Infertility and Miscarriages-Information for couples abroad
Information for couples abroad
It will be great pleasure to collaborate with you in your effort to bring a healthy child into this world. You are all people who feel the need to offer love, affection, care and, in general, you own good self to a new life who will be your child.
Why in Greece?
The problem of subfertility and miscarriages is worldwide. There are many causes affecting men’s and women’s fertility, as well as the quality and preservation of the embryo. The most important cause, though, is the couple’s age. The other causes stem from lifestyle, the
environment or have a genetic background. Therefore, below you will find the main reason why Greece leads the way worldwide in the diagnosis for couple subfertility and miscarriages.
In Greece, as in many other countries, the education of the population has always been a priority. However, in recent decades young people do not start a family due to many social reasons, resulting in the Greek couple who want to have children being much older than the average age of their counterparts in other countries. With the passage of time, the problem has been aggravated and the percentage of subfertile couples in Greece is now considerably higher than the 15% which applies to the world average scale, according to
bibliography. We must therefore emphasize that our country is faced with subfertility to a much bigger degree compared to other countries. This fact has led many clinical scientists to deepen their research regarding the problem of couple’s subfertility for at least 25 years. Initially, they dealt with isolated and independent factors, such as immunological and thrombophilia issues, incorporating data from international bibliography into clinical research. The great progress that took place approximately at the beginning of the previous decade
(2010–2012) is that subfertility was finally linked to the globality of the investigation into the couple.
The globality of couples investigation
The global investigation of the couple for the causes of subfertility and miscarriages, which
has evolved considerably over the years, has contributed to the couple becoming a good
candidate for natural or in vitro fertilization, depending of course on individual characteristics
and capabilities.
There was a pressing need for holistic couples’ investigation into subfertility and miscarriages. The great specialization of doctors in one factor produces good results, apparently only for couples who exhibit the corresponding factor. Yet, the doctor does not
know what portion of responsibility his field covers in the overall problem of the couple’s subfertility. In other words, the doctor does not know if the therapeutic treatment of a specific factor will be successful.
In LOCUS MEDICUS we believe that the cases where the problem of subfertility and miscarriages is related to only one or even two cases are few. Usually many factors are involved, each with a different degree of responsibility. The factors related to infection, immunology, genetics as well as thrombophilia play their own role, contributing to the resultant danger, in an individual proportion per case. Taking into consideration that the contribution of the male factor is gaining ground, it stands to reason to say that the doctor who announces, “Dear friends, these are your reasons”, must have examined the couple
holistically. We are therefore referring to a vast spectrum of data without emphasizing deeply in particularities, at least in the beginning.
In Greece, the couples who visit us from abroad, usually seek specialized research into isolated factors and treatments which, owing to carious financial or other obstacles, are not available in most countries. We have composed this page having realized that the couples
have proceeded to treatment without a holistic investigation into the causes of their problem. In fact, many have proceeded to IVF attempts, spending money, time, medicine and undergoing emotional distress.
What we offer
We recommend the “Holistic Couple Subfertility Investigation – HCSI” for each couple. In order for the screening to be completed, your presence in our premises is required for four working days. During this time, the necessary tests can be done on the first day, while
instructions for the upcoming procedures are given. The advantage of visiting Greece is not solely related to timing. It also lies in the opportunity to examine materials that cannot be adequately assessed remotely. On the fourth day some additional examinations can be
added according to the special needs of each couple.
It is important that you schedule your visit ahead, so that you are given the necessary instructions concerning the desirable days of the cycle, as well as the preparation required for the examination. During the four–day visit in Greece, the following are offered:
A. Detailed record of the couple´s clinical history
In this first appointment, Pathologist and Immunologist, Subfertility Specialist, Dr. Vassilis Tsilivakos will form a detailed record of the couple’s clinical history and assess the examinations that have been conducted until then. This appointment can be done either on the first day of your visit in Greece, or it can precede the visit and be done via Teams. This is also deemed necessary for the choice of examinations included in HCSI and for further communication throughout our collaboration. Each subsequent communication should be made after the doctor has consulted your medical history, for your data to be immediately and accurately registered. All the new test results will be incorporated into your medical history, so there is global comprehension of the problem.
B. Laboratory Investigation
The HCSI (Holistic Couple Subfertility Investigation) is recommended. This includes a spectrum of examinations conducted in all cases. In case some of the examinations are already performed, with a satisfactory degree of credibility, it is not recommended to repeat that.50% of the couples will not need any further testing. HCSI includes full–range sperm examinations, vaginal PCR and culture, diagnostic hysteroscopy, endometrial microbiome and culture, as well as blood tests to investigate the immunological and thrombophilic factors. The spectrum of examinations included in the HCSI is determined by a scientific board of Locus Medicus professionals working in the field of subfertility, who come from different specialties and areas of expertise. These professionals, together with invited scientists, meet and jointly decide every four months which first–line tests should be common to all couples and are considered essential for guiding the diagnostic investigation. Further to these examinations, depending on the couple’s history, additional ones are conducted to determine the causes of the problems of subfertility or miscarriages for each couple.
C. Causal Approach
On the 3 rd day of the four–day visit, you will have another appointment with Pathologist and Immunologist, Subfertility Specialist, Dr. Vassilis Tsilivakos. On the fourth day, couples may undergo more individualized tests, if indicated by the HCSI results, such as KIR–HLAc testing, scrotal ultrasound or consultation with the andrologist, ultrasound evaluation of the uterus and ovaries, couple karyotyping, or others. A report of the results is given, the clinical significance of the findings is explained and a written recommendation concerning the treatment in chronological order is provided. Clinically, during the four–day visit there is a possibility of administration of LIT vaccine in case of the presence of immunological factor, as well as the uterine cavity washes using antibiotic solutions in case of endometritis, under the surveillance of the gynecologist Dr. V. Kapetanios or other gynecologist of the company.
D. Ability for continuous consultation after the visit in Greece
Throughout our collaboration, there is access to brief Q&A via email. Every question requires the doctor revisiting your medical file. So, if extensive explaining is requested or is practically needed, a Teams appointment should be scheduled with.
Dr V. Tsilivakos Pathologist and Immunologist
Dr. V. Kapetanios Gynecologist,
Dr. Ch. Papanikopoulos Gynecologist,
Dr. K. Makarounis Andrologist-Urologist
Dr. N. Georgakopoulos Mol Biologist and Genetics
