Lee Women's Hospital in Taiwan VS. Kato Repro Biotech Center in the Philippines

I thought I have made up my mind about going to Taiwan, but I am still having second thoughts and weighing things between Lee Women's Hospital and Kato Repro Biotech Center. One of the most important things to consider is the budget. I am also particular with the method. 

At first, I was leaning on Taiwan because of the success rate and the possibility that I can have twins. On the other hand, the approach in Lee Women's Hospital is aggressive that some women experience Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS) during the process. OHSS is a complication caused by fertility medication, which needs to be addressed before any embryo transfer should be done during the IVF procedure. 

Kato's success rate is also increasing. Its protocol is more of like the natural way to conceiving a baby. They have what they call the Natural Cycle IVF, but this is available to those who are qualified depending on the center's assessment. If for some reason the patient can not have the Natural Cycle IVF, she will be under the Minimal Stimulation IVF. Unlike in Lee Women's Hospital, embryo transfer in Kato takes place on the next cycle after the cycle of egg retrieval. This will give time for woman's body to recover from procedures and medicines during the first cycle of the IVF. This center is very strict about the number of embryos that they implant, which is 1 to 2 only, so there is lesser chance of having twins.

I am still doing some readings and research about these two IVF centers, but what I have come up with so far is a comparison of estimated expenses for the two centers. The costs may change in the future.

TAICHUNG IVF ESTIMATED EXPENSES

(as of September 23, 2013)

One IVF Cycle:

• US$280 (medicine for stimulation)
• US$5,400 (all-in: hospital only)
• Others (if necessary): ICSI – NT$10,000 ; LAHA – NT$5,000 ; Frozen material & technique fee for frozen embryos – NT$10,000
• Air Fare: P5,000 – P10,000 (via Cebu Pacific, depending on the promo)
• Service from airport to hotel: NT$2,000
• Hotel accommodation: ALICE Hotel – NT$900-NT$1,200/day (minimum required stay for the whole procedure is 15 days, ideal is 30 days)
• Others (VISA application, food, transportation within Taichung, laundry service, etc.)

 Note: NT$ = New Taiwan dollar

KATO IVF ESTIMATED EXPENSES

(as of September 23, 2013)

• First Consultation: P1,680
• Succeeding Consultations: P560/visit
• Ultrasound: P560/visit
• Sperm Analysis: P560/test
• Hormone test: P1,496 per hormone per visit (Estradiol, Progesterone, LH, FSH, B-hcg, Prolactin
• Infectious Disease Screening: P2,520/each (husband & wife)

Natural Cycle IVF: P168,000 (package)

Note:

-Package is for qualified/eligible candidates only

-EXCLUSIVE OF  consultation fees, ultrasounds, sperm analysis, hormone testing, infectious disease screening + medicine

-If initial pregnancy test is negative, patients only pay P16,800 (EXCLUSIVE OF consultation fees, ultrasounds, sperm analysis, hormone testing, infectious disease screening + medicine)

Minimal Stimulation IVF: P207,200 (EXCLUSIVE OF consultation fees, ultrasounds, sperm analysis, hormone testing, infectious disease screening + medicine, etc.)

Note: Payment is dependent on each procedure used for the cycle

Back from hiatus

In the past two months that I haven't been able to update this blog, I was just feeling down and couldn't find myself to talk about anything related to getting pregnant. The feeling comes and goes, I'm sure many of those TTC understand this. 

Just recently, my father-in-law had a serious talk with hubby and me. It was about major decisions we had to make. First, it is about deciding on going to Taiwan for an IVF. We have been living in Manila for 9 years now and the second major decision we have to make is about leaving everything in Manila behind and going back to our hometown to give way to my father-in-law and hubby's plans of putting up a business back home. I and hubby drafted our timeline for these plans. There are no final talks yet, but based on my father-in-law's statements, these plans must happen. I don't have any negative feeling about it anyway. I am for these plans.

I am grateful, really, really grateful to my in-laws for offering to help with the funding of our IVF in Taiwan.  Of course the pressure and what ifs are still there, but I am leaving it all up to HIM now. 

There is this blog I have been following that I haven't checked in a long time until today. I am really happy that finally, the blogger got her BFP after an IVF procedure in Taiwan. She had been through a lot of things as far as TTC is concerned, but she never lost hope. She tried everything she could and failure did not hinder her from trying again. Hers is an inspiring story. This is the link to her blog: 

http://infertilityphilippines.blogspot.com/

Some of the IVF Centers in the Philippines

Victory A.R.T. Laboratory Phil. Inc.

main website: 
     http://www.ivfvictoryphilippines.com

local website:  
     http://www.victoryivf.com

clinic schedule:
     Monday to Friday: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (cut-off time: 2:30 p.m.)
     Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 nn (cut-off time: 10:00 a.m.)

     (Closed on Sundays and Holidays except for scheduled procedures 
     and appointments.)

contact information: 
     Victory A.R.T. Laboratory Phil. Inc.
     Unit D-1 Medical Plaza Makati
     Amorsolo cor. Dela Rosa Sts.,
     Legaspi Village, Makati City 1229 Philippines

     Telephone No. +632 8842290 to 92 / +632 8842294
     Fax No. +632 8842293
     E-mail: victoryartlab@yahoo.com

~o~o~o~

Center for Advanced Reproductive Medicine and Infertility (CARMI)

website: 
     http://www.stlukescarmi.com
     http://www.facebook.com/stlukescarmi

clinic schedule:
     MONDAY to FRIDAY
     8:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m.
     cut-off: 2:00 p.m.

contact information: 
     St. Luke's Medical Center - Global City
     Ground Floor, Medical Arts Building

     St. Luke's Medical Center-Global City
     32nd St. Bonifacio Global City
     Taguig City, Metro Manila 1112 Philippines

     Telephone No. +632 7897700 ext. 2111
     E-mail: inquiries@stlukescarmi.com

~o~o~o~

KATO Repro Biotech Center

website: 
     http://www.katoreprobiotechcenter.com

clinic schedule:
     Weekday: 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. / 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
     Saturday, Sunday: 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 nn

contact information: 
     KATO REPRO BIOTECH CENTER
     8/F Tower 1, The Enterprise Center, 6766 Ayala Ave Makati, Manila
     
     Phone: +632 8221209 / +632 8011324
                  +632 8018642 / +632 9196802
     Fax: +632 8369824
     E-mail: info-trbc@katoreprobiotechcenter.com

~o~o~o~

Repro Optima Center for Reproductive Health, Inc.

website: 
     http://www.repro-optima.com/

contact information:
     Repro Optima Center for Reproductive Health, Inc.
     Ground Floor JRDC Building, Osmeña Blvd.,
     Capitol Site, Cebu City 6000 Philippines

     Telephone: +6332 2562433 / +63322546965
     E-mail: info@repro-optima.com

Maca root

Hubby and I have started to take Maca root as a supplement. I got this idea from forums and blogs of people about trying to conceive. 

image source: www.livestrong.com

These are some of the benefits of the Maca root:
(Source of information: http://www.vega-licious.com/maca-root-powder-properties-and-benefits/)

• Increases energy and endurance
• Increases stamina
• Alleviates chronic exhaustion (fatigue) syndrome
• Improves sexual function in men and women
• Enhances fertility in people and animals
• Helps to regulate menstrual cycles
• Reduces hormonal dysfunction during menopause and andropause
• Can regulate hormonal imbalances
• Aids in alleviating depression- gives a sense of well being
• Reduces anxiety and stress
• Has a beneficial action on the circulatory system;
• Speeds wound healing and reduces anemia
• Enhances memory, learning, and mental ability
• Has a beneficial action on the circulatory system; gives skin a more youthful appearance
• Helps treat anemia, rickets, osteomalacia, and stomach cancer
• Good for healthy teeth and bones
• Acts as a fungistatic and bacteriostatic
• Acts as an anticarcinogen and antioxidant
• Is an alternative to anabolic steroids, helps to build muscle
• Libido enhancer

This is the kind of Maca root that we use, bought from Healthy Options:

We mix a half teaspoon of Maca root powder with a teacup of water. It tastes a little weird, but tolerable. It's hard to describe the taste and I'm still looking for something to compare it to. For those who don't like the taste, you can mix it with your smoothie.

Mothers' Day blues

It's Mothers' Day again. From the time I started to try to get pregnant, Mothers' Day is one of those days that I really don't look forward to. I just feel bitter about not being a mother yet. I can't help it. I'm only human. 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“When God Created Mothers"

When the Good Lord was creating mothers, He was into His sixth day of "overtime" when the angel appeared and said. "You're doing a lot of fiddling around on this one." 

And God said, "Have you read the specs on this order?" She has to be completely washable, but not plastic. Have 180 movable parts...all replaceable. Run on black coffee and leftovers. Have a lap that disappears when she stands up. A kiss that can cure anything from a broken leg to a disappointed love affair. And six pairs of hands." 

The angel shook her head slowly and said. "Six pairs of hands.... no way." 

It's not the hands that are causing me problems," God remarked, "it's the three pairs of eyes that mothers have to have." 

That's on the standard model?" asked the angel. God nodded. 

One pair that sees through closed doors when she asks, 'What are you kids doing in there?' when she already knows. Another here in the back of her head that sees what she shouldn't but what she has to know, and of course the ones here in front that can look at a child when he goofs up and say. 'I understand and I love you' without so much as uttering a word." 

God," said the angel touching his sleeve gently, "Get some rest tomorrow...." 

I can't," said God, "I'm so close to creating something so close to myself. Already I have one who heals herself when she is sick...can feed a family of six on one pound of hamburger...and can get a nine year old to stand under a shower." 

The angel circled the model of a mother very slowly. "It's too soft," she sighed. 

But tough!" said God excitedly. "You can imagine what this mother can do or endure." 

Can it think?" 

Not only can it think, but it can reason and compromise," said the Creator. 

Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek. 

There's a leak," she pronounced. "I told You that You were trying to put too much into this model." 

It's not a leak," said the Lord, "It's a tear." 

What's it for?" 

It's for joy, sadness, disappointment, pain, loneliness, and pride." 

You are a genius, " said the angel. 

Somberly, God said, "I didn't put it there.” 
― Erma Bombeck, When God Created Mothers

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

HAPPY MOTHERS' DAY, MOM! I love you! =)

When panic attacks

Because of my 2nd failed IUI, I started obsessing about things I should do next to get pregnant. I have been preoccupied with reading blogs about IVF, particularly in Taiwan. I even e-mailed 2 of the most popular doctors in Taiwan who do IVF to inquire about the procedure -- Lee Women's Hospital and Mackay Memorial Hospital. I am eyeing on the latter though. Both replied through their secretaries anyway. I even checked information about visa application, accommodation, and air fare. Everything seems so easy to get, except for one thing -- funding...haha...

As I was taking a shower yesterday, my mind also wandered. Suddenly I had somewhat of a panic attack. I thought about turning 36 this year, my clock is ticking, and I don't have a child yet. I cried so hard thinking about these things. Good thing hubby was there for comfort. He told me to be strong. I have been trying to be strong, but sometimes it's just so tiring...so I cry for temporary relief.

I feel happy when someone I know gets pregnant, but envious at the same time. One of the blogs I have read was about a Filipino woman who underwent IVF in 2012 at Mackay Memorial Hospital in Taiwan. She was 40 then and got pregnant with twins! This gives me hope somehow.

This is the link to her blog: http://infertilitynotes.blogspot.com

There is neither happiness nor misery in the world; there is only the comparison of one state with another, nothing more. He who has felt the deepest grief is best able to experience supreme happiness. We must of felt what it is to die, Morrel, that we may appreciate the enjoyments of life. 

" Live, then, and be happy, beloved children of my heart, and never forget, that until the day God will deign to reveal the future to man, all human wisdom is contained in these two words, 'Wait and Hope.” 
― Alexandre Dumas

IUI #2

One good thing about this cycle was hubby's post wash count went up. I only had one dominant follicle though, but there was another follicle that would have caught up until my ovulation.

I was confident about the timing of the IUI. It was my CD13 that I got a positive result on the OPK, so we went on with the IUI. It was a Saturday (April 13) and SLMC - GC's CARMI was closed on the weekend, so the procedure had to be done in Dr. Jing's clinic at SLMC - Quezon City. 

Unfortunately, AF came today -- my CD30 and 17DPIUI. It was supposed to come two days ago, so I had high hopes when it was delayed. Thus the frustration I am feeling right now. I am still somewhat in denial, hoping that it is just implantation or pregnancy bleeding. I have read in some forums and blogs that bleeding like period could happen even when pregnant. Some women claimed that their "period" lasted for five days just like their regular period, had pregnancy symptoms after that, and confirmed through tests that they were pregnant. 

At this moment I'm not sure if I still want to try another cycle of IUI. It is just so sad, stressful, and emotionally exhausting. 

Studies show that IVF has a higher success rate compared to IUI. It may be our next option, but not for now. It's way too expensive.

Maybe I will take this time off from work-up for a while....maybe....I can only sigh...