Baby 2 · IVF

IVF Zlin — Consultation Notes

WhatsApp call with Anna Rakova (coordinator, free). Zlin, Czech Republic. Adam took the call overnight PT while Andrea slept.

April 20, 2026, 10:20 AM CEST (1:20 AM PT)

Coordinator: Anna Rakova. Format: WhatsApp call, free. Location: Zlin, Czech Republic. Participants: Adam Antal (Andrea asleep — overnight PT). Doctor: Not on the call — Anna handled protocol discussion directly.

✅ IMPRESSION

Positive call. Anna was knowledgeable, direct, and candid about uncertainty ("I would love to promise you this won't happen again, but IVF is very specific and you never know"). Less lab-quality detail than IVF Cube or ReproGenesis. Anna had to cut the call short (another consult in 5 min) and apologized for missing the original scheduling confirmation.

Unanswered: Storage duration cap (just confirmed 150 EUR/yr, not the max years). Follow up by email.

📊 ASSESSMENT OF PREVIOUS CYCLE

Adam recapped Grace Fertility cycle: 7 follicles retrieved, 6 fertilized, no day-5 embryos, fresh day-3 transfer of 3 embryos (1 strong, 2 weak)
Anna's read: a stimulation/dosing problem — one dominant follicle shouldn't dictate retrieval day
Anna: "Ovulation shouldn't happen. There should be medication used which will help us to keep these follicles till egg retrieval." (i.e., antagonist to prevent premature ovulation)
Age is a factor — "once ladies are getting closer to 40, egg quality is decreasing, absolutely natural process"

🧪 PROTOCOL RECOMMENDATIONS

Element	Recommendation
Medication	Pergoveris — "most modern FSH stimulating drug, not only in Czech Republic but in the world." Puregon is outdated ("we used to use it 5+ years ago")
Starting dose	At least 300 units (possibly 250 to start, likely 300)
Hormone profile	Fresh hormone profile + AMH at beginning of every cycle — "FSH can be slightly different every month, we need actual results to set dose individually"
ICSI	Definitely recommended
Sperm selection	Fertile chip / Zymot — "selects mature sperm with good DNA fragmentation." Decide on sperm analysis day based on result
Time-lapse (embryoscope)	Available, included in PGT-A pricing
Embryo grading	Blastocyst / extended blastocyst, grades 1–3. Only grade 1 or 2 (AA quality) is transferred
Day 5/6 culture	Biopsy for PGT-A only possible on day 5 or 6
Asian patients	Same protocol — clinic has many Chinese patients, no ethnicity-specific adjustments

🇭🇺 HUNGARY STIMULATION — DR. SIPOŠ

Zlin partners with Dr. Sipoš in Budapest for stimulation + monitoring. Retrieval done at Zlin. Need to book Sipoš well in advance — he has a waiting list, "very difficult to meet him."

Stimulation entirely in Hungary with Dr. Sipoš; travel to Zlin only for retrieval + short consult + Zlin's own ultrasound
Anna handles coordination — needs advance notice of arrival to book Sipoš

🧬 PGT-A / GENETIC TESTING

Item	Cost
Biopsy	400 EUR flat per set — covers all embryos in one session, not per embryo
PGT-A test	400 EUR per embryo tested
Cryopreservation	300 EUR (includes 2 embryos); +8 EUR per additional embryo
Embryoscope	Included in PGT-A pricing

Example: 3 embryos → 400 (biopsy) + 3 × 400 (testing) + 300 (cryo, 2 incl.) + 8 (3rd embryo) = 1,908 EUR.

🎯 EMBRYO BANKING TARGET

Anna wouldn't quote a number — "depends on ovarian reaction"
~50% success per cycle stated; refused to promise package success rates
"You may have two babies from one embryo because embryos can split, and you may have two babies from ten embryos. There is no answer."
Rough guidance for one child: 2–3 stimulations

🔄 DUAL STIMULATION (DUOSTIM)

Offered and not discouraged — "not a bad thing, we can do it"
Two stimulations over two months — fits Andrea's 4–5 month Hungary stay
"You can be sure we will get more embryos and more eggs, but it's a longer process"

🥚 SEX SELECTION

Not possible. Czech law does not allow selecting embryo by gender. No workaround offered (unlike IVF Cube's "lucky number" approach).

💰 PRICING

Item	Cost
HU-stim discount	−400 EUR per cycle if stimulation happens in Hungary with Dr. Sipoš
Hotel nights	2 free nights at Zlin clinic hotel
Pergoveris	~490–500 EUR per box; need 3–4 boxes → 1,500–2,000 EUR medication
HU insurance	Fully covers meds for HU-insured residents only. Andrea does not have a HU insurance card — perk does not apply to her
Storage	150 EUR/year. Duration cap not confirmed — follow up

🗓️ LOGISTICS

No waiting list at Zlin itself — can start anytime after updated hormone profile + AMH
Anna to send list of pre-treatment tests
Original Apr 17 call cancelled (specialist in surgery). Apr 20 rescheduling email was missed on Anna's side — Anna apologized. Recommend sending rescheduling via the email thread Anna monitors

📊 COMPARISON VS. FINALISTS

	ReproGenesis	IVF Cube	IVF Zlin
Doctor	Dr. Martin Maderka	Dr. Eva Stasna	Coordinator Anna Rakova (doctor not on call)
Location	Brno (~5hr drive)	Prague (near airport)	Zlin (~3.5hr drive from Budapest)
Consult fee	50 EUR	Free	Free
Cycle cost	2,990 EUR	3,300 EUR + meds	2,500 EUR
Starting FSH	300 units	225 units	≥300 units
Preferred med	Menopur	Pergoveris (Menopur alt)	Pergoveris
ICSI	Standard	Always	Recommended
Sperm selection	Not needed if normal	Microfluidic standard	Fertile chip / Zymot
Time-lapse	Available	Optional extra cost	Included in PGT-A
DuoStim	Possible, last cycle	Not a fan	Offered, not discouraged
PGT-A cost	Per-embryo (TBC)	3,300 EUR per batch	400 biopsy + 400/embryo
Multi-cycle discount	Ask coordinator	None	None (but −400/cycle HU-stim)
Storage	Indefinite	10 years (CZ limit)	150 EUR/yr, cap TBC
Sex selection	"Somehow possible"	Lucky-number workaround	Not possible
HU partner doctor	Coordinator to recommend	Not confirmed	Dr. Sipoš (Budapest)
Waiting list	None	None	None at Zlin (Sipoš yes)
Hotel nights	Coordinated	1 night pre-retrieval	2 free nights
Lab certification	—	SHARE certificate	Not mentioned

📋 NEXT STEPS

Anna to email: updated pre-treatment test list, PGT-A/IVF pricing breakdown, sperm selection info
Follow up on storage duration cap (years) — unanswered on call
Decide whether Zlin is in final shortlist alongside ReproGenesis and IVF Cube
If pursuing Zlin: book Dr. Sipoš in Budapest well in advance — waiting list

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