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, […]

We, as expert scientists-researchers, assure you that the phrase “it happened” is not an adequate explanation for us. We look for the causes, so that the problems are treated causally.
The causes of miscarriage and infertility are generally classified into five main categories:
(a) immune and viral
(b) genetic
(c) thrombophilic
(d) hormonal and
(e) infectious non-viral.
Each of them can create the problem on its own, or in combination with the others. From the detailed description we will see that the boundaries between these causes are not clear since many of them may be involved in the pathophysiology of others.

The first goal should be to determine the responsible causes involved.
The second goal is to take therapeutic measures and complete the etiological treatments.
The third phase is the choice of the method of effort must be taken.
The penultimate goal. We are pregnant and we need to arrive well at the 12th week.

There are ambiguities and gaps in the existing knowledge of the two main causes i.e. immunological and infectious factors of infertility. This makes the object “hard”.
Doctors who deal with infertility also deal with many important subjects, but unrelated to our subject which requires passion and dedication.
Unclear or incorrect laboratory results and problems in their evaluation.
Due to the multifactorial nature of the problem, the role of a specialist infertility investigation pathologist is required as a key coordinator and consultant of the couple.