Porto: a top IVF destination
Choosing to undergo IVF is a big decision, filled with emotional and physical challenges. For many, the added stress of considering treatment abroad can seem overwhelming. However, for patients in the UK and the US, Portugal is emerging as a top destination for IVF, and for good reasons.
With progressive open-ID donor policies, lower costs, and excellent medical care, Portugal is an attractive option for fertility treatment. The combination of modern facilities, caring staff, and the chance to learn more about your donor makes Portugal both a practical and reassuring choice.
Porto, in particular, stands out for its exceptional IVF services. Clinics like Procriar offer advanced fertility treatments, personalised care, and one of the largest open-ID gamete banks in the country. Procriar is well-known for its compassionate approach and state-of-the-art technology, ensuring a supportive and effective treatment experience. The lack of waiting lists for open-ID donors at Procriar also means you can start your journey without unnecessary delays.
Why IVF in Portugal?
Open-ID Donors
One big advantage about choosing Portugal is the country’s open-identity donor framework, which lets you know more about the donor. You can access detailed profiles that cover physical traits, education, cognitive abilities, and personality traits. This transparency can give you peace of mind if you’re considering donor conception.
In Portugal, donor-conceived children have the right to know the identity of their donors once they turn 18. This access is guaranteed by the state and is available for 75 years, making it easier to have conversations about your family’s origins and allowing your child to learn about their donor’s medical history and other important information.
Unlike the UK, Portugal has no waiting lists for open-ID egg and sperm donors. Procriar has one of the largest open-ID egg and sperm banks in the country, ensuring you have quick and reliable access to donor gametes.
Progressive and patient-friendly approach
Portugal’s IVF legislation is among the most progressive in Europe, offering personalised care up to the age of 50, regardless of sexual orientation or partnership status. This inclusivity extends to solo motherhood journeys, allowing double donation treatments using both egg and sperm donors.
Portugal also supports reciprocal IVF and shared motherhood treatments for lesbian couples, granting both partners equal rights to the embryos created – a unique feature compared to other countries like Spain.
Quality and safety at the forefront
Portugal is renowned for the safety and quality of its IVF practices, particularly regarding donor regulations. Clinics like Procriar adhere to strict guidelines, ensuring egg donors can only donate four times in their lifetime, with at least a three-month gap between donations. This policy helps minimise the likelihood of multiple half-siblings for donor-conceived children.
Egg donation in Portugal follows strong ethical principles. Donors receive a fixed compensation of €961, transparently paid via bank transfer, with clinics required to maintain proof of payment. This ensures one of the most transparent systems in Europe.
Procriar in Porto is known for its exceptional standards and ethical practices, offering a safe and supportive environment for those seeking IVF treatment.
Why choose Procriar?
If you’re looking for a boutique clinic with no waiting lists and personalised care, Procriar, based in the beautiful city of in Porto, is an excellent choice. Here’s why:
Convenient location: Procriar is situated in Porto’s business centre, just 20 minutes from the airport and close to major hotels.
Advanced technology: Procriar has held ISO 9001 accreditation from the beginning and has no waiting lists. Their modern IVF lab uses advanced technology, including the Embryoscope Plus with AI algorithms for continuous embryo monitoring.
English-speaking staff: The clinic’s English-speaking staff are there to support you, not only with medical care but also with travel logistics. Your Patient Care Assistant will always be just a call away.
Leading expertise: Led by Dr. Joana Mesquita Guimarães, a prominent IVF doctor in Portugal and a member of the Portuguese IVF regulator board, Procriar ensures you are in safe hands every step of the way.
IVF in Portugal – What to Expect
How long will I be in Portugal?
Procriar has extensive experience in coordinating treatments from afar. Depending on your treatment, travel requirements may vary. For example, in egg donation treatments, you might need to visit Portugal twice for a short duration – once for sperm collection (1 day) and later for embryo transfer (3 days). Alternatively, you might only need to come once for a synchronised egg donation cycle lasting a week or an IVF cycle with embryo transfer scheduled five days later.
A synchronised cycle aligns the donor’s egg retrieval with your visit. This means the donor undergoes ovarian stimulation, and her eggs are retrieved just before your arrival. This synchronisation allows you to be present for the embryo transfer, minimising your stay and travel requirements.
Your treatment plan will be tailored to your individual needs, ensuring that your experience is as smooth and stress-free as possible. Procriar’s team will provide detailed schedules and support to help you understand each step of the process and make the necessary travel arrangements. The goal is to make your journey towards parenthood as seamless as possible while providing high-quality care.
What will a first consultation look like?
During your initial consultation, our doctors will review your medical history and ask questions to understand your situation better. It’s crucial to determine if we can offer better solutions than your previous treatments and explore alternative options.
Please bring any records and test results from previous treatments to help us assess your case accurately. Prepare any questions you have in advance so we can address your concerns during the consultation. With all the necessary information, we can create a treatment plan and get things moving. If any tests are missing, we can discuss various options and schedule a follow-up call to avoid delays.
When are embryos transferred?
At Procriar, embryos are exclusively transferred at the blastocyst stage, which means they are 5 or 6 days old. A blastocyst is a more developed stage of an embryo that has undergone several rounds of cell division. This extended culture period allows the embryologists to observe the embryos for longer, providing valuable additional information about their quality and viability.
The blastocyst stage consists of around 100-200 cells, differentiated into two cell types: the inner cell mass, which will become the foetus, and the trophectoderm, which will form the placenta. By growing embryos to the blastocyst stage, Procriar can better select the most viable embryos for transfer, increasing the chances of a successful pregnancy. This approach helps in identifying embryos with the best potential for implantation, reducing the likelihood of multiple pregnancies and improving overall success rates.
Whenever you’re ready, the team at Procriar is here to support you. Book an initial consultation to discuss your options, find tailored treatments with no wait time, and connect with our donor network.
