Global MD has partnered with the world’s premier fertility specialists to bring you the latest techniques and highest quality fertility treatment at prices much lower than those in the U.S. Fertility Treatment with one of Global MD’s partners start as low as $6,000. Each of Global MD’s partner facilities meet or exceed U.S. standards of patient care and employ physicians with U.S. or equivalent credentials, and English speaking staff. Our network includes Barbados Fertility Centre, a Fertility Center of Excellence.
Who May Consider Fertility Treatment
The decision to seek fertility treatment is an important and difficult one. One in six couples are challenged by conception. It is important to get medical fertility assistance as soon as possible if you have tried for 12 months without getting pregnant. Women’s fertility starts to decrease from the age of 30, with a marked decline in the mid-30’s. Starting treatment early can make the difference.
Modern advancements in medicine, micro-surgery and fertility treatments have made healthy pregnancy possible for most patients who seek expert infertility advice.
Selecting Your Fertility Doctor and Treatment Center
Choosing the right fertility specialist can be as important to your success as the treatment itself. The high cost of fertility treatment in the USA (up to $30,000) and the complications of dealing with day-to-day responsibilities while concealing doctor visits and disappointments from friends and family can be stressful. This added stress can impact the likelihood that your treatment will be successful.
There is an alternative to the high costs and stress often associated with fertility treatment …
Global MD’s partner, Barbados Fertility Centre, a dedicated fertility treatment center, can help you realize your dream of a baby. The Barbados Fertility Centre is accredited by the Joint Commission International, the US organization whose seal of approval ensures patients the facility has passed a rigorous evaluation of quality of care, standardized procedures, and transparency. Barbados Fertility Centre, a highly specialized and elite fertility institution offering affordable IVF treatment, is located on the tranquil island of Barbados, surrounded by turquoise ocean waters, dazzling white sandy beaches and exquisite weather.
Meet The Team of Experts at Barbados Fertility Centre
Dr. Juliet Skinner co-founded the Barbados Fertility Centre and leads the team of highly trained professionals. Dr. Skinner is responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of patients. Her mission is to give couples the best chance to conceive. Dr. Skinner received her training at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. She is a dynamic medical professional, with extensive experience in large medical institutions. Patients feel immediately at ease in her care.
Anna Hosford, IVF Nurse Specialist, co-founded Barbados Fertility Centre with Dr. Skinner and has a wealth of fertility experience working in IVF clinics in San Francisco, Ireland and Barbados. Irish-born, Anna is a high-spirited woman with a reassuring bedside manner. Anna is your first point of contact with the Centre and will help you identify the fertility issue and arrange your telephone consultation with Dr. Skinner. As your treatment progresses, Anna keeps you informed every step of the way.
Damian Pike, Senior Embryologist, is responsible for fertilizing the eggs with the sperm and caring for embryos during incubation. Damian is UK-born with tremendous experience working in UK IVF clinics and as the former HFEA Inspector.
Rachel de Gale, Patient Liaison Manager, coordinates travel and non-medial aspects of your treatment. She is highly organized, paying special attention to every detail. Rachel’s care and attention to your every need ensures that you can focus on the important job of relaxing and getting pregnant.
Lauren Marshall, Clinical Psychologist, trained at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. Lauren moved to Barbados in 2006 to work in private practice. Lauren leads the Healthy Mind and Body Program, designed to help you optimize your general health and well-being, and most importantly, your reproductive health. She works with each couple to help them develop individualized techniques for dealing with the stress of infertility, and to manage the pressures of treatment to obtain the best results possible from IVF treatment.
The Fertility Treatment Process
Right away, Global MD will connect you with an IVF nurse specialist who will obtain a detailed medical and fertility history from both partners and schedule you for a telephone consultation with a fertility doctor. Because each patient is different, and fertility can be impacted by many different factors, your treatment is tailored to meet your unique needs.
Your Patient Liaison Manager will coordinate non-medical arrangements and work closely with your IVF Nurse Specialist, who will coordinate medical arrangements. Every member of the team is dedicated to optimizing your comfort, reducing your stress and increasing your likelihood of conceiving.
Upon arrival in Barbados, you will be picked up in a luxury car and taken to your first appointment at the clinic, where you will meet the staff in person and continue with your treatment.
Every aspect of your IVF vacation is managed individually. You and your doctor will make decisions together on a step by step basis based on how the cycle and the embryos are developing. For example, while for some couples, a day 3 transfer with assisted hatching is the best treatment option, other couples may require an extended culture (Blastocyst) and day 5 transfer. Keeping you informed and involved with your treatment may help alleviate the stress of the unknown.
After 14 days, your medical treatment and IVF vacation is complete, and you may return home. You will be wisked from you hotel to the airport in a private luxury car, easing any anxiety associated with travel.
Once you arrive home, your Patient Liaison Manager will call you to ensure your safe arrival. Now, we all wait for the results of the pregnancy test.
The Global MD and Barbados Fertility Centre Difference
State of the Art Facilities – A Center of Excellence
The clinical and laboratory facilities at Barbados Fertility Centre are state of the art. The reception area, consultation rooms, and the top of the line ultrasound monitoring suites are fully outfitted with the latest equipment such as a new egg retrieval theatre and recovery room. The new IVF laboratory was designed to provide the best environment for embryo culture and features specially-designed positive pressure air-conditioning and air filtration systems.
Higher Success Rates
Success rates at the Barbados Fertility Centre are significantly better for all age ranges than published national success rates in the USA and the UK. In 2007, 47% of Barbados Fertility Centre’s patients under 35 were successful in getting pregnant. Patients aged 35 to 37 years were successful in 33% of treatment cycles. Barbados Fertility Centre is dedicated to continuously improving its success rates to help more patients achieve pregnancy.
Value-Based Pricing
Fertility treatment in the USA can cost up to $30,000 and is less likely to succeed. Barbados Fertility Centre is committed to delivering high quality medical care and the best chance of successful and highly affordable IVF treatment. While never compromising on the standard of care each patient receives, Barbados Fertility Centre offers you a higher likelihood of success at a significant savings.
Treatment Description Cost*
IVF Treatment $6,000
IVF Treatment with ICSI $7,000
Egg Donor IVF $7,500
Blastocyst Fee $250
* Prices are subject to change.
With the state of the art facilities and affordable cost of IVF treatment at Barbados Fertility Centre, you and your partner can enjoy your IVF vacation.
A variety of value-priced holiday packages are available for your comfort and accommodation while receiving IVF treatment at the Barbados Fertility Centre. With comprehensive two-week airfare, hotel and ground transportation packages starting at $5,000, you are sure to find one that suits your needs and your budget.
A Successful Philosophy
Barbados Fertility Centre’s approach is centered on BALANCE, and creating the right environment for you to successfully conceive. Surrounded by the turquoise ocean, dazzling white sandy beaches and exquisite weather, Barbados Fertility Centre is in a class by itself. From the moment you contact the unmatched professionals at Barbados Fertility Centre, you are instantly at ease. You will receive professional, prompt and compassionate treatment. By meeting your every need and creating a seamless program of medical and holistic treatment, the goal at Barbados Fertility Centre is to relieve as much pressure as possible so you can focus on relaxing and enjoy your IVF vacation.
Research as shown that stress can aggravate infertility, but learning to deal with stress and reducing stress can increase a couples’ chances of conceiving. Relaxing on a warm white sandy beach while looking over the infinite turquoise waters will help you and your partner unwind as the stress melts away.
The Healthy Mind and Body Program, a focal point of treatment at the Barbados Fertility Centre, combined with the tranquility of the island, contribute to the relaxing environment. As part of this program, approximately every 2 days you will receive a pre-scheduled Healthy Mind and Body treatment in the comfort of your room including de-stressing reflexology sessions, therapeutic acupuncture treatments and relaxing couples massages. Also included in the program is a session with a specially trained counselor to alleviate the stress associated with infertility and teach you new ways to restore your sense of control over anxiety and physical tension.
To speak with a Global MD Care Coordinator about the Gastric Bypass procedure, call us at (800) 903-5690 or submit an online intake form here.
How do I start an IVF cycle?
First, contact a Global MD Care Coordinator by calling 1-800-903-5690 or filling out an Intake form. You will be scheduled to speak with a Fertility Specialists right away. You should collect and prepare to send any previous medical records that are pertinent to your treatment.
During your initial consultation, an IVF nurse specialist will give you a full overview and orientation of the details and procedures involved in an IVF cycle. The nurse will give you a step-by-step outline of what to expect during your treatment and any additional tests required, and schedule you for a telephone consultation with a fertility doctor.
What routine testing is required prior to IVF at Barbados Fertility Centre?
All couples undergoing IVF require pre-cycle testing. A list of the tests appropriate to you will be provided after your initial consultation.
Are there side effects to the medications used in IVF?
In general, the IVF medications used to prepare the uterus and to stimulate the ovaries only have temporary symptoms such as abdominal bloating, low-grade headaches, hot flushes, mood swings but are not known to carry any long-term risks of cancer of the ovary, unless there is a family history of ovarian cancer. The most serious side effect would be ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) – ask your fertility specialist for more details.
How many eggs should I expect to get?
Your in-cycle monitoring ultrasound scans will give you an accurate count of how many follicles are developing. Typically, about 80% of follicles yield an egg. The number of eggs collected is dependant upon each patient’s response but at Barbados Fertility Centre the average egg number is 10 per retrieval.
Are the procedures involved in IVF painful?
The pre-IVF cycle lab-work tests includes the drawing of blood for various tests and an evaluation of the cavity of the uterus called the saline infusions sonogram (SIS) which can be done in your gynecologist’s office and you should experience minimal discomfort. You will also have injectable fertility medications, which are administered subcutaneously with a short needle and discomfort should be tolerable.
The egg retrieval is performed through the vagina with ultrasound and a fine needle. Patients at Barbados Fertility Centre are asleep during this procedure. The procedure is known as conscious sedation. This is not a general anesthetic but patients are not awake and they have no pain. They wake up quickly after the egg retrieval, which usually lasts 15-30 minutes.
The embryo transfer procedure is similar to a Pap smear or IUI procedure and is generally performed with minimal discomfort.
If my cycle is unsuccessful when can I have another one?
Barbados Fertility Centre recommends you take one month’s break between fresh IVF cycles to let the ovaries resume to normal before being re-stimulated. If you do have frozen embryos remaining from your fresh cycle however, you can choose to proceed with a frozen embryo transfer cycle without a break.
How long can my embryos remain frozen?
The HFEA in the UK, whose guidelines are follow at Barbados Fertility Centre, states that embryos can safely remain frozen for up to 5 years.
What happens if I want to use my frozen embryos elsewhere?
Embryos are being continuously shipped between IVF clinics worldwide for many reasons. The Barbados Fertility Centre follows very stringent protocols to prevent any damage to your embryos in transit, to the clinic of your choice.
What activity restrictions should I follow after my embryo transfer?
Once you are discharged Barbados Fertility Centre recommends you rest the day of the embryo transfer procedure. Normal activities can be resumed the day afterwards. Barbados Fertility Centre does not recommend any high impact activities or over-exertion until the pregnancy test. Barbados Fertility Centre advises patients to avoid any hot-tubs/Jacuzzis or hot baths during this time also. Sexual intercourse can resume at any time depending on the female patient’s level of comfort after the egg retrieval.
I am on the birth control pill (BCP) and spotting – is this normal?
Yes, breakthrough bleeding is one of the most common side-effects of the pill. If you are having any bleeding or spotting and are concerned, phone your nurse coordinator. However, often it is nothing to be worried about if the medication is still having the desired effect. You still need to continue the pill every day until directed by your clinic to discontinue.
Can my endometriosis affect my fertility or IVF cycle?
Endometriosis is a medical condition where cells that usually remain confined to the cavity of the uterus, grow outside of the uterus usually on or in the ovaries and also on the surface of the pelvic cavity between the uterus and the rectum. Endometriosis can cause pelvic pain and may also decrease the chances of natural conception, as it can affect tubal function and ovulation. Patients who require IVF and who have endometriosis should still have the same chances of a successful outcome as patients of the same age without endometriosis.
What about alternative treatments like acupuncture?
Acupuncture and Reflexology, administered by an experienced practitioner who is aware of your medical diagnoses and treatment plan, can facilitate relaxation as well as optimize ovarian response and implantation. Barbados Fertility Centre encourages patients to seek assistance in these areas. Herbal medicines can be helpful but also potentially dangerous. Barbados Fertility Centre asks you to review any herbal medication with your doctor prior to starting a course. They should be dispensed under the guidance of an experienced practitioner.
