Testimonials

We just had this really uplifting story from one of our patients about how they got through treatment successfully.

So, we got married , now where’s the baby? We have how many eggs????? They’re running out?  Where did they go? So what happened to the GPS which helps the sperm meet the egg? I’m “old” at 36? I’m still scared of the dark for goodness sake!

We have been married for 5 years and,  this is the first time I’m pregnant and while I’m typing this I feel my little bambino’s kicking as if to say, Mummy, I can’t wait to meet you and Daddy! Who would have thought? We did! We never gave up!

So we got married in September 2006 excited about the prospect of starting our family right away, especially being in our mid-30’s but not being overly worried. It was bound to happen. Nope….after a few months we decided to go for a check-up and continued doing that practically every month until we narrowed it down to a few things;

Age and possible endometriosis.  I’m now 41. Of course, I had no symptoms of endo but we decided to go ahead and have a laparoscopy.  They found minimal scarring but the doctor was very hopeful that because the scarring was removed, I should be pregnant within one month – yay! Few months later.. Nope!

My grandmother had 10 children for goodness sake and my Mum popped out 2 within 15 months. What about me?

We had seen an ad for BFC and decided to find out more info because time was really ticking by and I wanted 10 children before 40!.

Stacy was our first point of contact and she is the person that got the ball rolling. In a nutshell, we attempted IVF 3 times and got lucky on the 3^rd. I’m sure you have heard or experienced the heartbreaks, the tears, disappointment, insensitivity etc but I want you to stay positive so I’m going to focus on a few things that helped me.  I went through the tears, the staying away from baby showers, getting angry at insensitive people, depression, worry about finances but then I let it go. It took some time and life was a roller coaster for me but I want you to get to the better place faster than I did where you are at peace.

BFC will give you the clinical rundown for each case so I won’t go into that.        

Here we go:

A husband that continually stayed positive and caring  and loving – don’t forget to reciprocate…he’s going through just as much stress as you and maybe even more.

A Mother, Father and Brother that also kept us  going with positive thoughts and continuous support.

Dr. Skinner- magical hands!  Absolute care and understanding

Cyrilene – breath of fresh air for those early morning appointments

Rhonda – meticulous care with our finances

Rachel – couldn’t find a better person to arrange accommodation, holistic treatments.

Bethann – “talk to your eggs” and send them loving thoughts

Anna- soft and peaceful personality that helped me though treatments. Qualities I have taken with me

Acupuncture – before, during and after treatments           

Yoga- I had never tried yoga before but I bought myself a CD and let me tell you, I have never felt so good physically and mentally. Imagine a few stretches can work miracles. I used to look forward to doing it every day in the comfort and privacy of my home – me time! I felt so proud and accomplished that I was doing things to help me along my journey.

At night and before, during and after treatments, oh and during my acupuncture, I would listen to a guided meditation that got me on track for peace of mind. The one I used was specifically designed for fertility…and yes, I did say fertility, not infertility! Keeping you on the positive train! It was so lovely listening to this peaceful voice helping me visualize and heal my body to prepare a home for the little one. 

I also soon changed that thought “what about me” to “why not me” if it can happen to others, of course it can happen for me and it will!!!!!!

The staff at BFC have become our friends, our support and always made us feel special, even up to today.  They never let us go! Rachel and Anna send me some beautiful uplifting emails that make me feel so warm and fuzzy!

I could ask a thousand questions and each and every one was answered with the utmost patience.

Don’t look at the treatments as a task, as my husband told me, enjoy the injections, the blood tests etc. Think of why you are doing these things. He would rub and kiss my tummy and immediately I would stop fussing and smile and talk to my little eggs. It’s a journey where you can look at each step as being on your way  to something grander.  Enjoy it and make time to also enjoy the little vacation you have in Barbados.

After your treatments, consultations etc, go the beach, run to the beach! It’s an order, and soak up those rays, dip in the ocean and let everything go.  All your thoughts, all your worries . If you had a bad day, that’s okay, we are all entitled to that. The next morning, start again…. Each day is a new day filled with hope and lots of things to do, not just treatments and poking and prodding. Embrace your opportunities. Take a deep breath and absorb the wonder of where you are.

Prayer and positive thinking EVEN WHEN I DID NOT FEEL LIKE IT! It was at the lowest moments that I forced myself to change my thoughts for the sake of my eggs and finally, the growth of that beautiful little embryo.

Prayer is so important. Did you know that there was a study done that showed that couples who had many people praying for them, even across the ocean, miles away, had more successful outcomes.   I know that prayer is an individual choice. This is just one of the many ingredients that helped me. It’s the energy, the vibes, the good feelings being sent your way from a Higher Power.

It was not an easy road, but you all know that.  It’s a different path for everyone but there is always a way and an outcome that happens at just the right moment, perhaps when you least expect it. Maybe I’ll have another!

My prayer and thought for each and every one of you reading this story is to keep going, don’t give up. To dream your wildest dreams and see them come true.

From our baby to yours, always with love and hope and faith.

Other patients have said:

"We have left lovely Barbados & are back home. Just wanted to say thank you for everything... from our initial communications to the visitations at the clinic... BFC exceeded our expectations! If you can pass on our thanks to Dr. Skinner too that would be great. Was great meeting you."

"It was a pleasure meeting you in person after communicating for such a long time.  We wish to commend your clinic and the staff for the professional yet personalized and caring approach to your treatment. We were quite impressed.  Please convey our  thanks to the entire staff, particularly Dr Skinner, Tracia and Caroline. If you can, please convey our thanks to the donor for her generous gift.  We wish her every  success in her future endeavors. We thank you again for your kind assistance. We look forward to reporting the great news!"

Kate & Nick Etheridge share their story:

When I was 21 I was sick and losing weight whilst trying to finish college, after 8 months of this I was diagnosed with pelvic inflammatory disease. Some of the specialists I saw had been very dismissive of my condition and suggested it was my body going through adolescent changes. It was only when I was admitted to the emergency room that they finally took my case seriously.

My Gynaecologist performed surgery on me and when I came round she told me that I had been a month away from a full hysterectomy and that it was highly unlikely I would ever conceive naturally.

At 24 I was diagnosed with relapse/remitting multiple sclerosis and it was recommended that if wanted a family of my own I should try sooner rather than later. By age 28 I had inflamed fallopian tubes and I was admitted into Hospital to have both tubes removed due to infection, in fact, only the right tube was removed as the left was considered to be capable of healing.

I was 36 when I found that I was suffering from an ectopic pregnancy, this was treated with methotrexate, a drug used to treat cancer patients, however, after two doses of this drug my left fallopian tube ruptured and caused internal bleeding, I was rushed to Accident and Emergency in a very bad state. They operated but only removed the damaged part of the tube, leaving me vulnerable to further ectopic pregnancies should I attempt any kind of fertility treatment. I was off work for two months during which time I saw a psychologist to help me through the very difficult time because it was clear to me that to have a baby I was going to have 100% assistance.

Two years later while my partner Nick and I were holidaying in the Maldives, South Asia, we made the decision to embark on IVF. Our first appointment was August that year but sadly the attempt was unsuccessful. The second attempt was in January 2009 but yet again the blood test came back negative and I was recommended to try using donor eggs. While researching this as an option we made a third attempt, at age 39 , this was also unsuccessful.

Shortly after this last failed attempt Nick was offered a position to work in Trinidad and Tobago. We seriously considered this and by October we made our first trip there. While on this inaugural trip Nick asked me to marry him at the Asa Wright Nature Reserve, one of the most beautiful places on Earth.

Two months later we got married at Chelsea Old Town Hall here in England. We spent our wedding night in the Kipling Suite at The Nutfield Priory near Redhill, Surrey and the following morning attended church in the snow for my nieces christening where I was made Godmother. Life was good.

That January we packed up, stored, shipped both our personal belongings and our two beloved cats and hosted a farewell drinks party for friends before heading off to start our new adventure living in the Caribbean.

Once settled I got in touch with a friend living in Grenada who told me about her experience at the Barbados Fertility Centre. She has four year old twins courtesy of BFC and a surprise little boy two years later.

As for us, the rest, as they say, is history.

My first injections for this fourth cycle began on my 41st Birthday, then in April we travelled to the Barbados Fertility Centre for the final stages. A week and a half later I started bleeding and although I remained as calm as possible I simply wasn't convinced this was just implantation bleeding. It persisted and, in fact, went on for just over two weeks, during which time I did two pregnancy tests, both of which appeared to me as inconclusive as there was only a very faint line. We were advised to go for quantitative hcg blood tests, the first result came back at 114 which I didn’t realise at first was a good thing. I was beside myself !!!!! So was Nick. The tests were repeated two days later and having proceeded with great caution we were quietly excited when the level came back at 200 ... it was rising ! Four days later it was 430 and again, four days later it was 1,034, we could go for a scan and we finally started to think that I really might be pregnant !

It took some time to allow ourselves to be excited at what was happening, we didn't want to be disappointed, but the truth was that I really had a new life inside me ... our darling gorgeous Kitty.

 

 

 

David and Heather D., Spokane, WA, USA

After trying to conceive for over 10 years, David and Heather visited their local fertility doctor. “The experience was appalling,” says David. “We paid $500 for a consultation and exam and were treated with impersonal, hard-sell tactics. They followed our exam with a chat with the financial person who was obviously trying to close the deal and get us to agree to a three IVF package at a cost of more than $25,000. We felt as though we were talking to a used car salesmen. We left discouraged and humiliated. Heather cried.”

Luckily, that same week, David and Heather were talking to some friends who had moved to Honduras. The friends asked if the couple had considered medical treatment outside the US. Their curiosity aroused, David and Heather did some research on the Internet and found Barbados Fertility Center. They contacted Anna Hosford, the BFC Clinic Director, who explained the BFC program. She suggested that the couple contact a former BFC patient who lives in Canada.

The couple called the former patient and enjoyed a pleasant talk with her. She had nothing but good things to say about her experience. “After that chat, we felt comfortable with the idea, so we made our arrangements with BFC,” says David. “We received a well-organized packet of information from BFC and chatted many times with [the BFC Medical Director] Dr. Juliet Skinner and Anna Hosford. They were friendly, helpful, and understanding,” he reports.

To prepare Heather’s body for IVF, BFC sent hormone medications to Spokane by mail. “The medications arrived from Italy and Canada, at half the US cost,” says David. David gave the shots to Heather at home, carefully following Dr. Skinner’s instructions. “The process seemed daunting at first,” David admits, “but with kind help from the BFC staff, it was really quite easy.”

After a month of injections, the couple was ready. The IVF treatment requires two weeks, but David and Heather booked their trip for three, allowing time for a relaxing vacation. They flew to Barbados and stayed in a BFC-recommended hotel, just a short walk down a white sand beach from the clinic. After the examinations and successful egg extraction, gestation, consultation, and embryo implantation, the couple stayed in Barbados for another week and toured the island. 

“Our experience in Barbados was wonderful,” says David. “The island is so gorgeous and the people are so kind and easy-going. We drove around, saw beautiful sights, towns, and people. We sailed, swam in the ocean with turtles, and enjoyed the warm tropical sun. It was truly a relaxing and memorable experience worth telling—not just a cold hospital procedure.”

Barbados Fertility Center attracted the couple with its high success rates, beautiful location, and comparatively low  price. David and Heather saved money by using flight miles from their credit card to pay for their plane tickets. Beyond that, the cost of their trip—including hotel, food, tourism, medications, and all clinic charges—totaled approximately US$12,000.  The treatment was, in David’s words, “better than in the US.”

Back home in Spokane, Heather’s pregnancy was confirmed, and her local obstetrician provided routine care throughout her pregnancy. In February 2009, David and Heather welcomed a healthy baby girl into the world. “Our daughter is so sweet, smart, and beautiful,” says David. “We have a wonderful story to tell her about how she was conceived. We are blessed.”

Bella R., USA

Bella was in her early forties when she became pregnant for the first time. Two years and three miscarriages later, she discovered that becoming and staying pregnant was not easy. She and her husband sought fertility help in New York City at a reputable clinic. “It was typical New York,” says Bella, “large and tightly wound, patronized by high-octane, nervous clients whose anxiety, like mine, was palpable and contagious.” Staff members at the clinic were highly efficient, but Bella found them “slightly scary.” They informed Bella that the treatment she needed was not covered by her insurance. Her out-of-pocket cost estimate might run as high as US$26,000, not including the cost of medications.

Bella’s parents live in Barbados, and her mother suggested the Barbados Fertility Center, which was getting stellar reviews. Bella and her husband visited the facility; they found it both comfortable and attractive. “BFC just felt right to us,” Bella says, “equally professional compared to New York, but far less stressful.”

After undergoing a preliminary examination at BFC, Bella heard the same diagnosis she had received in New York: unlikely to bear a child without a donor's egg because of maternal age and a high level of FSH hormone. Although the assessment was the same, the cost of the recommended treatment—IVF using a donor egg and Bella’s husband's sperm—was less. Including travel costs (but avoiding lodging costs because she stayed with her family), Bella’s cost estimate ran about US$16,000, plus the cost of medications.

“My treatment started before we arrived in Barbados,” Bella reports, “and we were in constant email contact with the BFC staff. Once on the island, we found the team supportive, patient and kind, willing to take stressed-out calls, hold hands, and explain procedures. The treatment was a two-week process but we stayed longer, relaxing and soaking up the sun. By the time we returned home, I was pregnant.”

The last time we heard from Bella, she was eight months pregnant and still happy with her BFC experience.  “I am certain that the relaxed environment of Barbados played a major part in our success,” she says. Bella’s obstetric care was proceeding well under the supervision of her hometown physician, but she remained in contact with BFC. “My husband, who is not a fan of doctors, had nothing but praise for the clinic and its staff. We will definitely return there should we decide to try for a second baby,” she says. 

Catherine M., Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

“I went through a number of failed IVF cycles here at home,” says Catherine, whose local doctor diagnosed bilateral tubal blockage. Unwilling to give up, Catherine and her husband resolved to seek a second opinion and perhaps try again, although they had not yet decided when or where.

Then, in 2005, while planning a business trip to Barbados, the couple found the Barbados Fertility Center Web site. The pair contacted BFC and consulted with its medical director, Dr. Juliet Skinner. As discussions continued, Catherine became convinced that BFC might be a good choice for her. “We were confident that we as patients were being fully informed of our options,” she says.

After deciding that BFC was the right place for her, Catherine started her treatment at home, with the preparatory hormonal medications and monitoring that Dr. Skinner prescribed. Catherine arranged for blood testing through her local clinic. During a ten-day stay in Barbados, she underwent her IVF procedure and returned home pregnant, although at the time she was unaware that her treatment had been successful. “Even thinking we hadn't achieved a pregnancy we were so happy.”

Catherine was especially pleased with the timely manner in which she received treatment compared to the wait she would have endured at home. “I contacted BFC in May of that year and received my treatment in July. At home, I was waiting to go to our hospital-based clinic where there wasn’t an opening for me until the fall. I had done five cycles with them already without success. BFC agreed to try something different with me and it worked.”

Catherine says she received excellent, prompt treatment while saving money, too. “A cycle here in Canada at the time was about $8,500, plus almost $3,000 in drug costs,” she reports. “As I recall, BFC cost about $6,000, plus $2,000 in drug costs, so I saved nearly $4,000. That doesn’t include travel because we were traveling for business anyway, so flights and lodging were not an issue.”

During their time both at home and abroad, Catherine and her husband felt very comfortable with the level of care. “The staff was always available to answer questions. They were extremely responsive to both telephone calls and emails. The BFC team made me feel a part of my own treatment,” she says.

Michelle W. , Canada

Michelle’s infertility treatment journey began when a specialist told her she could not conceive naturally because of blockages in her fallopian tubes. Michelle was healthy and only 32 years, so her doctor was optimistic that IVF would work for her. “You’re the perfect candidate,” he said.

Michelle and her husband made arrangements to undergo IVF at a highly rated fertility clinic in their Canadian city. The first cycle attempt, using fresh embryos, failed. The next attempt, using frozen embryos, resulted in a pregnancy, but Michelle miscarried at eight weeks. The next implant of a frozen embryo failed to result in pregnancy, as did several more attempts over the next several years. Michelle experienced several early miscarriages, too, despite the fact that she and her husband were producing what the specialists judged “excellent” day 5-6 blastocysts.

Michelle was bothered by the fact that her IVF doctor was doing the same thing over and over each time. “No further investigations, no changes in protocols,” says Michelle. “My attempts to discuss other approaches were not entertained.”

During that time, Michelle developed several large uterine fibroids that she thought needed attention, but her IVF doctor refused to discuss them. Her gynecologist said bluntly that her infertility was not a result of fibroids; therefore, no surgery should be done to remove them. “That was when I knew I had to take matters into my own hands,” Michelle says.

In 2006 she joined an online IVF discussion forum and discovered that many women in North America were seeking fertility treatment overseas. “That was news to me,” she says. “I thought Canada and the United States had the best doctors!” As Michelle learned more, she began to think that treatment outside the country might be right for her. “Barbados was on the top of my list,” she says. “The doctor and the staff at BFC were rated as top notch.”

Michelle’s first consultation with Dr. Skinner at BFC was promising. Skinner’s first recommendation was removal of the fibroids, which she accomplished successfully with no complications. “This gave me a lot of confidence and trust in Dr. Skinner,” says Michelle.  Next came fertility treatment. Given Michelle’s history of miscarriages, Dr. Skinner was open to an alternative treatment that Michelle had researched.  Intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) is a blood product sometimes used to treat inflammation and autoimmune disorders. Its use in the treatment of repeated miscarriages is controversial, but Michelle and Dr. Skinner agreed it was worth trying.

The treatment, along with another cycle of IVF, worked. Michelle was delighted when she became pregnant, but she was in for an unhappy surprise. She could not find a doctor in her home city who would agree to continue her IVIG treatments. She had to travel back to Barbados three times, but she never complained, either about the inconvenience or about the cost. “Even with the extra trips back to Barbados, we were able to save about US$20,000-25,000 off the cost of IVF in the US,” she explains.

As of this writing, Michelle is six months into her pregnancy. She’s carrying twins. Boys? Girls? One of each? She and her husband have chosen not to know. It’s more fun that way. As for the future, Michelle is optimistic. She found a listening ear and competent medical treatment in Barbados.  “I would definitely recommend BFC to anyone who is considering fertility treatment abroad,” she says.