How does the visit for the technique to be carried out work?

Organization of your stay in Barcelona

What do I need to do before giving a semen sample?

We advise that a semen sample be given on the first visit for the sterility study. Sometimes a second sample will be needed on the day of the oocyte punction (IVF/ recipients) or on the day of the insemination (IAC), according to the recommendations of the biologists.

For optimum results, it is better to give the sample after a period of sexual abstinence of 3-5 days. The semen is obtained from masturbation in a room adapted for this purpose and is sent, immediately, to our laboratory at the clinic where it is analysed. The results will be available after a few days.

It is not recommended to carry out the seminogram after a long period of abstinence as this could give rise to a large number of immotile or dead sperm which may not reflect reality.

How can I prepare for my insemination?

On the day of the insemination, you must attend the clinic, without having missed any meals, 15-20 minutes before the scheduled time in the case of a frozen semen sample being used (either from your partner or from a donor). If you have been asked to provide a fresh semen sample you will have to attend, with your partner, 2 hours before the time scheduled for the insemination.

The doctor will go over the results that have been obtained during the stimulation cycle and answer any questions you may have and explain how the process works. This is usually a swift and painless technique. After the insemination you will rest for approximately 10 minutes in the doctor’s office and then can travel home that same day by any means of transport (car, train, plane, etc).

 

How can I prepare for my follicular punction?

The day before the follicular punction you must take an antibiotic to avoid the risk of infections during the punction.

On the day of the follicular punction, you must attend without having eaten or drunk anything for six hours, at least. You must arrive at the clinic 45 minutes before the time of the appointment and not be wearing any make-up, perfume, jewellery… You will have an interview with the anaesthetist and the doctor before the procedure is commenced.

The doctor will carry out the follicular punction under an anaesthetic sedation in order for it to be completely painless. This deep sedation is a procedure where the anaesthetist administers a drug via intravenous injection which will send you to sleep for a short period of time. The duration will be between 10-20 minutes. Once the follicular punction is completed will inform you of the results and of the number of oocytes obtained and we will proceed to the insemination of the mature oocytes with the semen sample.

After the punction you will remain resting in Clinica Eugin for 2-3 hours approximately. Once discharged, you must go straight home, or to your hotel, and rest for the rest of the day. You can eat and drink normally in a progressive fashion.

We advise you to stay for 3 or 4 days in Barcelona between the punction (D+0) and the transfer (D+2-3), to avoid the stress and tiredness of travelling.

 

How can I prepare for my embryo transfer?

On the day of your transfer you must arrive at the Clinic 30 minutes before the time scheduled.

The transfer is painless and does not require any anaesthesia or sedation.

In the case of a background of difficult intrauterine inseminations or embryo transfers, or if you feel particularly stressed, we will give you a gentle, relaxing massage before the transfer.

The transfer is done using an ultrasound control: it is very important that you have your bladder full at the time of the transfer (drink 3-4 glasses of water and do not urinate for 2 or 3 hours before the transfer). This procedure facilitates the transfer and allows better ultrasound visualization of the technique.

On arrival at the clinic, a translator from the coordination team will accompany you in the individual resting room and will help you, in your own language (if necessary) during your stay at the clinic. An embryologist will give you a brief summary of your cycle indicating the number of available embryos and which we propose to transfer. Only those embryos considered to be apt may be transferred. The transfer will take place with a minimum of 1 apt embryo and, according to current Spanish legislation, a maximum of 3.

We recommend that you stay in Barcelona for 1 or 2 days. Ideally, you should stay the night before and the night after the transfer to avoid the stress and tiredness of travelling.

 

Are there any low-cost airlines that fly to Barcelona?

Whether it is from Spain or Europe, there are low-cost airlines that fly to Barcelona. It takes 20-30 minutes to get from the airport to the clinic by taxi and less than an hour on public transport.

For example, this website shows all the companies that fly to Barcelona, listed by their point of origin: http://www.euroflights.info/spain/barcelona/

 

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