Tandem, not for me, sadly AND, what it actually cost me

Tandem is a procedure by which a woman cycles for IVF and also starts a fresh donor cycle and during egg retrieval and fertilization, the donor eggs are also fertilized and transferred together with any of the woman's own fertilized eggs. The idea is that you don't waste money on a low rate of success IVF but you don't give up on IVF completely. Some choose not to find out which embryo took, own egg (OE) or donor egg (DE)--which could be done using a dna test of the child. I was looking to Cyprus for tandem and honestly they had the best information on the OE/DE procedure and they were honest enough to tell me that, nope, even though they'd love to, with my numbers, DE was my best route. Also, they had me do a ton of tests here to rule out what was causing the two M/C I had.

Cyprus would have been cheaper, though the flight there would have cost more. I was leaning that way as I was dying to see both Cyprus and Istanbul which would have been new for both my husband and I, but then I discovered no photos of donors and was worried when I had trouble finding out how much testing they do of donors--but I still think it's a place worth looking into. Tandem would have been about $6000 at the time I was looking, less than I eventually paid for donor egg alone. 

At Irega I paid $8350 for the DE, including all meds except $30 to $50 I spent on estradiol pre-arrival (I skipped the Lupron as it was too late to order, would have been $300 from a Canadian mail order pharmacy and $1500 from US pharmacy), baby aspirin, and two other medications once I did arrive. I also paid an additional $500 for meds to cover the 5 weeks following the beta test on Nov. 27 (as I felt that forced me into a positive mindset for a big fat positive--BFP). $2000 of the $8350 I paid prior to arrival and the remainder plus the $500 just after transfer, the $2000 started the donor on her meds and the clinic monitoring her.

I paid about $700 for hubs and I to fly (maybe a little more) and $32 for the collective taxi from the airport to the hotel. For the first three nights we stayed at an all-inclusive, height of luxury place (Royal Sands) for $201 per night, plus about $64 in tips (I'm a good tipper in general). Then we switched to a $60 a night place (Cancun Bay) that did not always have hot water and no mini-fridge, if I had it to over I'd have spent the $75 a night for mini-fridge and hot water.

We spent about $15 a day on buses, taxis, etc. and once we had switched hotels, about $50 a day on food (once hubs left I was spending maybe $15 a day on food and less for taxis as I was taking the bus). We did three big trips--two day trips to Playa del Carmen, one to Chitzen Itza organized by me as we left too late for the regular tour (I had to contract the taxi, guide, etc but we probably only spent an extra $70 and it was just hubs and I to Chitzen, the Cenote and Valladolid). Final big extravagance was a day trip to Isla Mujeres where we swam with dolphins, manatees and sea lions for about $500 for us both (combined).

Total cash withdrawals was about $1200, plus credit card for the hotels combined for about $1000, plus credit card of $600 for dolphin etc as we also bought some photos. I also spent about $250 on gifts and souvenirs for the people caring for our animals back home and family/friends.

We could have done it much cheaper but we had a great time, was hubs first time in Mexico and I wanted him to enjoy. Eating at the little outdoor quesadilla place across the street from the hotel and next to Oxxo was about $3 for two quesadillas and a drink and it was my dinner each night after hubs left. Then, for lunch/brunch each day I went to the Sanborns near the ADO bus station--ADO goes to all major cities (easy to reach by local Cancun bus, about $.75) and spent about $12-15 for a really nice meal.

It seems few US places have lots of information on Mexico which is crazy as it is so close. Also, I found a ton of information and support on the ivf.ca site under going abroad for ivf--Mexico it was a lifeline for me as I could find no information here.

Here are some fun photos, first of papel picado across a street and the next two of mariachi players entertaining outdoor diners.

What was included at Irega--all donor costs, medication once I was there (I had to get small stuff at the pharmacy in the hospital but it came to less than $10, like aspirin), a cell phone (I put more money on it as it's an inexpensive way to call the US or Canada), the transfer, my husband's deposit and analysis (not that he liked it!, he calls it the jerk off room, but he doesn't like it anywhere we have been--making love to a plastic cup), and follow up meds through the 2 week wait, and if all goes well (a BFP--big fat positive) for one week after. I had to cover meds before I got there. I started suddenly so did not have time to get a lupron shot which is $1500 in the states but $200-$300 from Canada on a mail order but not time to order from Canada as you need at least three weeks so I just started estradiol (generic estrace) three times a day, they cost $.60 a pill and my insurance covered so it was a $10 co-pay but out of pocket would have been about $20.

You do need to get your doctor to rewrite the prescriptions for you as the US and Canadian clinics will not take a Mexican prescription. I tried to keep in touch with my doctor throughout and she was great but my RE was NOT so it was wonderful that one person was willing to work with me. They retrieved 10 eggs (you are guaranteed 8), fertilized 8, 7 made it to three day embryo at quality 1, 2 or 3 (4 is poor, which was number 8). They did a three day transfer of the top quality four embryos (and gave me a photo of them which was really neat!), froze the remaining three (quality two and one of quality 3), gave me the analysis of: the eggs, the embryos with a break down of which were transferred/ which frozen, and of my husband's sperm. If this does not take (not wanting to jinx myself) we return and pay for meds prior to arrival, travel and stay and that is it.

Do I think they used my donor? Well, my husband thinks he saw her there in the waiting room when we arrived. He had really studied the photo and only told me later. I was so worried about my first appointment that I did not notice and he never pointed her out to me! He thought she looked five pounds heavier than in the photo (really, he said 5 pounds, men!) I had a great experience and the hospital was topnotch. Dra. Mayra was wonderful but she is shy about using English and more comfortable in Spanish. She has a translator present for complicated questions but she and I just chatted as I speak Spanish.

She was great when I had a meltdown when the male embryologist entered to hand over the embryos during the transfer and agreed if I have to return they will fly in the female embryologist from their clinic in Acapulco, which I will pay for but I am most willing. I just do not ever see male medical practitioners, a personal thing. My husband was not there (he flew home early for work) but he thought I was crazy as the reason for the male embryologist is he's the very best they have, but my husband does not understand my phobia.

Cost was $8350. I also chose to pay an additional $500 for the five weeks following the first twenty days or meds so I would not have to worry about switching brands or types in the states. Probably not a big deal but less of a stress for me. I had to pay a $2000 deposit to start the donor on her meds and then they almost forgot to make me pay at the end. I was waiting around and they were like don't you want to go rest and I was like, well yeah but I owe you almost $7000 (with the extra meds). It was kind of funny!

Tori Brown, the patient facilitator there, did say they have had several new donors (including one from FCC that I had originally been going to use who honestly looked like a twin), so I would email her also at toribrown.iregaivf@gmail.comYou will likely pay bank foreign transfer fees, it all came to about an extra $200 for me between what I paid for cash transfers for the cash I needed there, the exchange rate loss for the deposit, and the final payment fee. More on what I spent to fly and stay later.

Oh, it struck me as SUPER funny that in Cancun there are ATM machines that only give you US dollars, something I have never, ever seen before in Mexico. Here is one:

and here is the hallway to Dra. Mayra's office in the Irega clinic:

All alone...

My husband left at 5 this morning. I put him in the taxi and after hugs kisses and near tears sent him off. It's his first time without me here so I left him with strict orders to not leave the airport (he has a layover in Mexico City) and to take care of himself (and the dog who was in doggie day care for first time and for ten days!) up til now, she's been my baby, hoping to be lucky enough to introduce her to a real one. Husband gave me the shot before he left and it was not so bad! Everyone's advice from the different forum sites helped a lot!

We had no heat pad or ice but I had the nurse spend 20 minutes with us yesterday showing him how. She said to really rub capsule in fingers first to warm the oil (PIO--progesterone in oil) and make sure it's fluid, then pinch and twist butt skin chunk (she demonstrated for husband on me) so I think the demo helped a lot. Sunday is only day they are closed so he had to do it, but I'll go in and have the nurse do it Monday and on transfer day. Yes, I transfer Tuesday and leave Thursday so two nights post transfer by myself.

We will likely transfer 4. I asked and they said, really no worry on triplets. On day 3, transferring 3 yields a 30% chance of twins, 10% of triplets and they have never had quad and they routinely do 4. They let me choose day 3 or 5, I chose day 3 mainly on convenience as for day 5 I'd have had to change plane and miss an interview for a job I'd like but not getting hopes up as interview is evening of day I return.

Transferring two on day 5 has higher odds of pregnancy and twins so I'm feeling twisted on my decision and was adamant I want some to freeze. From here it's out of my hands. The one hiccup could be that the embryologist traditionally does the transfer and he is a he and a big part of me choosing Dra. Mayra was that she's a she. So I asked if she could do transfer and they are checking on that. Hoping my squeamishness--on doctor and day--doesn't screw this up.

It's raining, which is weird for here (not weird, it rains a bit most days but for a short time and it's been raining two hours now). Hope it lets up soon as I was hoping to sit by beach and walk around to find gift for neighbor watching our cats. Regardless, I know it will stop soon and meanwhile I have this and a good book! Have been thinking of comments on ethnicity on sites and why so many choose Czech for overseas treatment and, well, I'm boggled by ignorance. For me, many choices in Mexico were too white Euro for me--based on childhood and adult photos and background. There are Polish and German donors--many are from there living here. In Czech, with no photo, you don't know, there are other ethnicities there. Just a thought.

Entry #2, we are here!

So we are here and my husband totally loves it but after one day of over eating and drinking in the all inclusive we are ready for a water fast tomorrow. Yesterday I met Dra. Mayra de la Garza with my husband and I was able to ask plenty of questions only now I have lots more. We chatted in Spanish which was great for me as I could ask everything and then tell my husband what I wanted him to know and he needs to know (and not all the neurotic questions I was bugging the doctor with).

Basically he needs to go in between Thursday and Saturday (they gave us a cell phone already programmed to the doctor and Tori but I had to go to Walmart to put money on it). I will transfer either three days or five days after fertilization (the day of fertilization is the day of my husband's apt), meaning I'll likely be alone as he returns early for a new job that start next week and I won't be there for him either (sigh). I return on Thursday to an interview that evening, ugh too much going on! If they do a three day it means eggs not so great and they will transfer three or four; if they transfer day five--called blastocysts--it will be two. I asked for Erickson for a boy, it's 80% accurate; it reduces the odds of pregnancy a bit and costs nothing more. PGD is guaranteed, but reduces odds of pregnancy a lot and costs a lot--no brainer!

I will start shots the day of the transfer/fertilization--going to ask doctor or nurse to show my husband how to do the first one. Terrified of shots but after reading about others on the various forums for women in my boat (inspire resolve and ivf.ca) I feel better prepared.

Spanish helps but in weird ways. Most people speak English and want me to also. It helped me ask in Walmart about the phone but was not necessary. My husband was too impatient for the bus to the hospital the first time so we took a taxi which dropped us at the wrong hospital so Spanish helped with directions (he is getting rather spoiled traveling like a tourist). For others who might be following this, Hospital Galenia is a white building (not terra-cotta like the wrong hospital) and it says Galenia on the door. Irega is inside Hospital Galenia and FCC is right across the street. So now I know.

We had "fun" crossing several busy streets on the walk over (about two blocks away) from the wrong hospital. The clinic is gorgeous, once we found it in the hospital, kind of tucked in a corner. Much nicer than my RE's office back home and Dra. Mayra is much more patient with my questions. She had several for me after reviewing my file but everything was there--thanks to Tori being so pesky about all the tests and me having many extra tests to explain the two miscarriages (I did all the testing at the reccommendation of a Dr in Cyprus when we were considering there-- way cheaper than anywhere but no photos of donors, though I was eager to see Istanbul).

They did the vaginal ultrasound and kept looking and I was really fearful my lining was not thick enough but they said it was 9 mm which is good and to keep on the estrace three times a day and I have enough pills (get lots, estradiol is cheap generic) so I did not need the prescription she had. I did go to the pharmacy in the hospital for sunscreen and almost died when it was $43!!! (well less as exchange rate is 12 to 1 and I use a mental 10 to 1) so note to self, big fancy private hospital means supped-up pharmacy charges so I'll find a small drug store. We then went to Walmart and for about $18 got sunscreen (which I still find outrageous but all at home was more than the three ounce travel size). We also got flip flops for my husband (sizes are wonky but I'm used to that, he wears a 10 and got a 28 and I don't know men's sizes well but he should have gotten a 29 or 30, oh well, small flip flops not a big deal). I got lip stick and he got $10 of  after shave which I thought was crazy as I put some for him in a spice jar but he swears it won't be enough. We also got nail clippers and two souvenirs for friends. $70 total; not too bad.

Then the taxis outside Walmart tried to rip us off (I look so gringa in shortish canvas skirt, Sox flip flops and T-shirt) they showed us a chart for 170 pesos to our hotel. My poor husband, but it was on the chart he says. When I gave them the not in this lifetime look they said so whatcdo you want to pay and I said 80 which is what we'd paid to get from hotel to hospital (albeit wrong hospital--but I had a great political conversation with driver on price of gas and a recent teachers' strike) which was probably too much. Then they laughed and I grabbed my husband and headed to the street to go wave down a a taxi to bargain rather than talking to those at the stand. He was still, but it was on chart and I have to tell him, when they show you a chart, you know you are screwed. Then the bus came so we jumped on and we were not charged so I figured we'd pay as we got off but when we did pay (less than $2 for us both) driver seemed surprised, maybe he forgot we did not pay getting on? Anyway, we paid, then sat at swim up pool bar(my first ever) and I had a chelada (green lemonade with beer and salt on rim, yum! My husband had tequila, it was blanco but it was 1800 which is a good brand--reposo and añejo are better, means aged.

Here is a photo of a michelada:

So now it is next day and thundering and I'm trying to think of what we should do given the weather. Want to show husband one of the nearby ruins, Chitzen Itza or Tulum but in this weather it's iffy, then I thought snorkeling as rain won't matter, yeah with lightening??? Not thinking too clear here. Sorry for long ramble, trying to let others know what to expect. Oh almost forgot, Tori told me, while my husband was in bathroom, that tonight (yesterday night) was last night for sex, so I told him when he got back and he was peeved and I was but that's what she said and you missed it. So we were talking about that, then about the cell phone and I did not get my copy of the contract so I'll need to do that. Of course he does not realize drinking more makes him go more and of course he was too done in from margaritas to do anything last night. Ugh,what to do with thunder and rain, though if I know Mexico, it will blow over quickly.

Entry #1 (this is actually the first thing I wrote about going)

I leave in just three days. Between now and then I have a party to host (still need to clean, shop, cook), my hair/legs/toes to get done, and an interview in another country. I also need to finalize dog and cat care. DH has done NOTHING, not even the things he agreed to do. Because we are going to Mexico, I am doing all the plans (air, hotel, etc) and it makes sense, as he does everything when we go to India. Still, given that the hope is we return with a baby, I would hope he might be more engaged, sigh.

I've been on estradiol (generic estrace) for a few weeks now and BC pills before that. Had a great talk with the doctor who called me, twice as she did not reach me the first time. Still can't get over that as it would never happen here. Also, at the other clinic the doctor charges for calls. Background, I am going to Cancun Mexico for donor egg ivf. I chose Mexico both for cost and because I have family there (though not in Cancun) and I know the area fairly well. I am blonde, blue/green eyes (I was born with hazel eyes, go figure) and everyone says I look Irish. What most people in the US do NOT realize is that a güerra (light-skinned person) in a family with a prieta (darker person) as siblings is pretty common in Mexico. My little sister looks nothing like me in coloring but a good deal similar in facial characteristics, but of course, no one sees beyond color, sigh.

Anyway, all seem to assume that DE in Mexico means a dark-skinned donor. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Some of the donor options (I had 33 from whom to choose) were a bit dark but only one would I see as truly dark (I wanted her due to curly blond hair but wrong blood type). There was one at the other clinic who looked exactly like me (curly hair, green eyes, shortish, thin, white skin) but I chose to go with Irega rather than Fertility Center Cancun (FCC). Those are the two clinics in Cancun, there are others well known in Guadalajara. Basically, Mexico has really good care for those with the money to pay for it. My treatment, with a 'free' (cost of travel and my meds) return if it does not work for a frozen transfer is $8350. Of course, I'll need to pay for hotel and flights after that and my own meds. So far, I have spent $20 in estradiol, but I was supposed to get a Lupron shot but it could not get here from Canada in time at the $200 price and in the US it is $1500 and then Irega said skip the shot--whoopeee!!!!--and just take estradiol three times a day from the second day of my period.

First day there they will check my lining. I was going to go to FCC. I had been emailing a woman named Sheri (all the clinics use patient facilitators, likely to get around the gazillion email questions we all have and also to help with the English communication that, in the US, would be easier for a nurse or receptionist to do). Sheri was great about getting back to me but not so great about clear answers. The price she quoted was off by half (from $6000 to $9000) and the doctor charges $200 to talk to you (Dr. Gaytan whose English is supposedly excellent). I checked with Irega and found a cheaper price, better 'guarantee' (not really a guarantee just a frozen transfer with no donor or egg costs) and a female doctor, which is really important to me. Also, Dra. Mayra called me and answered all my questions and did not charge for the call.

Tori Brown, my facilitator, sent 33 donor profiles with photos for most and adult and baby photos for most with photos. About one third have blood type listed but she can find out for the others. Blood type is important to me as I don't want to be dealing with nosy people. There is a Desperate Housewives episode in which Gabby is asked when she adopted her daughter. She is stumped as she did not adopt. They ask as the daughter is A blood type and Gabby and Carlos (her husband) are both O and, as the nurse says, two Os can't make an A. The nurse then assumes Gabby was having an affair. Instead it turns out the child was switched at birth. Regardless, blood type that matches mine was important to me.

We chose a light-skinned donor with dark curly hair (I've always hated my light hair anyway) who is a bit taller than me and thin. We have information on her education, interests, that she is a proven donor (has successfully donated in the past leading to a live birth) and that she was available (unlike the donor from FCC who they offered and then suddenly said, nope not available, how about behind door 2). I felt far better with the 33 donor spread sheet and the option to look them over at my leisure. It is still anonymous but you get way more information than you would from, say a clinic in Eastern Europe. They also list all the genetic and other screening they do, most required by Mexican law. Some of it has been a pain on my side, with me needing my doctor to write a note explaining my high Hep B test results are because I had the Hep B vaccine (duh). But finally it is all done.

The only piece left is my husband's sperm analysis. He did the STD screen but I swear any of his testing is like pulling teeth, and he needed FAR less than me. I needed prolactin, proof my fallopian tubes are open and my uterus is ok, chlomid challenge, AMH, STD screen, and TSH (I swear you would think all fertility doctors trained in the army given all the alphabet soup). Some things I wish I had known going in so I'd have had all ready, but they need tests done within the last six months so too much pre-planning can backfire.

I also wish I had known that pharmacies will not take a Mexican doctor's prescription as my RE here flat refused to help. Thank all the higher powers for my awesome primary care as she stepped right up and provided all the support she could, ordered all the tests and did her best to get as much covered by insurance as possible. I am saving every receipt as health care costs over 10% of income are tax deductible. Not a ton but something. Especially as if I were having this done in the states the cost even without flight and hotel would be about triple. So now I am worried about getting everything done before we leave (including packing and dropping off the dog, keys to neighbor for cats--neighbors try NOT to watch my cats as they are evil, I love them but with an 'only a mother could love this attitude hissing spitting animal' approach), and getting on the plane. THEN I will worry about the thickness of my lining, that I've not been working out and will look flabby on the beach, that at some point my husband will need to give me shots (ready to contract with a nurse there), and whether he will get sick from the water/food.

I can drink from the faucet and eat everything, but I've been there since childhood; he has not. I did not get sick in India and he thinks the reverse will be true, that he won't get sick, but I am not so sure. I am on the Inspire site and the ivf.ca site (ivf.ca is the BEST for information on Mexico for IVF or DE) and now Global IVF. I am the over research and check all out kinds of option sort of person, not that it is helping but it gives me something to do as I am obsessing over everything. Generally I am feeling way better about this trip than about talking with my fertility specialist (RE) here and I am hopeful, but who knows.

The big question for me now is whether to transfer two or three eggs. Basically, three nearly guarantees pregnancy, but also the risk of triplets and thus high complications, premature birth, etc. With two the odds of twins is 40% (so still MORE likely a singleton). So much to think about but once there I'm hoping to talk to Dra. Mayra about it all. Right now, hair and legs are a focus. All the people who do my beauty know a bit about my trip (ivf if not DE) which is more than I'm telling family at this point. Of course, my family would die if I have another m/c (had two with natural in the past, sigh). Ok, need to schedule lots and will write soon.

Here is a photo of the Mayan women who see fruit near the beach in the center of Playa del Carmen, day trip from Cancun. People say pineapple is important during transfer and for about $1.50, I could get a big thing of cut pineapple (I got mine with lots of chile sauce and lime juice, yum!):

How we got here

My hubs and I met in 2008, just after I turned 40 and he turned 41. Things seemed perfect, we married within 6 months(I know, fast) and I went off bcp soon after. It was actually an IUD and had to have it removed and started first period of previous 15 years (had been on depo before IUD). Good news is I almost immediately lost 20 pounds. Bad news is my doctor suggested an RE after about 6 months given that I was 41. One IVF is covered in my state. The RE put us through some tests and scheduled an IVF for summer 2010, but then I got pregnant on my own.... and m/c three weeks later. I was crushed. Meanwhile RE was worried about my high FSH, told her sometimes the numbers were low but she said the insurance takes highest. Started reading a variety of blogs and forums, then got pregnant naturally again about one year after first but afraid to hope this time, and it was another early m/c.


RE did an AMH and it was too low and she said after 42 I had between 5% and 2% chance of success with ivf. She'd done the hysteroscopy and my ovaries were fine. I was so disappointed she was so quick to give up on us. I researched SARTs for my age and found CCRM in Lone Tree Colorado had way better stats for my age and had a Latina doctor. I generally only see female doctors, but finding Latinas is REALLY hard (maybe I should have gone into medicine!) only Lone Tree would be about $40k total plus lots of time off for travel and insurance would never cover another state and then I turned 44 and insurance for anything was not going to happen. My RE was really pushing DE but for a chosen donor it would be $40k again not possible.


As my hubs and I were both born outside US, I started researching other countries. Every site was pushing Czech big time and, not to sound anti but I am SUPER anti anything CZ. I just know too much, about how racist they are as a nation, that they have the WORST anti discrimination laws in all of Europe, that they are the only nation to voluntarily vote for communism (which does not surprise me as all Czechs in US I know who moved post communism are on welfare and free health insurance and refuse to pay for anything) I also know they smoke like chimneys and drink like fish, drinking more than ANY other European nation--which is saying something. That and CZ women have a high rate of kidnapping kids from US (against US and international law but they somehow get away with it) NO way was I having a CZ baby, I knew that loud and clear!!!! However, finding info on other nations was agonizing. Many many sites are go Czech or stay home (and honestly, I'd rather adopt).


So, I started looking into Cyprus, really great prices and travel there and Istanbul sounded wonderful, BUT no photos and they did not do all the testing I wanted of potential donors. They were the only place I saw advertising tandem, where they do IVF and DE all at once, sort of save money in case your eggs suck. They suggested a slew of tests to explore the reasons for the m/cs which my RE ordered but insurance did not cover (about $600, but was good to know).

I backed from Cyprus and, wonder of wonders found ivf.ca, a Canadian forum site with a few from US. I started reading their TONS of info on Mexico. I'd looked into a few places in Guadalajara but they were mostly going to Cancun. I knew the area (am mixed Mexican, look REALLY white) but had not stayed in Cancun since 1998. I have family fairly close, but not close enough for an easy visit and besides did not want to tell family given previous bad news. I found it really helpful to read so much from so many women who had been there. Which is a big reason I started this blog, to offer women closer option, particularly those who might have family that would be poorly treated in CZ due to skin color.


There are two clinics and I started with Fertility Center of Cancun (FCC) where most women were. They all had great things to say about Sheri, the patient facilitator there but I had poor experiences with her. She suggested a donor that looked like my twin and said we could save money as she had frozen eggs. Well as I am booking tickets, she is suddenly not available and does not have frozen eggs and she starts pushing another donor on me, really white and pretty and TALL (I am classic petite, thin and short), and Sheri would not budge and suddenly the price for tandem was twice what she originally quoted. By then even Cyprus was saying no to my own eggs and while it KILLED me and probably my husband as well (he says god made me beautiful, bless him but I know better) we went for full donor eggs while I started a personal prayer for cloning.

I started communicating with Tori Brown at Irega, and as both hubs and I were between jobs (which had me hyperventilating about money) we booked tickets. At first I was upset with Tori, she needed so many tests of us both and they had to be within 6 months of treatment, but she told me upfront and it did not change (as it had with Sheri). I even had to have my doctor exlain my Hep B results as I'd had the Hep B vaccine for travel, it was all in my record so the letter felt like overkill.

Choosing a donor was hard, I really wanted my blood type so hubs and I sat with a spreadsheet of 35 and narrowed on blood type and curly hair. He wanted really white skin (so funny as he is dark) and once we chose, it was one without a photo so we had it down to two when Tori sent a photo which we could only partially open on my laptop. I asked him, he said she looks pretty, and I set it up. Later, on iPad we could see full photo, and the full photo included her with a boy who had not been orinally visible and hubs swore he'd never seen the photo and never agreed to the donor as she was too Mexican. I swear, sometimes husbands resemble children. I mean, really, she looks almost exactly like my younger sister (who is darker but not dramatically so) but he was suddenly wanting whiter, too funny as there were plenty of white choices in my blood type and we'd narrowed it to two and she was one, sigh. He was all hands off in States, all, "I'll get more involved when the baby gets here" and suddenly in Mexico he's like nuts--what if they switch eggs or donor, we should do DNA (I pointed out we would have to trust the same clinic he was suddenly worried about to do her DNA).

Here is a photo of the waiting room in the clinic:

I think the real issue is this was his first visit to Mexico and I was in charge. I made hotel reservations, bargained with taxi drivers and chatted with Dra Mayra all in Spanish but when either I or the translator in the room offered full translation he said no. He did make it clear no multiples, as he didn't want three or four babies running around. I kept my mouth shut as I'd love twins! He really wanted to rent a car and I said no way! Really only crazy people rent cars here, the rental companies are awful and any accident will always go against a foreigner, but he said it was cause I did not trust him. But over all he was happy, loving the good tequila and the beach.

Here is a photo of the entry lobby of the hospital Galenia, where Irega is housed, the other clinic, Fertility Center of Cancun, which is right across the street, and of the pharmacy inside the hospital, right next to Irega: