There are decisions you make on your own, from the other side of the world, without knowing exactly where they’ll lead you. Sarah did just that! She traveled alone from Thailand to Greece three times to undergo IVF with a doctor she first met via video call.
Today, she is 9 weeks pregnant.
What you’re about to read is her story, as she wrote it herself.
From Thailand to Greece—three trips
“I live in Thailand, so traveling to Greece for treatment was a major undertaking. The team was careful to minimize the number of trips I would need to make, and they thoughtfully planned my treatment around this. In the end, I traveled three times. My first visit was for a hysteroscopy, which was optional, but I chose to go ahead with it since I was in Europe around that time anyway.”
Living in Thailand, traveling to Greece for treatment was not a simple decision. The team kept this in mind from the start—they planned the entire program with the goal of minimizing trips as much as possible. In the end, she traveled three times. The first visit was for a hysteroscopy—optional, but she chose to have it done since she was already in Europe at the time.
The decision that changed the plan
«On the second trip, I underwent stimulation, egg retrieval, and embryo creation. The original plan had been a fresh embryo transfer, but because I responded so strongly to the stimulation and was at risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, Dr Douliotis recommended we change course and freeze the embryos instead. This gave my body time to recover and ensured the safest and most effective path forward. I returned the following cycle for a frozen embryo transfer.»
During the second visit, ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, and embryo creation took place. The initial plan called for a fresh embryo transfer, but her response to stimulation was so intense that the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome was very real.
Dr. Doulotis suggested changing course and cryopreserving the embryos, giving her body the time it needed to recover and ensuring the safest course of action. She returned the following cycle for a frozen embryo transfer.
Alone—but never lonely
«I travelled to Greece alone for each visit, so feeling comfortable and supported throughout the process was essential. Every member of staff I interacted with, both at Hygeia IVF and the maternity hospital, was kind, professional, and reassuring. I always felt informed, cared for, and in very capable hands.»
She traveled to Greece on her own for every visit—which made human support not just welcome, but essential. Every member of the team she came into contact with, both at Hygeia IVF and at the maternity hospital, was kind, professional, and reassuring.
At every step, she felt informed, cared for, and in very capable hands.
It’s worth every minute
«Although the final cost was slightly higher than originally anticipated due to the necessary change in plan, I have absolutely no regrets. The clinical judgement, flexibility, and care I received were worth it. I would wholeheartedly recommend Dr Douliotis and the team at Hygeia to anyone considering IVF who wants to be treated with both expertise and genuine compassion.»
The final cost was slightly higher than originally anticipated due to the necessary change in plans. However, I have absolutely no complaints. The clinical judgment, flexibility, and care I received were worth every penny.
I would wholeheartedly recommend Dr. Doulotis and the Hygeia team to anyone considering IVF who wants to be treated with expertise and genuine compassion.