Pelargos is the Greek word for stork!
Let us make your dreams come true!
Pelargos IVF is a unique medical group of fertility specialists that provides high quality medical services in the best hospitals and fertility centers in Greece.
Pelargos IVF specializes in infertility and primarily in the fields of egg donation and surrogacy, offering comprehensive online or in-person consultations, as well as IVF/ICSI/IMSI, PGS/PGD treatments in collaboration with state-of-the-art embryology laboratories. Pelargos IVF organizes the search and matching of the most suitable donor through the IVF centers with which it collaborates. Simultaneously, it offers modern, minimally invasive gynecological surgery, pregnancy monitoring (regardless of whether it is low or high risk), normal deliveries, and Cesarean sections in the best, safest, and most luxurious private maternity hospitals in Athens.
Pelargos IVF's lead consultant is Dr Karpuzis. An English graduate, he is a well-known obstetrician-gynecologist in Athens specializing in assisted reproduction and minimally invasive gynecological surgery, accredited by MRCOG and BFS (British Fertility Society) with many years of experience in the field.
The partners that make up the Pelargos team have one underlying goal - to provide personalized, comprehensive, fiscally transparent, highly personal service to women interested in IVF, donor eggs, surrogacy or obstetrics in Greece.
Among Pelargos IVF's most valuable team members are specialists in hematology, endocrinology, urology, aesthetic dermatology, psychology, yoga, and shiatsu – all based in Athens, as well as a clinical nutritionist in London. Renowned gynecologists and fertility specialists in England, Belgium, Switzerland, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, a specialized legal team familiar with egg donation legislation, translators, and a real estate broker complete the group's team. In collaboration with the medical group are GPs in London who direct patients to the appropriate laboratories and clinics for initial blood tests and sperm analysis. The group's aspiration is to attract professionals of academic caliber, who have received their training and specialized in the West.
Online counseling and innovative treatments round out Pelargos IVF's palette of options to maximize success in the egg donation cycle and IVF procedures. The biggest goal is successfully tackling difficult cases where others have failed and complete patient satisfaction.
Pelargos is the Greek word for stork. The medical group's motivation, the meaning it invests in using this metaphor for conception, is not only the analogy of possible happiness, but also the hope that this bird-herald of warmer days contains within itself.
As collaborators with the top IVF centers and private maternity wards in Greece, the professionals at Pelargos IVF guide the patient to the most suitable medical partner for their specific case. All partner IVF centers possess state-of-the-art technologies and embryological laboratories that guarantee excellent results. The same standards apply to the maternity hospitals they partner with – the most modern technologies, facilities, and equipment are available.
Dr. Harry Karpuzis personally handles each case, from the initial consultation to the time of a positive pregnancy test. He creates individualized, innovative protocols for each patient, organized down to the smallest detail. Dr Karpuzis has many years of experience in the field of assisted reproduction, both in the UK and Greece.
Pelargos IVF Partners
Centre at the IVF Institute at IASO Hospital
One of the largest and most advanced assisted reproduction centers in Europe was established within "IASO" - the largest obstetric and gynecological clinic in Greece. The hospital uses the most advanced technology, applies innovative methods and techniques, and maintains the highest operational standards to ensure the safety of couples who conduct their IVF treatment there.
By combining a state-of-the-art embryology laboratory and the most sophisticated embryo monitoring systems with highly trained staff, Institute of Life - IASO is able to provide the best of modern medicine in this field and achieve success.
IASO Hospital's IVF Centre actively uses the RI Witness system (the most advanced and necessary Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) management system in the field of biomedical technology) to safeguard, monitor and record every step of the process, giving couples the confidence they need in a positive outcome. To monitor in real time the proper functioning of incubators and other important embryology and cryopreservation machines, a registration and control system is also used - the "Log & Guard". It is a machine connected to the central office of the laboratory that records and monitors all laboratory parameters 24 hours a day. System monitoring can be performed by the responsible embryologists even when they are not in the laboratory area using any computer or mobile phone connected to the internet.
IOL is the first fertility center in Greece to be accredited for certification by the independent international certification body Temos for the quality of its facilities, services and human resources. Temos is the only international certification system that focuses on international patient administration and medical tourism.
IVF Embryogenesis Centre
The IVF embryogenesis centre is well known in Greece. It has over 20 years of experience in this field and has highly qualified, UK-trained staff as well as a state-of-the-art embryology laboratory. The embryology laboratory has a specific TM system that allows the monitoring of embryos during their development. As well as genetic analysis, the centre offers PGS and PGD services. Embryogenesis expertise in dealing with such diagnostic tests has been building for 17 years and can offer PGD treatment for almost all known genetic diseases.
Genesis Athens Clinic
It is the largest IVF center in Greece in terms of the number of IVF cycles per year and has state-of-the-art technology, a state-of-the-art embryology laboratory that is ISO 9001-2000 certified and embryology staff with international accreditations and vast experience in this field. Since its inception in 2004, the IVF department has had more than 20,000 successful cycles.
The department's embryology laboratory is represented in the ESHRE PGD Consortum and is a pioneer in the field, having achieved the first pregnancy in Greece by pregenetic diagnosis of all chromosomes with the Array-CGH technique in 2010.
Medical services
- IVF/ICSI - Dr. Karpuzis has seven years of experience in fertility and assisted reproductive technology. Having completed his training in the UK, he is accredited by the BFS for embryo transfers and infertility treatment through assisted reproduction. His maxim is that every case of infertility is different and should be treated accordingly.
- Egg donation
- Advantages of egg donation in Greece:
- There is no waiting list. There is no shortage of donors.
- In Greece, by law, the donation of gametes is anonymous and altruistic. Anonymity is guaranteed.
- Right to disclosure of information such as eye colour, skin colour, hair colour, weight, height, social and educational background, etc. - Egg freezing - a fertility preservation method that should be considered as an investment. Egg freezing is suitable for:
- Women who want to delay childbirth to pursue educational, career, or other personal goals.
- Women diagnosed with cancer before surgery, chemotherapy or radiation.
- Women at high risk of ovarian cancer.
- Women who do not wish to store frozen embryos for religious, cultural or other reasons.
- PGS/PGD - We collaborate with the best embryology laboratories in Athens, for PGS/PGD. The embryology staff is highly experienced and can handle almost all known genetic conditions.
- Insemination
- IUI-D
- Minimally Invasive Surgery - Lead Consultant Dr Karpuzis has many years of experience in the field of minimally invasive gynaecological surgery. He specialises in London in hospitals with renowned endoscopic units. He has attended international laparoscopic courses in London, Hamburg and France. He is accredited with the Diplome Inter Universite for gynaecological endoscopy in Clermont, Ferrand, France. Throughout his career he has performed more than a thousand laparoscopic and hysteroscopic operations. Dr. Karpouzis has worked in many private hospitals in Greece. They all maintain high standards of patient care and have the latest technological equipment.
- Online or face-to-face consultations
- Hematological, endocrinological and urological data from renowned medical partners based in Athens
- Diet maintenance from a well-known clinical nutritionist based in London, through online consultations.
- Psychological support if needed
- Yoga / Shiatsu
- A dedicated legal team for all surrogacy cases in Athens and London
Why choose Pelargos for egg donation:
- Personalized care
- 24/7 emergency assistance
- Innovative treatment
- Pelargos is a medical company and you will always talk to doctors.
- Use of international protocols and guidelines
- Young donors <30 years.
- Completely tested donors (HIV1-2, VDRL, hepatitis B, C, cystic fibrosis, complete molecular karyotype)
- Success rates from 75% -85%
- Minimum of 8 eggs and 2 blastocysts guaranteed.
- Collaboration with high-tech embryology laboratories.
- Offer PGS egg donation (optional) to further increase the chances and reduce the risk of chromosomal abnormalities or miscarriage.
- Offering a genetic blood test (if needed) for DNA analysis of 561 genes (for screening of recessive genetic conditions).
- Great "hotel" base
- Trained fertility specialist, familiar with both the English and Greek systems, with many years of experience in reproductive medicine.
Why choose Pelargos in surrogacy
- Mandatory online or face-to-face consultations
- Dedicated experienced medical team
- Dedicated legal team in Athens and the UK.
- Specialized psychological help for the surrogate
- Cooperation with the best fertility centres and maternity hospitals in Greece
Why choose Greece and Pelargos IVF for IVF/ICSI with your own eggs
- Cooperation with the three largest IVF and embryology laboratories in Athens
- Selection of an ideal IVF unit depending on the medical case.
- Individualized care. One fertility specialist throughout treatment, from initial consultation to egg collection and embryo transfer.
- UK trained fertility consultant, accredited by MRCOG and BFS.
- London, Brussels, Geneva, Qatar and UAE-based partners who can help with initial investigations and the start of IVF treatment.
- 24-hour emergency assistance
- Individual and innovation protocols.
- The law in Greece stipulates that the amount of embryos transferred cannot be more than three if the woman is under the age of 40 and four if she is over the age of 40.
- Best success stories
- There are no hidden costs.
Why choose Pelargos IVF for PGS/PGD
- Cooperation with the best embryology laboratories in Athens, with extensive experience in this field.
- Genetic laboratories with vast experience and international accreditations.
- NGS and Array-CGH techniques available depending on IVF choice and medical case.
- Competitive prices
- Day 3 biopsy and Day 5 fresh transfer, Day 5 biopsy and frozen cycle, Day 5 biopsy and Day 6 transfer options as appropriate.
- Consultation with a senior embryologist, optional
- PGS for sex selection for family balancing can also be offered, in collaboration with an IVF centre in Tirana, Albania, as this is allowed by law there. Our fertilization specialist travels there to perform the embryo transfer.
Why choose Pelargos IVF for egg freezing
- Top embryology laboratories
- The vitrification method was used
- Competitive prices
- Cheaper medicines in Greece than in any other E.C. country.
- Women can freeze eggs at any age (big advantage if <35 though).
- The eggs are frozen for a period of 5 years. This period can be extended to 5 more if desired.
Dr. Harry Karpuzis
- Scientific Director of Pelargos IVF
- Obs & Gyn Consultant
- Fertility specialist
Dr. Karpouzis was born in Athens in 1978. He is a consultant obstetrician and gynecologist specializing in reproductive medicine, infertility and minimally invasive surgery with more than 7 years of experience in the field.
- He studied and specialised in the United Kingdom. He has worked in some of London's busiest hospitals (St Thomas and Guy's NHS Trust, King's College Hospital, Newham University Hospital, Homerton University Hospital, University College Hospital). In 2011 she became a Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (MRCOG).
- Certified by the British Fertility Society for embryo transfers and assisted reproduction.
- Certified by the British Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (BSCCP).
- Certified with the European University Diploma of Invasive Endoscopic Surgery (DIUE) in Clermont-Ferrand, France.
- 7 years full time experience, in the field of assisted reproduction and infertility at consultant level, both in the UK and Greece.
- Since 2013 she has been working in the private sector in Athens.
- Since 2015, she has been collaborating with the team of fertilization specialists of the IVF center of IASO Hospital Athens, one of the largest assisted reproduction centers in Southern Europe.
- Dr. Karpouzis is the Scientific Director and Founder of Pelagos IVF, a unique medical group of specialists that offers holistic, comprehensive services to couples who want to visit Greece due to conception issues.
Our track record is excellent and our only goal is to help you fulfill your dream of having a family.
