Most Frequently Asked Questions: Why IVF? Why in Taiwan? Why in Mackay Memorial Hospital?

Photo grabbed here

This is the most frequently asked question in my blog and emails.

Why did you undergo IVF? Why in Taiwan and why in Mackay Memorial Hospital? 

Here's my answer.

These are some of the reasons why I chose to have IVF in Mackay Memorial Hospital in Taipei:

1. Proximity wise, Taiwan is nearer to the Philippines.

2. It was way cheaper to have IVF done in Taiwan compared to the Philippines, Singapore or US in terms of medical expenses, food and accommodation. 

3. Taiwan has a higher success rate in terms of their IVF.

4.  I have personally spoken to quite a number of people who were successful with their IVF with Dr. Robert Lee as their ob-gyne.

5. I find Dr. Robert Lee very professional. He knows what he is doing and I feel comfortable with him.

6. The system in the hospital is very organized.

7. They have an International Medical Service team that will assist you with all the things that you need. They are prompt in answering all your queries through email and they are also the ones who will help you arrange your accommodation there.

8. Love the food in Taipei... and shopping as well!!

9. I also felt that a change of environment would be healthy for us as we were able to escape the stress we have here in the Philippines.  We were able to rest and unwind. It was like our second honeymoon and the IVF was like our side trip instead of the other way around.  We enjoyed the trip very much and the baby is our bonus :)

Why IVF? 

It was recommended to me by my OB then after 3 consecutive failed iui from her.   Though prior to this, we have also tried 2 IUI with another ob.

Given our case, the success rate was 50% according to our ob in Taiwan. That’s a 50-50 chance for us…  and since we have tried everything already, IVF was our last resort.

Plus the fact that  my biological clock was ticking and was not getting any younger, I was determined to give IVF a try even just once only.   I wouldn't want to wake up one day and regret the fact that I did not do something when i could have done something.  

To quote from Mark Twain: “Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.  So throw off the bowlines.  Sail away from the safe harbor.  Catch the trade winds in your sails.  Explore.  Dream.  Discover.”

IVF was indeed worth a try... especially  with our dream of having a baby as the prize.

    

Bailee Hotel in Taipei, Taiwan

Bailee Hotel Taipei is a 3 star hotel.  It is more of a business hotel.  It is designed in an elegant way to provide business travelers a comfortable and luxurious lodging experience.  

We stayed in Bailee Hotel during our entire stay in Taipei.  Location wise, I can say it is very good.  First and foremost, it is just walking distance to Mackay Memorial Hospital.  It is also near the MRT (Minquan W. Rd. Station), which makes it very accessible and convenient to visit nearby attractions like Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Park, Longshan Temple, Shilin Night Market, Taipei 101, Taipei Zoo etc.  It is also only about 45 minutes from the airport.  There are also convenience stores, restaurants, and market around the hotel.

This Family Mart, a convenience store is just across Bailee Hotel.

This is the lobby of the Bailee Hotel.  You have to leave your room key here at the front desk every time you leave the hotel.  When you return home, you have to get the key from them.  Together with the key, they will give you the breakfast coupon for the next morning.  

Lobby of Bailee Hotel

They have 8 kinds of room for guests to choose from, including deluxe executive room which is equipped with steam room and Jacuzzi bathtub (NT$2480), deluxe triple room (NT$2380), executive room (NT$2280), twin room (NT2080), deluxe room (NT$1880), classic room (NT$1680), junior room (NT$1480) and single room (NT$1280).  These rates apply irregardless of how long you'll stay.  These are their promo rates already.

We stayed in their single room only.  We paid NT$1280 (around Php1920) per night with free breakfast for 2 persons.  They serve breakfast from 6:30-10:00am.  It is a buffet and there's plenty of food to choose from... rice, congee, bread, egg, juice, milk, tea, desserts, etc.  In my opinion, food was delicious.  The restaurant is located at the 2nd floor of the hotel.  Here's the place.  I forgot to picture it with the food though. Hehehe!

Restaurant of Bailee Hotel

Here on the 2nd floor of the hotel, you can get unlimited drinks 24 hours a day.

Water Dispenser

Coffee and other drinks machine

Here are the list of the FREE drinks available.

List of Free Drinks

There's also a business center here.  You can use the computers with internet for free. There are around 2-3 working computers here which you can use.

Business Center - Bailee Hotel

All rooms have comfortable down quilts, aircon, broadband internet service, TV, direct-dial telephones, refrigerators, private bathrooms and other essential facilities.  Our room was only approximately 8 sqm.  It was quite small, but it's clean.  Here are the pictures of the room.  (Sorry for the poor pictures, I only remembered to take these pictures, the day we were leaving... hehehe!)

This was our bed.  We only have one side table. 

There is an electric kettle available in the room and there are also free mineral water and tea bags.

There is a TV and a small refrigerator.

There's a cabinet with a few hangers where you can put your clothes.

Here's the toilet.  It has a bathtub.

You have to close the door before you can use the water closet.  Hair dryer and some toiletries are provided.

So there you go... a tour of Bailee Hotel. 

Generally speaking, the place is good.  Price is okay, location is good, food is good, room is satisfactory (quite small).  One thing I don't like though is that the room is carpeted.  I'm very prone to allergies and dust from the carpet might trigger it.  Apart from that, this place is okay already should we plan to stay for a month for the IVF procedure.   

For more information on Bailee Hotel, you can visit their website at http://www.bailee.com.tw  

Consultation for IVF in Taipei, Taiwan

After several failed IUI, we have decided to stop treatment.  However, since husband and I were going to Taiwan for a business trip, we also took the opportunity to make a consultation with Dr. Robert Lee Kuo-Kuang of Mackay Memorial Hospital.  Talk about not totally giving up, eh?!?

I would like to share with you our experience with regards to the consultation for IVF.  They usually call this “First Stage”, wherein you go to Taipei for 3-4 days for the infertility evaluation.  On the other hand, the IVF procedure itself is called “Second Stage”, wherein you have to stay in Taipei for a longer period of 23 days or more.

While in Taipei, we also scout the place for possible accommodation.  I’ll post pictures of the place we stayed and another place recommended to me by a Filipino couple we met there.  Apparently, there are so many Filipino couples going to Mackay Memorial Hospital for the IVF.  I met around 4 Filipino couples there.

The consultation went well.  We met Dr. Robert Lee.  He is very kind and he patiently answers our questions and explains clearly.  His staff was very accommodating.  Instructions were very clear. 

Husband had his semen analysis, while I had some ultrasound, and blood tests done on me.  Results will be emailed to us after 2 weeks.  

Aside from the business and the consultation, we also toured around Taipei during our free time.  We visited different tourist spots like Taipei 101, Shilin Market, Ximending, Longshan temple, Danshui, Keelung and many other places.  I enjoyed our trip.  The food there is really delicious and not that expensive.  Transportation is very convenient and accessible.  

Please read my succeeding posts for more details.  Happy Reading!

Related Posts:
Things to Prepare for the Consultation
IVF Consultation Part 1: Clinic Evaluation and Tour of Hospital
IVF Consultation Part 2: Consultation with Dr. Robert Lee Kuo-Kuang
IVF Consultation Part 3: Infertility Treatment Consent Form 
IVF Consultation Part 4: Blood Test 
IVF Consultation Part 5: Semen Analysis
IVF Consultation Part 6: Getting the Medicine
IVF Consultation Part 7: Payment