What to pack for IVF treatment in Greece: the list I give my patients

Before every trip, I send out the same list. It has grown over the years, with every forgotten item: a charger, a prescription left on the kitchen table, socks for the operating theatre. Nothing dramatic, but when you’re staying for four to ten nights, you’d rather spend that time resting than searching for a chemist’s. Here it is, in the order you’ll need it.

In your hand luggage: anything that must never go in the hold

The rule is simple: anything to do with your treatment travels with you. A suitcase lost for three days could cost you a treatment cycle.

• Medicines, in an insulated pouch with an ice pack that doesn’t come into direct contact with the pens. Any medical liquids required during the journey are exempt from the 100 ml limit, provided you present them at security. Details on the cold chain can be found in the article on flying.
• The prescription, stating the active ingredients and not just the brand names: the same medicine may be sold under a different trade name in Greece.
• Your medical records, in paper form and as a copy on your mobile phone: latest tests, serology results, blood group, and reports on previous attempts.
• The identity document used to open your file at the clinic. The name must match that on the consent forms, which is important if you have changed your name since getting married.
• Your health cover: European Health Insurance Card if you live in the European Union, and proof of travel insurance if you have any. What it actually covers is explained in the article on travel insurance.
• A charger, a power bank and a pen. You’ll be signing a lot of documents at an IVF clinic.

Documents

The clinic will send you its own list, and that is the one that counts. The items that almost always feature are: identity documents for both partners, consent forms, a marriage certificate or a notarised document depending on your circumstances, and recent test results. To ensure you don’t discover anything new the day before you leave, a detailed list of documents, broken down by situation, is available here.

For the day of the egg retrieval

• Loose-fitting, easy-to-put-on clothes: trousers with an elasticated waist rather than tight jeans, as your tummy will be a little sensitive.
• Warm socks. Operating theatres are cool, and you may sometimes have to wait whilst lying down.
• No make-up, perfume, nail varnish or jewellery. Centres require this for monitoring during anaesthesia: the oxygen sensor is placed on a finger.
• Glasses if you wear contact lenses: these must be removed before anaesthesia.
• Sanitary towels, no tampons: slight bleeding after the egg retrieval is common.
• A snack and a bottle of water for when you leave, as you will have been fasting since the previous evening.

The full procedure, from arrival at the clinic to your return to the hotel, is described in the article on the egg retrieval.

For the day of the transfer

• A bottle of water: many clinics ask for a moderately full bladder, as this makes the ultrasound scan easier during the procedure. Ask for the exact instructions the day before.
• That day’s dose of progesterone, if it is due to be taken during your appointment.
• Panty liners: vaginal progesterone causes discharge; this is to be expected and is nothing to worry about.
• Clothes you feel comfortable in. It is a moment that many patients remember fondly.

What happens during these twenty minutes, and why strict bed rest is unnecessary, is explained in the article on the day of the transfer.

For daily life there

Thessaloniki is best explored on foot, along the seafront. Make sure you wear comfortable shoes and clothing suitable for the season. Summers are hot, often exceeding 30 degrees in July and August, with sunshine that makes a hat and sun cream essential. Winter is cool and damp, with daytime temperatures around 10 degrees in January, and the north wind can be biting: a scarf and a folding umbrella won’t take up much space.

As for electricity, Greece uses type F sockets at 230 volts, which are also compatible with flat type C plugs, as in most countries in continental Europe. If you’re coming from the UK, Ireland, North America or Australia, you’ll need an adaptor. In an emergency, the European emergency number 112 works in Greece, free of charge, from any telephone.

Take a sufficient supply of your usual medication with you, and ask the clinic which painkillers are permitted during the cycle before packing them in your bag: the answer varies depending on the medication. As for the rest, bring a book, a downloaded TV series, or a cushion for the journey: waiting times are often longer than the appointments themselves.

What you can leave at home

Pregnancy tests. They’re of no use whilst you’re there. If you’ve had an hCG trigger injection, a urine test carried out too early may even react to this medication rather than to a pregnancy. The blood test is carried out at home, on the date specified by the clinic; the article on beta-hCG explains how to interpret the result.

The large suitcase. For four to six nights, hand luggage is often sufficient, and it saves you from having to wait at the baggage carousel on arrival. The number of nights required, depending on the treatment, is detailed in how many days to stay in Greece.

Worrying about forgetting something. There are plenty of chemists in town, and IVF medication is available there on prescription. Outside of their opening hours – in the evenings, at weekends and on certain afternoons – only out-of-hours pharmacies are open, and IVF medication may need to be ordered: it is best not to rely on a last-minute purchase. What is difficult to replace is a medical record: keep a copy on your mobile phone and another in your email.

A short checklist

If you’d like a version tailored to your treatment journey, including your dates, clinic and accommodation, please write to me: this is one of the first things I organise with each patient.

Frequently asked questions

Source: https://fertilitegrece.com/en/blog/what-to-pack-ivf-trip-greece/ — Triada Baloukoudis, IVF patient coordination in Greece. General information, not medical or legal advice. Printed on

Triada Baloukoudis
Independent IVF patient coordinator in Thessaloniki, with 24 years of experience supporting patients travelling from abroad. More · Contact · Facebook