To be a patient at Aagaard Fertility Clinic

How I felt

I became a patient at Aagaard with the hope of finally getting pregnant. Being dependent on egg donation still felt a bit strange. I even felt a little ashamed. But the staff at Aagaard consistently made me feel like I was worth something as a person, that there was nothing to be ashamed of or feel weird about, and that we were working together to get me pregnant. This, probably typical Danish, way of open, warm and energetic communication was so comforting in my vulnerable situation. 

Of course, the Aagaard Fertility Clinic has hundreds of treatments and patients a year, and yet it never felt like I was just a number to them, but that they really engage with each of their patients and try to get the best out of them. This basic feeling of friendly professionalism carried me through the entire treatment period.

Organization via the patient system

Communication and organization took place in writing (in English) via the patient system. This is a kind of mail system with protected access. If there is a new message in the patient system, you are informed by e-mail to your usual e-mail address and can then log in. At first I found this difficult, but I quickly learned to appreciate the fact that the sensitive fertility treatment data is all in one protected place. Especially the contract documents, invoices, results of the blood tests, information on preparing for the transfer, information on the donor search and my own questions to the team - everything is nicely stored there. 

Transfer

On the day of the transfer, you first pay the bill and then wait in the waiting room. It's not a room in the true sense of the word, but a large, bright room in which the reception desk is also located. There is free water and coffee and you can admire the big tree of life - a painted tree with leaves for every child born from November 2020 thanks to the Aagaard Fertility Clinic. During the transfer itself, the staff first showed us the blastocyst on a monitor and explained it to us. They waited patiently for us to take photos. The transfer itself was largely painless and the first ultrasound photo was taken. I remember one nice detail: there was a mobile with lots of storks hanging from the ceiling above me. And then it was all over quite quickly, because you don't have to lie down in Denmark after the transfer. On the contrary, they recommend going for a walk. 

I really appreciate the fact that the dad-to-be can be present during the transfer and that the staff understand how important it is for us patients to take souvenir photos. 

With a child at the Aagaard Fertility Clinic

I have two children thanks to the Aagaard Fertility Clinic, a son and a daughter. The second transfer worked out. My fondest memories of the Aagaard Fertility Clinic are when I was there for the transfers for my sibling and had my first-born with me. My son was just over a year old at the time, a lively toddler running back and forth (with me following behind) and all he got was smiles. Even when he managed to get into the corridor from which the treatment rooms lead off. A lot of understanding for little wild boys. And even a kind of pride in him from the staff because he is an Aagaard baby!

The doctor treating him had a chat with him, blew up a glove and drew a face on it. That was the highlight of the whole holiday for my son.

We also thought it was really great that our son was able to join us on the second transfer, especially for us as a family. Otherwise I would have been all alone, my husband had already prepared to look after our son during the transfer. And then they were both allowed in! When I tell my children about their transfer, I can always tell my daughter that her big brother was also there when she went into her mom's womb. 

The patient's husband

Even though I was a patient, my husband was also involved as a father and genetic father. He was also given access to the patient system so that he could be personally informed of the results of the HIV test and the sperm donation. There was an extra room for the sperm collection itself, private and lockable, with a sink, chair, various magazines and videos. For my husband it was still "20 minutes of no fun", as he says, but at least the environment was suitable. 

In general, my husband thought everything was well organized and planned and it meant a lot to him to have been present during the transfers of our blastocysts. 

By Daniela Walch. Part 3 of 3.