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Description
Reproducción Bilbao is a private clinic for gynecology and assisted reproductive technology that was founded in 2014 by its medical director Dr. Gorka Barrenetxea.
Recently, the clinic has moved to a new location in Bilbao, the capital city of Biscay, Spain, with new facilities occupying two floors. Thanks to this change, new gynecologists and other health personnel have also joined the team.
At Reproducción Bilbao they are specialists in blastocyst culture and embryo selection in the laboratory, something that has allowed them to acquire a single embryo transfer policy without reducing their success rates.
In addition, they also dedicate part of their work to research and participate in various lines of research with different universities in the Basque Country.
If you need information on how to get to the clinic, either by public or private transport, you can access this link.
History
Dr. Gorka Barrenetxea and part of his team began their career in the field of assisted reproduction in 2008. Later, they founded Reproducción Bilbao in 2014 and expanded their clinic with new facilities in 2018.
At present, Reproducción Bilbao is made up of a team of 18 workers, including gynecologists, embryologists, nurses, and administrative staff, and they carry out 400 cycles of in vitro fertilization (IVF) a year.
Reproducción Bilbao is a center approved by the Basque Government and its data are audited by external agencies. The clinic is certified ISO 9001:2015, External Quality Control ASEBIR 2018, innovative SME of the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness 2016, and UNE 179007 for assisted reproduction laboratories.
In addition, Dr. Gorka Barrenetxea has just received one of the Top Doctors Awards, being recognized as one of the 50 best doctors in Spain.
Facilities
The new facilities of Reproducción Bilbao have about 1,000m2 and occupy the entire ground floor and upper floor of the building where they are located.
They are spacious, with very modern architecture and several sustainability measures.
The ceilings are high, the glazed façade has a metal slatted lattice, and the internal structure is made of concrete, visible in the columns and the ceiling. All these elements allow a great luminosity inside the center, create a very open space, and make the most of the natural resources. However, the light floors and wooden elements of the counter and the consultation area provide the necessary warmth and comfort for fertility patients.
On the other hand, the upper floor of the clinic is accessed by a nice wooden staircase, where the management and administration area is located, but patients do not usually go up here. Below, we detail all areas of the clinic, with the equipment and technology available to perform fertility treatments.
Building and surroundings
Reproducción Bilbao is located in the San Pedro de Deusto-La Ribera district, in the northwest corner of Bilbao, just opposite the IMQ - Zorrotzaurre Hospital.
The clinic has a large glass façade with a metal slatted lattice and self-opening doors that allow the front area of the clinic, where the reception is located, to be seen.
These metal slats can be adjusted to adapt to the luminosity and incidence of the sun and to make the most of natural light.
As we have said, Reproducción Bilbao is distributed over two floors, but all the patient areas are on the ground floor, which is also fully adapted for people with reduced mobility.
Reception and waiting room
The reception of Reproducción Bilbao is right at the entrance of the clinic. This is a very modern counter embedded in a large wooden structure, where normally 3 people who speak Spanish, Basque, and English attend.
To the right of this reception is a general waiting room with 2 armchairs and a vintage-style wooden table.
This whole space is spacious, with very high ceilings and modern, circular-shaped lamps that are hanging.
This huge wooden structure also houses 3 other individual waiting rooms, the medical offices, and the nursing rooms of Reproducción Bilbao.
Access is from the left side of the structure to a common area where patients can find a water dispenser and coffee maker at their disposal.
The individual waiting rooms are of different sizes and decoration, but all have several armchairs, a television, and magazines to make the wait more entertaining.
Additionally, Reproducción Bilbao has another individual waiting room for patients who are going to go into surgery, either for follicular puncture or embryo transfer. This room is in another location, just before the changing rooms to enter the surgical area.
Medical consultations
Reproducción Bilbao has 4 medical offices, 3 of which have an examination room and gynecological table.
The style of these consultations is modern, with a wooden table, white chairs, and parquet floor that provide a sense of cleanliness.
The ultrasound machine they have is a latest generation Samsung with a 3D vaginal probe and 3D and 4D abdominal probe. In addition, these consultations also have washing facilities and screens so that the woman can see the ultrasound.
There are 5 gynecologists working in Reproducción Bilbao, both specialists in assisted reproduction and in general gynecology and obstetrics.
All of them are on duty at the weekends in case they have to do any puncture or embryo transfer.
Nursing consultation
The nursing room of Reproducción Bilbao is located in front of the waiting rooms and next to the medical consultations. It is divided into 2 spaces:
- The nurse's office with a table and chairs for patient care.
- The blood collection room, which has an armchair with armrests, a sink, a centrifuge for obtaining serum and plasma, a tachograph and a storage area.
One of the newest devices available is the i-STAT analyzer , which can give the beta-hCG blood result in just 10 minutes.
Operating Room
The sterile area of Reproducción Bilbao, where the laboratories, the operating room, and the recovery boxes are located, is at the back of the clinic behind a large wall behind the stairs.
This area has two entrances: one for staff and one for patients. The patient’s access consists of a changing room with 5 lockers and 2 bathrooms with a mirror, sink, and toilet.
The operating room at Reproducción Bilbao is large and equipped with everything needed to carry out fertility treatment operations: instrument tables, a monitor, a Samsung ultrasound machine, an anesthetic administration system, a defibrillator, a trolley, and an ultra-purified air line.
The IVF laboratory is directly communicated through a door. In this way, it is possible to pass the samples and guarantee that there is no alteration in the conditions of gamete and embryo culture. There is also a window that can be opaque or transparent to allow patients to see inside the lab.
In order to treat dirty material correctly, this operating room has a window that communicates with the waste room. Furthermore, both the corners of the wall and the baseboards on the floor are rounded and the walls are covered with epoxy paper to prevent dirt from accumulating. All this makes the operating room a totally clean and sterile room.
The staff present in all the interventions carried out in the operating room at Reproducción Bilbao are the gynecologist, anesthetist, nurse, and assistant.
The usual procedures performed here are ovarian puncture and embryo transfer, although major outpatient surgery techniques such as hysteroscopy, endometrial biopsy, testicular biopsy, etc., are also often performed. However, some of these more complex procedures are carried out at the IMQ - Zorrotzaurre Hospital opposite.
Laboratories
Like the operating theatre and the entire surgical area, the Reproducción Bilbao laboratories have been designed to guarantee air quality inside, with a complex system of air filters and pressure control.
Access to this area is restricted and can only be accessed with an authorized card.
On the other hand, Bilbao Reproducción has 3 embryologists, Edurne, María, and Oihane, who speak Spanish, Basque, English and French. All 3 work in both the andrology and IVF labs, and are organized on weekends so that at least one is in the lab.
We will now discuss each of these laboratories and the technology they use to perform each procedure:
Andrology Laboratory
This laboratory is physically separated from the IVF laboratory, but located adjacent to it.
The following sperm analysis are performed here:
- Basic and advanced seminogram
- Spermatic fragmentation test with and Chip FertileTM
- Sperm FISH
- Sperm capacitation
- Sperm freezing.
The material and equipment present to carry out all seminal procedures are the following: a laminar flow hood, a phase-contrast microscope, a centrifuge, and a working incubator.
IVF Laboratory
The IVF laboratory of Reproducción Bilbao also has all the necessary technology to carry out assisted reproduction techniques: 2 laminar flow hoods with a heated surface, 4 binocular magnifiers, 2 inverted microscopes, 2 microinjectors, 2 embryo banks, and 1 egg bank.
As for the incubators for embryo culture, Reproducción Bilbao has the following models:
- 1 EmbryoscopeTM incubator
- 2 Labotect C60 incubators
- 1 XiltriX incubator
Moreover, the furniture of this laboratory is made of stainless steel, there are no windows, the corners of the wall and the floor bases are rounded, the walls are covered with epoxy paper, the ventilation system is controlled by filters and they also have a portable Coda® filter. All this is necessary to guarantee the optimal conditions for embryo culture and to make the laboratory completely sterile.
Reproducción Bilbao also has the Witness® RI Systems double security system. This is a system of bar codes and digital readers associated with a card that patients themselves keep with them during treatment. The system does not allow the transfer of embryos whose bar code does not correspond to the one on the patient's card.
In addition, the 3 embryologists at Reproducción Bilbao have experience in embryo biopsy, which they carry out using the Saturn 5 ActiveTM laser in order to study the embryos genetically and ensure the transfer of euploid embryos.
Recovery room
Reproducción Bilbao has 4 individual recovery boxes located in the sterile area, next to the operating room and the entrance dressing room.
The furniture that can be found in each of these boxes is an articulated stretcher, a chair for the companion, a movable table, and the patient monitoring system. They also have piped music and a bell to call the nurses if necessary.
As for the breakfast service offered by Reproducción Bilbao after each operation, this consists of juice, water, decaffeinated coffee, ColaCao or camomile, muffins, or toast with jam.
Sperm collection rooms
This room is located outside the sterile area of the clinic but communicates internally with the andrology laboratory.
The resources available here are a television with a video catalog, headphones, and a sink, an armchair and a clothes rack.
Once the semen sample has been collected, the patient can identify it with a Witness® screen and leave it in the small window so that the embryologists can collect it.
How is the first visit?
Reproducción Bilbao offers all its patients a free first visit with a gynecologist. This is an informative 1-hour visit, in which the specialist reviews the couple's entire medical history, including any evidence provided or results from previous cycles.
This first visit also includes an ultrasound scan of the woman to check the condition of her reproductive system and, if patients wish, additional tests can also be carried out as indicated by the gynecologist at the time to save them another visit to the clinic.
On the other hand, patients from outside Bilbao have the possibility of making this first visit by video call. In this case, the indications of the tests that are necessary are given and the whole process is facilitated so that the couple can complete the whole diagnostic evaluation in a single visit to Reproducción Bilbao.
As far as financing options are concerned, this clinic offers the possibility of financing fertility treatments for up to 12 months without interest.
What treatments do they perform?
The fertility treatments carried out by Reproducción Bilbao are specified in the following table.
If you still do not know which assisted reproduction treatment is the most suitable for you and you want to be better informed, you can read about each of them in the following article: Assisted Reproduction Techniques.
The treatment costs may vary significantly depending on the tests or techniques included or not, such as the seminogram, medication, fertility testing, medical visits, prolonged culture or embryo vitrification.
This Tool helps you to find out the exact costs of the different fertility clinics (what's included and what's not) and provides you with lots of useful tips for your first appointment.
Complementary techniques
In addition to the fertility treatments indicated, Reproducción Bilbao has complementary techniques to be able to offer a more personalized diagnosis and treatment to all types of patients.
Some of these techniques are discussed below:
- Embryo culture with Time-Lapse video systems (EmbryoscopeTM)
- Long culture and transfer of embryos in the blastocyst stage
- Assisted Hatching
- ERA test for endometrial receptivity
- Testicular biopsy to obtain sperm
- Cell sorting and separation by flow cytometry (MACSQuant® Analyzer)
- Specific thrombophilia tests
- Genetic compatibility test
- Non-invasive prenatal test
In addition to all this, once pregnancy is achieved, the patient will undergo 2-3 ultrasound scans in the clinic until she is discharged from the hospital. The first confirmatory ultrasound scan takes place 15-20 days after obtaining the positive beta-hCG and, finally, an ultrasound scan will be performed at 12 weeks of gestation to confirm that everything is fine and the pregnancy is evolving.
At this time, Reproducción Bilbao hands out to all its patients a pen drive with all the ultrasound scans performed and the video of the Time-Lapse of the embryo in culture, which is a very nice memory of the whole experience.
Gamete donors
All those people who wish to become sperm or egg donors can also come to Reproducción Bilbao to pass all the necessary medical and psychological tests and, if they are suitable, to proceed with the donation.
The center does not have specific facilities for donors but by having individual waiting rooms, donors never come into contact with patients.
Something very interesting is that Reproducción Bilbao has the Fenomatch donor allocation software. This is a biometric facial recognition program that allows the selection of the sperm or egg donor that most closely resembles the patient.
However, in compliance with the requirements established in Law 14/2006 on Assisted Human Reproduction Techniques, patients will not be able to choose the physical features of the donors or know their identity.
On the other hand, Reproducción Bilbao also takes into account the genetic matching for the assignment of egg or sperm donors, since it carries out the test for carriers of recessive genetic diseases to all its donors.
Other services
Reproducción Bilbao has the following medical specialities to be able to offer its patients a comprehensive service:
- Psychological assistance
- ongoing psychological support is essential to cope with fertility treatments. For this reason, Reproducción Bilbao has a psychologist, Olivia de Prado, who has her own practice at the clinic.
- Pregnancy and maternity
- invthe clinic it is possible to carry out pre-conception consultations, pregnancy monitoring, clinical controls, ultrasound examinations, 3D ultrasound scans, prenatal tests, birth preparation, assessment of birth plan, post-partum consultations, workshops on pelvic floor recovery, breastfeeding, etc.
- Gynecology
- Reproducción Bilbao also carries out routine gynecological check-ups, the study of mammary pathology, cytologies and HPV determinations, prevention of cervical cancer, information on contraceptive methods, measures to prevent sexually transmitted diseases, etc.
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
- breast conservation or reconstruction in patients with breast cancer.
Finally, it should be noted that Reproducción Bilbao is open every day of the year, including weekends and holidays, in order to carry out all procedures on the most suitable days.
Success rates
The Spanish Fertility Society is in charge of compiling the results of all the Spanish assisted reproduction clinics every year and making a statistical analysis. In fact, the SEF is the only scientific and independent organization of the clinics that collects and publishes these data in an objective manner.
Although our analysis of this clinic was carried out in 26th January, 2021, we have to indicate that the last report published by the SEF shows the success rates obtained in the year 2018 (National Activity Register 2018-SEF Register).
IVF/ICSI
Realized cycles
Number of total cycles performed by the clinic in a year.
Implantation rate per transfer
The probability that an embryo will implant in the woman's uterus after the transfer.
Pregnancy probability per transfer
Probability that an embryo transfer will lead to a pregnancy, regardless of the number of embryos transferred.
Fresh embryo transfer
Percentage of transferred embryos
Percentage of embryo transfers made with one, two or three embryos
Fresh embryo transfer
Frozen embryo transfer
Type of pregnancy per transfer
Types of pregnancies achieved according to the number of embryos transferred
Transfer of fresh embryos
IVF with egg donation
Realized cycles
Number of total cycles performed by the clinic in a year.
Implantation rate per transfer
The probability that an embryo will implant in the woman's uterus after the transfer.
Pregnancy probability per transfer
Probability that an embryo transfer will lead to a pregnancy, regardless of the number of embryos transferred.
Fresh embryo transfer
Frozen embryo transfer
Percentage of transferred embryos
Percentage of embryo transfers made with one, two or three embryos
Transfer of fresh embryos
Transfer of frozen embryos
Type of pregnancy per transfer
Types of pregnancies achieved according to the number of embryos transferred
Fresh Embryo transfer
Frozen Embryo transfer
Artificial insemination with partner's sperm
Pregnancy rate per cycle
Number of pregnancies per cycle according to the woman's age.
Type of gestation by pregnancy
Type of pregnancy obtained after performing an artificial insemination treatment
Women under 35 years
Artificial insemination with donor sperm
Pregnancy rate per cycle
Number of pregnancies per cycle according to the woman's age.
Type of gestation by pregnancy
Type of pregnancy obtained after performing an artificial insemination treatment
Women under 35 years
Women between 35-39 years
Clinic location
The clinic Reproducción Bilbao is located in Calle Morgan Kalea N/2 in Bilbao and occupies the entire ground floor and first floor of a large building.
As we have already indicated, this location is in the San Pedro neighborhood of Deusto-La Ribera, an area with a university atmosphere, since several faculties of the Basque Country are located nearby.
Furthermore, just a few meters from Reproducción Bilbao is the large IMQ Zorrotzaurre clinic, whose "Continental Parking Hospital IMQ - Zorrotzaurre" car park can be used by patients, as it is difficult to park in this area.
Calle Morgan Kalea, 2 48014 Bilbao, Biscay
How to get there?
You can reach Reproducción Bilbao by car, crossing the Euskalduna Bridge, along Botica Vieja Street or Julio Urquijo Street.
If you go by public transport, the nearest metro stop is Deustu, about 500 meters from the clinic. On the other hand, the city bus lines A2314 (Bilbao-Erandiogoikoa-UPV/EHU) and A3411 (Bilbao - Getxo) stop at Bidarte, 650 meters from Reproducción Bilbao.
Conclusion
Reproducción Bilbao is a highly prestigious fertility clinic, as it has the latest technology and ideal facilities to carry out all assisted reproduction treatments.
Their success rates are very good according to the data obtained from the SEF and, above all, the single pregnancy rate stands out. Their great experience in preimplantation genetic diagnosis and embryo selection has allowed them to acquire a unique embryo transfer policy, guaranteeing the achievement of pregnancy without running the risk of a twin pregnancy.
Dr. Gorka Barrenetxea is a highly reputable gynecologist, which has led him to be among the top 50 doctors in Spain according to Top Doctors.
In addition, Reproducción Bilbao also has the specialties of gynecology and obstetrics, so that their patients can receive more complete and comprehensive care if they wish.
If you have any doubts when choosing a fertility clinic, we can give you more recommendations and advice such as those found in the article How to choose the best fertility clinic for me? or in the Fertility Report.
Healthcare Operating Authorization
Health Center approved by the Spanish Ministry of Health - License number (CNN): 1648003570
