Brussels Free University + PGD-AS

keenukcouple · Post by **keenukcouple** » Tue Dec 09, 2003 12:02 pm

Hello all, I have recently undergone a series of tests and counselling at the Londons Women's Clinic. FSH, husband's sperm count etc, all ok it seems. However, aged 42 rather than IVF at the LWC, the advice I received was to opt for PGD-AS at the Brussels Free University. I wondered if anyone in the group has gone down this route, whether it was successful and the approximate costs for treatment. Any comments would be extremely welcome. Thanking you all in advance.

keenukcouple · Post by **keenukcouple** » Fri Dec 12, 2003 11:06 am

I have not been able to obtain much info on the Brussels Free University and only a little on PGD-AS, but was really hoping that someone here might have done it or known of someone who has.....clearly its a bit more unusal that my consultant let on. Julia.

Dagny · Post by **Dagny** » Fri Dec 12, 2003 11:40 am

Hello Julia I am afraid I don't know anything about your situation and can't be of any help. But I do hope you manage to find some information to help you soon and I wish you lots of luck too. Love Dagny x

Amanda A · Post by **Amanda A** » Fri Dec 12, 2003 2:53 pm

Hi Julia, I had PGD on my last cycle but it was nothing to do with Brussels Free University. I don't think I will be able to help but please come back to me if you think I might. Love Rach XX

Grace · Post by **Grace** » Fri Dec 12, 2003 7:51 pm

I have heard about the Brussels Clinic which I believe has a good reputation and PGD is considerably cheaper there than in the UK. I am afraid don't know anyone who has actually had treatmeant there. We are thinking about PGD ourselves, I attend the Lister and am going to see one of the embryologists there who works on their programme. I am not sure about it yet, but am certainly interested in finding out more. The reason we are looking at it is that I have had alot of "good" attempts but no pregnancy. Good luck with your research. When I find out more info. I will post on this thread again. Gracexxx

alisonn · Post by **alisonn** » Sat Dec 13, 2003 11:14 pm

could u explain what PGD-AS is

keenukcouple · Post by **keenukcouple** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 12:02 pm

Grace The LWC specialist was very firm in her recommendation of both the Brussels clinc and the proceedure. She did say that I could approach both the Lister and Univ College Hospital (both London) as they have just begun to offer PGD-AS. However, as I understand it, the treatment at these clinics only began in October so they as yet dont have a track record. The proceedure is fairly common practise it seems on the continent, especially Belgium and germany where it is uniformly offered. I am still trying to access the Belgium system without too much success however. Clearly now the Christmas season is upon us it will have to be the New Year. But at 42 I am keen to get a move on. I havent tried other forms of IVF and because of my age, the success rate of PGD-AS is greater as by identifying, isolating and transferring a 'strong' embryo the high risks of miscarriage, Downs and other related issues can be mitigated. Fingers crossed anyway - nothing to loose is how I see it! J xxx

Grace · Post by **Grace** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 1:28 pm

Thanks for that ... I have n't spoken with the embryologist at the Lister yet think I will leave it until the new year now. I don't really know if we will go ahead with it or not. The clinic are not pushing it but it is worth looking at. Have you had other chromosome testing done? ours came back fine. I am 36 and from what I can gather a chromsomal problem would not necessarily stop a pregnancy. I have never been pregnant but don't know if this is down to sheer bad luck or if their is an underlying implantation problem. We have had the NK tests done and they did come back as borderline. All very confusing and I agree London clinics don't seem to be doing it for very long. Although I think ARGC (Rachel had hers done there) and Care in Norwich might be doing it for longer. Really wish you the best of luck with it. Keep in touch and let us know how you are getting on. Love Grace

jen · Post by **jen** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 2:16 pm

Hi Julia Hope you don't mind me butting in - I've heard of PGD but not PGD-AS. What's the difference between them? Just to let you know that we went ahead with PGD on our last cycle (+ive with a 6 week scan on Christmas Eve), we did this at the ARGC but I know that they actually had to send the bit of the embryoes they biopsied over to a clinic in Chicago to test as they don't do it themselves. We had the PGD because we'd had so many failed cycles and thought that maybe all our embies were just abnormal and if that was the case we could really close the chapter on IVF and go down a different road. As it happened 4 or 6 embies came back normal. I also had an IVIG (a type of blood transfusion for borderline NK cells) and to be honest I'm not sure what has led to our +ive whether it's the PGD or the IVIG or just luck!!! Hope this helps a bit anyway. Grace hope it gives you a bit more info too. Take care and best of luck Jen

jen · Post by **jen** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 2:17 pm

Forgot to add an important bit of info - it was really expensive, £2500 at the ARGC but I know they seem to be most expensive for everything!!!

Friendly · Post by **Friendly** » Sat Feb 21, 2004 11:42 am

I just had pgd done at Care at the Park in Nottingham. They send off a cell from each embryo to Valencia in Spain for testing. Of 10 embryos I had 2 normal ones and I am 43. I had the 2 normal ones replaced but still got a negative as there is only a 1 in 4 chance of the tested embryos implanting so it is still very slim odds. The whole cycle cost us £4500, including the ICSI and screening but not the drugs.

Hope this helps

Jenny

Advertisements