here at EMBIO the egg donor had 15 eggs and when they were fertilized we had 6 embryos, 3 of which were of good quality and one of Grade 2, i.e. not so good quality.

The first thing that brought me to EmBIO in Greece, was that I could see it looked professional. I emailed, and Eleni (the IVF coordinator) was so sweet and answered me so quickly. The staff speaks both English and French.

One of the other things was the 70% success rate. What’s more, at a Greek IVF centre you can transfer 3 embryos. In Canada it’s only one embryo per transfer.

The chances for success will be higher here at EmBIO for me to get pregnant. 

We enjoyed our time in this beautiful country. We arrived on the 15^th of September and we are leaving on the 25^th. We could have managed in a shorter time, one week would be enough. We have a direct flight from Montreal to Athens, so it’s easy to come and easy to leave.

All the employees here at EMBIO are really nice people.

 

I’ve lost count, about 16-19 tries with 2 miscarriages over 4 years. All these were in Australia. The purpose of our coming to EMBIO in Greece was to have donor treatment. In Australia, you receive excellent care, but the process is not anonymized. It’s very difficult to have donor egg treatment in Australia.

After extensive research on the internet, we had written to many doctors about my situation. Dr Paraschos’ responsiveness was exceptional – his honesty, his integrity, and his understanding of the situation. We have written to many clinics and we chose him.

He stood up for us, he’s very knowledgeable. He made us feel so comfortable about asking questions, we felt safe. It’s not easy to come to a foreign country to do this. It’s very hard. He made us feel at ease.

The embryo transfer was very good, Usually, I had a lot of problems with that in Australia, I suffer from cervical stenosis and it's very painful for me and usually, the doctors find it very hard to transfer the embryo. Here it was easy.

I didn’t feel pain, except for the clicking sound I was hearing.

Painless, I’m telling you. I had thought it was going to be difficult because of my situation, and it was surprisingly painless. I felt nothing. Three embryos were transferred.

The staff are truly excellent. They work extremely hard, they are amazing! Spyridoula works so hard. So lovely, so caring. I can’t sing her praises enough. And our IVF coordinator was very patient with us. 

Without such support staff, it would be difficult for a foreign person. They are so helpful. And Dr Paraschos makes you feel safe, secure, and at ease.

We are so grateful. Much easier than what was expected. So much easier. It was a relief. The whole IVF process is much easier than you think it’s going to be. You think it’s going to be hard, but it’s really easy.

Applying for an egg donor at EmBIO Clinic in Greece

I was impressed with the ease by which we applied for an egg donor at Embio clinic in Greece. So far, we’re extremely satisfied with Embio, whereas the treatment we had in Australia has been expensive and very complicated.

About Dr Paraschos

Dr Paraschos was very good, very warm and friendly, professional. He understood where we’ve come from, since this is a very emotional rollercoaster.

IVF Limit

 I’ve been through various fertility treatments in Australia, from assisted reproduction to IVF without results, and my time is running out. I’m in my 40s, I have limited time, and a donor is for me the final option. And it’s a big step because, emotionally, you have to come to terms that it’s not all a part of you, but we’ll have a child, and this will be our child. And I’d love to have a sister or brother for my boy. He’s a delight and joy and was completely natural. Now, I’m praying for a miracle.

The Embio Clinic is for real (Best clinic in the world for egg donation)

We searched sites and places in the world for our egg donation treatment. This a leak of faith from us in Australia, because we researched on the internet and everything we’d done so far had been via email and we didn’t know until we got here and saw Embio Clinic, that everything was legitimate. And now we find that everything is well organized and professional. Whatever the outcome, we’re very happy.

The faith button for us was one little photograph of Robert Winston. In this day and age you don’t know who you’re dealing with is genuine. When you’re dealing with people overseas you have nothing material.  But then our IVF coordinator, was emailing backwards and forwards to us for weeks for my questions and what to do next. In Australia it’s first the money and then getting pregnant. Whereas here at Embio, the human touch comes first. The mentality here is, ‘We want to give you what you want.’

The EmBIO clinic is busy, professional, enthusiastic, which is what I like to see – people who like what they do. I feel their heart is in the right place, we can feel the staff love what they do. There’s a lot of lovely women working at EmBIO.

Yes to Donor Egg IVF, No to Stress!

60% of Australian donor women back out before it comes to the treatment, because in Australia they don’t thank you for doing it. There’s nothing in it for her. The whole legal process is extremely stressful, because of what we’re going though emotionally.

In Australia you have to find your own donor. It’s a very long process. You may go through everything and they may say no at the end.

You’re wearing out your soul to find a donor! Once you’re out of the doctor’s door, you’re on your own. And there’s thousands of women in Australia asking for a donor. It’s like a lottery.

Here at Embio, there is no stress. As soon as we started communicating with the IVF coordinator, we felt that we were in the right place. I really felt I had found a friend.

IVF costs less (when you have your Egg Donation treatment at Embio in Greece)

In Australia the people who want the donor have to pay for her full medical blood tests, blood screening, full psychological screening, and counseling. So the cost of coming to Embio, Greece (flying, hotel and treatment) in many cases is cheaper than an egg donation treatment in Australia.

Time is a luxury the egg recipient can’t afford!

The whole procedure takes from 3 to 6 months in Australia. Remember that all this happens after you have found someone who wants to be an egg donor. You could be looking to a year to 2 years before you find a donor.

In Australia you can’t be a donor unless you’ve completed your own family. It’s not law, but it’s a major recommendation not to give eggs when you’re young and you have many eggs to give. But we are here at this Greek clinic now, since we don’t have the benefit of time because of our age.

What I’m saying to you, if you are in your 40s, is, Please, don’t give up. There is another way. There is hope.

And now for the big news...

We have healthy twins, now about 7 cm long

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First Scan in August 2014 and... twins!

Hi!

Please let Dr Thanos know that we are expecting twins.
I have had my first scan and attached the results.
All looks very good at the moment.
We hope it proceeds just as well.

Finally a big hello to all the fantastic people at work

All our warm Aussie wishes,

Kind Regards

I wanted children all my adult life, but I've been in bad relationships, so there's never been the right time to have the children together with a husband. When I turned 40, I decided that I'd have a child with IVF if I didn't have a child until 45.

Then, my sister-in-law became terminally ill with cancer. My IVF treatment had to be put on hold because the whole family had to be there for her.

When I was able to begin my IVF, I was 49. I had a failed attempt last year, and this is my second and final attempt. There will be no more after 51, because of my age. The age limit in Greece is 51.

Three embryos were transferred last year, 4 embryos this time.

I felt more uncomfortable during this embryo transfer than last year because I was more anxious. There was pressure from the ultrasound to find the right place to put the embryos.

Dr Paraschos is a lovely doctor. We had an excellent coordinator who was always there to answer questions and respond promptly. I received good service at Embio and I do recommend them, even if this cycle fails. 

I only stayed one night in Athens. I was told that I could fly back home the same day.

Hello! I hope you are well and still enjoying your great work.

Here are some pictures of our lovely son D! We are so very proud of him!

Furthermore, it is said by the doctor that D. is very early in performance and so quick learning! Already for quite some time, he turns from his belly to his back, and is playing with his hands in his mouth so much. He is now 4 months, and he is so cheerful, very happy and laughing a lot!

We are very grateful that you helped us so well!

Give dr. Paraschos our best regards and thanks!

I got pregnant with no menstrual cycle!

I had polycystic ovaries and was under birth control for six years. "Since you don’t have a period, it’s difficult for you to get pregnant and have a child," my gynecologist had said. At that time I had stopped taking the pill for two and half years and had free intercourse with my husband for six months, almost every day, or every other day. My period came all of a sudden after 4 months and only once. And so in the beginning I didn’t realize I was pregnant. I hadn’t menstruated for three months. And then I only had one single drop of black blood for one day and I conceived! And never saw any blood ever since. I conceived a child with no period!

The hCG test was wrong!

I had had an hCG test with another doctor, and had come out with a wrong result. I have a thyroid condition and I had a thyroid scan. As soon as I did the scan, I started vomiting. On the first couple of days, I thought it was the Thyroid scintigraphy. But the vomiting wouldn’t stop. So here I was taking the hCG test once again two weeks later. There had been a lab mistake. I was pregnant.

You have to have an abortion!

I go to my gynecologist, I’m telling him I’d had a thyroid scan, he examines me and finds that indeed I was pregnant. He closes the monitor, so I wouldn’t be able to see the baby, and turns to me and says: "We need to arrange for the abortion."

My eyes are full of tears. Because I had the thyroid scan and the scan drug had entered in my system (something like radioactive iodine), he said that the child would be affected. As we learned in the process, the amount of radiation was the same as when you put the mobile phone to your ear. I had a feeling that the child as healthy as could be. Whatever it is, I want to go ahead and have a nuchal translucency, I said. "I will not take that risk,” says the gynecologist. “Either you have an abortion, or go find another doctor.”

Pregnancy after a Thyroid Scan

I looked for another obstetrician and found Dr Paraschos. I emailed him the thyroid test results and asked him what I should do from then on. We set up an appointment after 2 days. After he examines me, he goes, "In taking over now, and there's no way anything happens to the child!" He just saw me quite often, to check the baby’s development. Every week we had an ultrasound, whereas normally, I would have had it once a month. After we did the NT and saw everything was OK, I calmed down.

Motherhood is the best thing in the world

I felt complete. I cannot describe this feeling. Amazing moments, very strong emotions. And to think the other gynecologist wanted me to have an abortion! And now I see my boy and say: "Dude, you're a joy to us all!”

After birth my polycystic ovaries were gone!

I kept my child. I heard not my mind, but my heart. After giving birth I now have a normal period. And I do not have PCOS anymore. Birth helped with the thyroid, too. It got smaller.

During pregnancy every 45 days I was tested for my thyroid levels. Since the 8th month my thyroid reached normal levels. "To stay there, it is advisable to keep taking the pills," my doctor told me. Anyway, pregnancy eventually changes everything. Pregnancy hormones do wonders.

 

Restrictions regarding egg donation ivf in my country, Sweden, was the reason to get ivf abroad. As a doctor, I would only accept an ivf clinic with the best experience and high success rates, the right credentials and guarantees. After my survey, I chose EmBIO Medical Centre in Athens. Fertility Specialist Dr Thanos Paraschos is very professional and I immediately felt trust, faith and confidence. He directly arranged a contact with the IVF coordinator. From the start and during the whole treatment the IVF coordinator ;has been an excellent organizer; reliable, competent, considerate and always easy to reach. The same nice attitude and kind reception goes for the whole staff.

Already from the start necessary tests were done, I got suitable medication and the egg donor was selected. A few weeks later, the embryo transfer was carried through by Dr Paraschos. The procedure was totally painless and performed in a very gentle and relaxed atmosphere. I hereby hope I can reduce any possible fear for embryo transfer felt by other women. Following tests showed that I was pregnant after this first attempt. The joy reached the highest level as well as the gratitude for the excellent result. I am now 22 weeks pregnant with a little girl.

The clinic offers all following treatment as bloodtests, ultrasound and even the delivery.

The ivf costs are individual and you pay for just what you need. Not a high all-inclusive payment. The clinic is easy to find. Many airlines have frequent flights to Athens and even at a low cost.

Athens is a nice town to visit and offers a lot of very good and well situated hotels.

Do not choose clinics with tempting advertisement offering you to be pregnant during one week of holiday. Invest the money in a serious treatment. I selected EmBIO's donor egg program in Athens and I highly recommend this professional clinic. I only regret that I did not start earlier. Choose this clinic without waiting list and take the chance to very soon expect a baby. If you want security, safety, discretion, professionalism, trust, confidence, successful rates combined with an outstanding treatment, do no hesitate to contact Dr Thanos Paraschos and the IVF coordinators at EmBIO Medical Clinic in Athens.

Hans: My wife is a doctor and knows the German medical system from inside. First of all, the German national health system is totally hostile towards ivf. Before 2009 a fertility patient was entitled to three ivf tries with a minimal participation in the cost of ivf treatments. As of 2009 even those three ivf attempts are not granted by the German nhs, so we have to pay everything out of our pockets, and fertility treatments are too expensive in Germany. This is preposterous. The average German cannot afford any fertility treatment. Even IVF drugs are so much more expensive here than in Greece.

The second barrier is German legislation banning egg donation. I’m not judging that. I’m just saying there is absolutely no way you can have donor egg ivf in Germany. And that’s that. Your hope of parenthood is cut off. Notice, I’m saying “parenthood” and not conception. In Germany you can’t even adopt a child if you are over 40 or something. That restriction goes for either one of would-be parents.

Then we come to the level of quality of German doctors, which is unacceptable, to say the least. And I know what I’m talking about. As I said, my wife is herself a doctor, and I’m a university graduate. The German national health system forces doctors to spend more time in paperwork than treating their patients. So when it comes to fertility treatments, they prove worthless. Back in 2006 when we started, the law gave us 3 ivf treatments. We lost all three of them due to their incompetence. To be more specific, we lost all three attempts with my wife’s own eggs because the doctors were not available for oocyte retrieval during her ovulation. They failed to schedule the tests and the whole procedure properly. We don’t live in Heidelberg. We’re kilometers away. But we had to travel to Heidelberg just to be seen by the gynecologist for 10 minutes. He said the next appointment should be in 4 days. We said “ovulation is in 2 days.” But the doctor wanted to go home for the weekend.

Christa: “Look at my hormones! Ovulation is on its way!” I said to him.

“Sorry, we’re closed for the weekend.”

That’s a crime! Come Monday morning, we call him and he says, “We lost it.”

I was desperate. It was so unfair. With mistakes like that you not only lose your 3 ivf chances, you lose your chance to have a baby with your own eggs as time goes by.

Then they made me miss my two other fertility treatments experimenting foolishly with iui on me. They didn’t really examine my case. They didn’t run the right blood and hormonal tests. All they did was keep trying with intra uterine insemination until they realized it was a dead end. Then we had to go all over the excruciating red tape with the insurance system, which took time for the expenditure to be approved. Problem is, time works against our fertility. The number of your eggs decreases dramatically with age.

No one took my problem seriously in Germany. That’s heartbreaking, you know. Especially when you’ve been trying to have a baby for years. The toll is great for the whole family.

We knew fertility specialist Thanos Paraschos in Greece, so when we realized something was going seriously wrong with the doctors in Germany, we started consulting him at each and every step from some point onwards. We couldn’t trust them anymore. So we would send test results and he would say “How did they ever come with such values?” (headslap) Nothing made sense. All they did was miss my ovulations. And I was definitely not getting any younger.

Hans: All three times they failed to get even a single egg of my wife’s, while Dr Paraschos managed to get her own eggs the first time we tried with him!

Christa: The German doctor will never say “Your case is different, so we will follow a different protocol.” One protocol for all, no matter what.

Another thing is that German legislation forbids embryo transfers of more than two embryos at a time. Their explanation is that triplets are a risk for abortions or during labor.

Hans: Her gynecologist in Germany is a very good man, but has no ivf experience. So he said she should go abroad to get pregnant. Dr. Thanos Paraschos has proved an excellent choice. Now we’re trying for our second baby with him, this time with donor eggs.

 

Amazing Success with Donor Eggs!

 

It was an amazing success. We had been through so many ivf tries. Now, first time with egg donation, and I was pregnant! It was something that made us delirious with happiness. It was incredible!

Read more Donor Egg IVF Stories!