Twelve questions to Dr. Rita Magalhães, embryologist and client coordinator, of CETI Fertility Clinic.

1. Where is located the clinic, is it easy access from the airport? 

ceti® - Fertility Clinic is located in the city of Porto, Portugal. The distance from Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport to the clinic is 15 km, approximately a 15-minute drive, with an estimated cost between 12 and 16 euros.

The duration of a direct flight between London and Porto is, on average, 2 hours and 15 minutes, with the main airlines being Ryanair, easyJet, British Airways, and TAP Air Portugal.

2. Can you tell me about the patient's journey.

The patient journey is fully personalized and, equally or even more importantly, accompanied by highly qualified healthcare professionals. The client international coordination team is led by a senior embryologist who serves as the link between doctors, the laboratory, and the patient. You can see the embryologist and client coordinator, Dr. Rita Magalhães, at the following link: https://ceti.pt/team/rita-magalhaes/

Regarding the treatment process, the first step consists of a diagnosis carried out by a fertility specialist. After the diagnosis, patients are directed to an information and education session with the client coordination team, who will provide a treatment briefing based on the clinical team's instructions. Following this briefing, the treatment begins.

3. What fertility treatments do you offer? 

CETI is a clinic with 25 years of experience in fertility. This experience, combined with a highly specialized clinical team and investments in cutting-edge technology, has enabled us to offer all currently available and scientifically validated fertility treatments.

We provide comprehensive services in Assessment, Diagnosis, and Medically Assisted Reproduction Treatments.

Within Medically Assisted Reproduction, we offer Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) with and without sperm and egg donation, Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with and without sperm or egg donation, Oocyte Cryopreservation, and many other treatments, which can be found at the following link: https://ceti.pt/

4. How do you assess fertility issues, and what tests will the patient need?

Each clinical approach is fully personalized. There is no “one-size-fits-all.” However, in general terms, we conduct a thorough assessment of both members of the couple, meaning we perform both a female and a male diagnostic evaluation.

Female Evaluation:

Medical History and Physical Examination:
This is the first interaction with one of our fertility specialists, during which your overall reproductive health will be assessed. Your medical history will be reviewed, and additional tests may be prescribed to complete the evaluation.

Clinical and Hormonal Tests – AMH:
To understand the number of oocytes present in your ovaries (known as “ovarian reserve”), blood tests will be conducted to assess several interrelated hormones throughout the cycle, including Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH), Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Luteinizing Hormone (LH), and Estradiol (E2). FSH, LH, and E2 are particularly important indicators throughout a woman’s menstrual cycle and help guide and adjust the treatment plan.

Ultrasound / Transvaginal Sonography:
To evaluate the uterus and ovaries, a doctor will perform a transvaginal ultrasound. This diagnostic test helps assess the internal genital system, count antral follicles (a marker of ovarian reserve), and identify other conditions such as ovarian cysts, fibroids, polyps, or malformations. Transvaginal ultrasounds are also used to monitor the treatment cycle, especially the response to ovarian stimulation. During the ultrasound, a probe is gently inserted into the vagina, which may cause slight pressure or mild discomfort. There are no known harmful side effects from conventional ultrasound. It involves no ionizing radiation.

Hysterosalpingography – HSG:
HSG is an X-ray test performed under real-time fluoroscopy to visualize the fallopian tubes and uterine cavity. This test reveals tubal patency (whether the fallopian tubes are open), any blockages or dilations, and possible uterine abnormalities such as malformations, polyps, fibroids, or synechiae (adhesions that can deform the uterine cavity).
Alternatively, this exam may be performed via ultrasound and is called a hysterosonography (or hysterosalpingo-sonography).

Results Review and Treatment Proposal:
In this clinical session, all gathered information and test results are reviewed. Treatment options are discussed, along with their respective pros and cons, including the likelihood of achieving pregnancy with each.

Male Evaluation:

Medical History and Physical Examination:
This first consultation is with a fertility specialist with subspecialty training in Andrology. Your general reproductive health, medical history, lifestyle, and genetic factors will be assessed. Additional diagnostic tests may be prescribed to evaluate your fertility potential.

Semen Analysis – Spermogram and DNA Fragmentation:
The standard initial test for evaluating male infertility is semen analysis, which measures ejaculate volume, sperm count and concentration, motility (movement), and morphology (shape). CETI’s lab also performs DNA Fragmentation testing, which provides valuable insights into potential causes of male infertility, including failed embryo implantation, poor embryo development, or recurrent miscarriage.

Clinical and Hormonal Tests – FSH, LH, Testosterone, E2:
Hormones play a crucial role in sperm production. Abnormal levels of hormones such as FSH, LH, Testosterone, and Estradiol (E2) may indicate issues with spermatogenesis.

Results Review and Treatment Plan:
In this clinical session, all information collected during the evaluation is reviewed, and treatment options are discussed. The advantages and disadvantages of each approach are considered, and an action plan is developed to improve reproductive outcomes.

Please note: Additional tests may be requested based on individual cases.

5. What is the cost of your fertility treatments, and what is included in the package?

Information coming up soon. 

6. What is your policy on egg/sperm donation and how do you ensure donor anonymity and quality? 

The first important point to highlight is that Portuguese law mandates that egg donation must be anonymous with respect to the recipient couple. However, children born as a result of donation may, upon reaching adulthood and if they are aware of the donation, request access to the donor’s civil identity through the National Council for Medically Assisted Reproduction (CNPMA).

Regarding donor quality, the law requires the following criteria to be assessed:

The female donor must:

• Be between 18 and 34 years old and in good health;
• Have no personal or family history of genetic diseases;
• Have a normal gynecological exam and ultrasound evaluation of the uterus and ovaries;
• Have normal results in all required medical and laboratory tests.

The male donor must:

for sperm ceti uses frozen sperm acquired from an international partner.

Additional Notes:
CETI’s clinical practice is thoroughly regulated by governmental authorities, namely the Portuguese Ministry of Health and the National Council for Medically Assisted Reproduction (CNPMA). In terms of quality, we are certified under the international standard ISO 9001, which sets the global benchmark for organizations aiming to meet or exceed quality control parameters.

7. What support services do you provide during the treatment process? 

During the treatment, you will be supported by the Client Coordination Department, with direct, unrestricted access to the team at any time. In addition to providing clinical guidance, the client coordination team also assists with logistics, including accommodation and private transportation, if needed.

8. How do you monitor progress during the treatment cycle, and how often will a patient need to visit the clinic? 

The progress of the treatment is overseen by the Client Coordination Team, which serves as the communication bridge between the laboratory and medical team. It's important to note that at CETI, client coordination is carried out by embryologists—highly trained and specialized professionals who fully understand every detail of embryo development.

Regarding the number of visits to the clinic, this will depend on the type of treatment, the clinical protocol applied, and the patient’s personal preferences. For example, in the case of IVF/ICSI with egg donation, it may be possible to complete the process with just one visit of 8 days/7 nights, or two shorter visits totalling 4 days/3 nights.

The client coordination team will discuss all available options with you and help decide on the approach that best balances your personal preferences with clinical needs.

9. What is your policy on embryo storage and freezing, and how long can embryos be stored? 

At the beginning of the treatment, couples are informed about the possibility of embryo cryopreservation, provided the embryos meet the required quality standards. If the couple consents to cryopreservation, CETI will freeze any high-quality embryos that remain after the embryo transfer, which is typically performed in a natural cycle.

CETI only freezes embryos on day 5 or 6, known as blastocysts, and only those that exhibit high-quality characteristics.

Under Portuguese law, embryos can be stored for up to 9 years—an initial period of 3 years, which may be extended for an additional 6 years.

10. What are your clinic’s policies regarding patient privacy and confidentiality?

CETI has implemented and is required to comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which is the European Union regulation governing the protection of personal data and the privacy of individuals. It came into effect on May 25, 2018, and applies to all organizations that process personal data of EU residents, regardless of where the organization is based.

In addition to this regulatory component, all CETI staff are legally bound by professional secrecy due to their status as healthcare professionals.

11. Why would English patients come to Portugal? 

CETI is a certified medical clinic specializing in fertility, with its own human reproduction laboratory. The clinical team, composed of doctors and embryologists, brings over two decades of experience and training in the field of fertility.

• A highly specialized and experienced medical team in fertility.
• All staff speaks English fluently.
• The team of embryologists is certified by the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE).
• All clinical cases are personally reviewed by Professor João Luís Silva Carvalho.
• Use of cutting-edge technology, including artificial intelligence, to optimize embryo selection.
• A dedicated international support team responsible for logistics, guidance, and full treatment support.
• A strict regulatory framework that ensures best practices and confidentiality.
• Easy logistics. Our clinic is easily accessible, located just 15 minutes by car (15 km) from Porto Airport.

12. Do you have a lot of English patients? 

CETI is a leading fertility clinic in Europe, recognized for its excellence in reproductive medicine. As a result, we welcome a significant number of international patients each year.

The United Kingdom and the United States are among our top countries of origin for patients seeking treatment at our clinic.