Start treatment

We always start with an initial consultation. This is a part of our philosophy, which emphasises a personal aproach to each patient at each stage of treatment. We have a "one doctor – one patient” principle. This means that the same doctor whom you see at your initial consultation will co-ordinate the entire treatment process, including timing, ovary stimulation, egg retrieval, and embryo transefer.

The waiting time for this initial visit is 1 – 2 months. 

For the first appointment you will need only one day , but it is naturally a very pleasant idea to combine your visit with a nice long weekend in St. Petersburg. Please note, that any documentation about your previous tests and/or treatment methods would be valuable for understanding your case. We also require a letter from your local general doctor giving us information about your common state of health and having no contraindications to pregnancy. This letter can be brought to the first or second visit.

The second visit takes 8 days if the stimulation of the ovaries has been done under control of a local gynecologist. The stimulation protocol is usually planned at the initial consultation. If the whole procedure (ovary stimulation, egg retrieval,  and embryo transefer) takes place in St. Petersburg, a 2,5 week stay is required.

The initial consultation includes:

• gathering and structuring your medical data
• an ultrasound scan of your ovaries and uterus
• an evaluation of your chances of success, according to your medical history and scan
• laboratory blood tests (if required)
• sperm examination and sperm freezing (if required)
• making a precise and convenient schedule  including the exact dates of the second visit
• prescribing the medication if required (otherwise a local doctor pay prescribe)

The costs of the initial consultation including ultrasound scan are 100 Euro. All the laboratory examinations as well as sperm examination and sperm freezing are not included in the costs of the initial consultation and if done, should be paid separately. Sperm freezing and storage 1 year  costs 320 Euro.

Here you can find the listing of the laboratory tests (incl. costs) required for all the patients undergoing treatment at O.L.G.A. Fertility Clinic. They should be valid to the time the treatment starts. We do not require them to be ready to the initial visit. We just ask you to make inquires at your local doctor's and to let us know if you would like to do them at your initial visit at O.L.G.A. Fertility Clinic or at the home country.

Both partners:

1. HIV, Hepatitis B and C, Lues (valid 3 months) - 53 Euro (per person)
2. Blood group - 12 Euro (per person)

Female partner:

1. Blood count (valid 1 month) — 10 Euro
2. Biochemical blood test (AlT, AsT, Bilirubin, Creatinine, Glucose, general Protein) (valid 1 month) — 30Euro
3. Pap smear (cancer prevention smear) (valid 1 year) — 18 Euro
4. Bacteriology smear (valid 1 month) — 10 Euro

Please note, that other tests may be recommended to the couplde individually at the initial consultation according to the previous history.

In some patients (20-30% of people who come to the initial consultation) it is not possible to schedule the treatment at  the initial visit if your medical history or tests reveal the presence of cysts, myomas at a specific location, polyps, adenomyosis, endometriosis, unbalanced thyroid hormones, or menstrual cycle abnormalies. These conditions often reduce pregnancy rates, so it can take some months to treat them to optimise your chances. After you have successfully completed treatment for these conditions, we will send you a schedule by e-mail.

Reasons for the initial consultation

One reason why the success rate is rather high at O.L.G.A. Fertility Clinic is that all our patients come for an initial consultation before undergoing treatment. By performing our own up-to-date ultrasound, sperm and blood tests, and by discussing the medical history of our patients thoroughly, we are able to offer everyone the best possible chance of giving birth to a healthy child.

We are sorry to say that there is very small percentage of patients who have absolute contraindications to the treatment or such low chances that we are forced to say no to the treatment. That is hard, but saves the patient a lot of unnecessary investment and false hopes.

The initial visit has also a very important psychological aspect. Fertility treatment is an extremely stressful experience. This is especially true if you have already spent years undergoing unsuccessful IVF or other forms of fertility treatment. Having to travel to a strange country is yet another factor that adds to the stress. When you visit the new country for the first time, the stress is greatest because you have to discover out how to book flights, look for hotels, organise a visa(!), and search for the clinic in the city... Lots of arrangements have to be made, and you may worry about whether you will arrive on time and what our clinic and doctors are like.

Apart from all the important medical issues of the initial consultation, please look at this visit as a good opportunity to make your second visit (for the actual treatment) as smooth as possible. For example, you will already be familiar with the visa process, you will arrive in a city you already know, the same driver will probably pick you up at the airport, you will stay in a hotel you know (or at a better one that you noticed during your first visit), you will be confident that the clinic is just around the corner from your hotel, and you will know what our clinic and your doctor look like…And when you come for the second time, you will already be sure that you can trust us all to do our very best for you.

We always try to make your visit convenient for you by scheduling it according to your wishes, and we can help with booking a hotel close to the clinic. O.L.G.A. Fertility Clinic is located in the middle of St. Petersburg, with dozens of hotels and interesting sights within walking distance.

If you would like to book an initial consultation, please send us an e-mail to info@avapeter.com and we will offer you several possibilities of dates to choose from.

If you would like to talk to our doctor before coming, please fill in the questionnaire at the bottom of this page, including your phone number and your questions – you will get a call from one of our doctors within a week. This questionnaire will help you to set out your medical history and ask any questions. It will also enable you to have more time at the initial consultation for any further explanations, discussions and any other queries.

We hope to be able to help you fulfil your wish for a child, and look forward to hearing from you soon.

If you have specific questions, please contact the attending doctor for English speaking patients Dr. Olga Chanysheva-Zaytseff per phone: +78123363050