- ATHENS OFFICE MED4WOMAN ATHENS
- VOLOS OFFICE MED4WOMAN VOLOS
Obstetrician-Gynecologist
PhD, University of Athens Medical School
Obstetrician-gynecologist Panagiotis Polyzos practices at the Institute of Life, the IVF Unit of IASO Maternity Hospital.
The Institute of Life IASO, one of the largest and most advanced Assisted Reproduction Centers in Europe, was established within “IASO”, the leading Maternity and Gynecology Clinic in Greece. It was founded to fulfill our most important mission: to welcome infertile couples and offer them the joy of becoming parents, while ensuring the highest safety standards.
From the moment you visit the Institute of Life IASO, you will notice that our certified, pioneering facility is designed to provide exceptional patient care. With state-of-the-art technology, modern facilities, comfortable spaces, and an innovative air quality monitoring system, we ensure optimal laboratory conditions.
The RI Witness management system, which monitors and records patient samples at every stage of the assisted reproduction process, acts as a safety safeguard, giving our patients peace of mind.
Our scientific team, consisting of leading specialists and co-founders of the center (Panagiotis Psathas, Ioannis Vasilopoulos, Panagiotis Polyzos, Ioannis Zervomanolakis, Konstantinos Kostaras, Stefanos Chandakas, Stylianos Grigorakis, George Kontopoulos, Thomas Prokopakis, Konstantinos Dimitropoulos, Evangelos Dedoulis) as well as the embryology team led by Erotas Nikitos, and including Vania Kallergi, Kristi Agapitou, and Dora Botzaki, is fully dedicated to the needs of each couple, carefully selecting the most suitable treatment plan.
Under the supervision of Dr. Gloria Calderon, the renowned embryologist of the world’s largest IVF center “IVI”, we are confident that we are ready to make our vision a reality: to be a Reproductive Center that serves as a point of reference for couples across Europe.
Every case is unique. Our comprehensive treatments are meticulously tailored to each individual’s needs and aim to achieve the best possible outcomes. Our goal is not to perform miracles — it is to help nature follow its path when it cannot do so on its own.
Every treatment is tailored to the couple, but the basic path in an assisted reproduction unit follows set stages. When you know them in advance, anxiety drops and decisions are made more calmly.
The right treatment starts with the right diagnosis. Testing always involves both partners, because in a large share of couples female and male factors coexist.
The laboratory is the heart of every IVF unit. It is where eggs meet sperm, embryos develop and the decision is made about which one will be transferred. The quality of its work depends on people, protocols and stable conditions.
A modern reproduction unit does not only help those trying to have a child now. It also helps those who want to keep that option open for the future.
The first meeting is more productive when you come organized. You do not need to have done tests beforehand, but whatever you have helps avoid losing time.
It is best to come together with your partner. Infertility concerns the couple, and decisions are better made when you both hear the same information.
Choosing a unit is an important decision. Do not hesitate to ask clearly. A serious team answers without evasion.
A word of caution: the success rates that circulate are often not comparable with one another, because they depend on the women's ages, how they are measured and the type of cases. Ask for an estimate for your own age and diagnosis.
Fertility treatment is not just a medical procedure. The waiting, the injections and the uncertainty are tiring, and many couples benefit from talking with a psychologist who knows the field.
In Greece, medically assisted reproduction units operate under license and are supervised by the National Authority for Medically Assisted Reproduction. Before every treatment, a written consent is signed that records the method, what will happen to embryos that are not used and your choices in case of separation or loss of a partner. Read it carefully and ask for clarification on any point that is not clear.
Special cases, such as gamete donation or surrogacy, have additional legal requirements and need a separate discussion.
Not everyone starts with IVF. The choice rests on a few but decisive factors:
The right plan is not the most “advanced” one, but the one that offers realistic chances with the least possible burden.
The days between the transfer and the pregnancy test are often the hardest emotionally. A few practical points:
If the test is positive, the beta-hCG measurement is usually repeated a few days later, to see whether it is rising properly. About two weeks later, the first ultrasound is done, which confirms that the pregnancy is inside the uterus and records the number of sacs and, a little later, the heartbeat. From then on, care gradually passes to your obstetrician.
If the test is negative, a review meeting follows. It looks at the ovarian response, the quality of the embryos and the preparation of the uterus, to decide whether to do a frozen embryo transfer, change the protocol or carry out further testing. Give yourself time. Disappointment is normal, and you do not need to decide on the next step the same week.
See more information at www.iolife.eu
It is an assisted reproduction unit operating within IASO maternity hospital in Athens, with a modern embryology laboratory and a team of specialized gynecologists and embryologists.
Dr. Panagiotis Polyzos is a founding member of the scientific team of the Institute of Life IASO. See his CV.
It is an electronic identification system that tracks and records each couple's samples at every stage of the process, so that the possibility of a mix-up is ruled out.
With a first appointment at Dr. Polyzos' clinic in Athens or Volos, where your medical history is taken and testing for both partners is planned. Schedule an appointment.
From the start of the injections to the pregnancy test, it usually takes four to five weeks. Ovarian stimulation lasts about 8 to 12 days, egg retrieval takes place about 36 hours after the trigger injection, the transfer 3 to 5 days later and the blood test 9 to 12 days after the transfer. If hormonal preparation comes first or the transfer uses a frozen embryo, the timeline is longer.
It is recommended. Testing involves both of you, and the male factor often contributes to infertility. Being there together helps with taking the history, scheduling the tests and the decisions you will make together.
No. Egg retrieval is done under light sedation and usually takes 15 to 20 minutes. After a short recovery stay, a few hours at most, you go home with someone accompanying you. It is best to rest that day and not drive.
Surplus good-quality embryos can be frozen by vitrification and used in a later transfer. The storage period and your choices about their future are recorded in the written consent you sign before treatment.
The data do not show that stress on its own lowers the chance of pregnancy in an IVF cycle. It does, however, affect quality of life and the couple's ability to keep going, that’s why psychological support is so valuable.
