How IVF with Embryo Donation in Cyprus Fulfilled My Dream of Motherhood

My name is Mercy, and I work as a financial analyst in Richardson, Texas. My entire life has been about calculated risks and long-term investments. I built a successful career and a stable, happy life. But the one dream I’d held onto since I was a little girl—the dream of having a daughter—was the one investment that never matured. I always thought I had more time, until suddenly, I didn’t.

At 35, after years of trying to conceive with my husband, I was diagnosed with premature ovarian failure. My doctor sat me down and gently explained that my own eggs were no longer viable. The news shattered me in a way no market crash ever could. The grief was profound. He mentioned using donor eggs as a possibility, but when I brought up my deepest wish, to have a daughter through gender selection, the conversation shifted. In the U.S., selecting gender for non-medical reasons is a huge ethical and financial hurdle. Combining that with the astronomical cost of donor egg IVF, we were looking at a price tag upwards of $40,000-$50,000, with many clinics outright refusing our request.

I felt like my age was a closing door and my dream was on the other side. Desperate, I started searching online for answers, which is when a question popped into my head: what is the age limit for IVF using donor eggs? That single search led me to an article by PlacidWay that discussed medical tourism. It was the first glimmer of hope I’d had in months.

I learned that while many clinics have an age limit, it's often more about the mother's overall health, with many reputable international clinics accepting women up to 55. This information alone was life-changing. I reached out to PlacidWay, and my case manager, Alex, was a beacon of compassion and information. He didn't just understand my medical needs; he understood the "why" behind them.

He told us about a clinic in Cyprus that specialized in IVF with Embryo Donation and PGT for gender selection. The process was legal, transparent, and the clinic had outstanding success rates for women in my age group. The cost was less than a quarter of what we were quoted in Texas. It felt like a miracle. PlacidWay organized everything, from medical record transfers to travel itineraries. All the complex logistics that felt so overwhelming were handled with reassuring efficiency.

Flying to Cyprus felt like a pilgrimage. I was terrified, but for the first time, I felt I was moving toward my dream, not away from it. The clinic was pristine, the technology was advanced, and the staff treated us with a level of personalized care that exceeded all expectations. They spoke openly about the embryo donation process, acknowledging the unique emotions involved in carrying a child that wasn't genetically mine. But as they described the carefully screened, altruistic donation, all I felt was overwhelming gratitude.

The procedure was smooth, and the two weeks we spent for IVF in Cyprus awaiting the results were transformative. We weren't just waiting in a hotel room; we were exploring ancient streets, eating incredible food, and healing our hearts by the Mediterranean Sea. We put our hope into the universe and into the hands of the incredible medical team.

The call with the positive pregnancy test is a moment etched into my memory forever. Nine months later, I gave birth to my beautiful, healthy daughter, Eliana. Holding her in my arms, I knew every fear, every dollar spent, and every mile traveled was worth it. She is the best investment I ever made.

My journey to motherhood wasn't traditional, and it led me halfway across the world. But it led me to my daughter. PlacidWay didn't just find me a clinic; they navigated the complex ethical and financial barriers that stood in my way and gave me the chance to finally become a mother. They opened a door I was told was locked forever.