Possibly heading to Belgium at the end of the year
beckynsean11
member
Hi ladies! I normally post on TTGP, but I was hoping this board would have some insight. I'm in the US currently, but we should find out in the next few months if we'll be headed to Belgium for 12-18 months for DH's job. We're also waiting to find out if we're going to be able to keep trying naturally or need to go straight to IVF. For now, I'm just trying to figure out a few basic things since there's not too much point in getting ahead of myself.
For anyone that has worked with an RE there, did you need to go to an OB for a referral or can you just make the appointment with the RE directly? Also, do you know if they will accept the results of the testing done in the US or if they will want to retest anything? I've never lived outside of the US, I'm not sure what to expect for differences in the medical systems.
TIA!
Re: Possibly heading to Belgium at the end of the year
Hey Becky! I remember when you joined TTGP. FX you end up in Belgium - I think it's a great place to spend a few years!
Everything I'm about to say assumes you'll be using the Belgium medical system. (I'm not sure what's bringing you here, but armed forces generally have a difference medical system.)
If you join the Belgium medical system, you'll register with a mutuelle (the mutuelle here covers much more than standard insurance back home). As expats, you're employer often gives you additional coverage (we have something called DKV that covers 85% of whatever the mutuelle does not cover).
They definitely do fertility treatments differently here, so much of what you read on TTGP won't apply to the system here. BUT Belgium is known the world over for their success in infertility. You'll definitely be in good hands. I just read an article that said 80% of the births in Belgium to foreigners/expats.
They don't have REs here. Basically there are 1) gynos who do maternity (including basic fertility meds up to IUI) and 2) gynos who specialize in IVF. My high risk OBGYN does up to washed IUIs in her office (in coordination with the hospital at which she works). If that doesn't work after a few tries, she will refer you on to a fertility clinic which will want to move almost immediately to IVF.
I'm not sure if a regular doc/gyno here will accept your test results from the US. BUT I wouldn't worry too much about it. Initially we did: CD3 and 7DPO bw, transv ultrasound and a spermogram all for less than 100 Euros out of pocket (much less since we also have DKV).
They don't so as many of the invasive tests (HSG, etc) here, but you can definitely request it and it won't break the bank.
IUI with washed sperm will cost somewhere around 50 Euros using the Belgian national insurance with no limit to the number of times you can try. Each round of IVF will cost somewhere between 200-500 Euro with a limit of 6 times. (You can do more, but you'd have to pay the full price between 4,000-6,000 Euros.)
I'll send you a PM so we can email more if you'd like. Good luck to you and DH!
Me: 36 - slight DOR (AMH: 1.1), decent OAR; DH: 41 - Morphology 4%
NTNP July-Aug 2014, ATTC Sept 2014-Present
October 2014 - CP
July 2015 - Clomid + #1 IUI = BFN
September 2015 - Clomid + #2 IUI = CP
October 2015 - Letrozole (5 follies - yay!) + #3 IUI = BFN
November 2015 - CP
December 2015 - CP
February 2016 - Letrozole + #4 IUI = CP
April 2016 - CP
May/June 2016 - IVF #1 and IUI #5 (Estrace + Follistim + micro-hCG + HGH) = BFN
Struggled to conceive #1 2012-2013
Clomid #1: March 2013 - BFN; Clomid + IUI: May 2013 CXL; BFP on 4/22/13 = Baby Boy #1 1/1/14