A couple who have spent thousands of pounds on IVF treatment at a clinic in Portugal have been left devastated after they were told that it had been declared bankrupt, leaving their embryo stuck overseas.
Laura Moncaster, 32, and Alex Webb, 34, were due to travel to Ovom Care clinic in September to undergo their second embryo transfer, having paid around £8,000 in May for the first two rounds of IVF.
But they were blindsided by an email on 28 August, informing them that the clinic was no longer operational and that insolvency administrators had been appointed.
They are among dozens of British couples who have lost tens of thousands of pounds as a result of its bankruptcy, with many left mid-treatment in what has been described as “the biggest disaster globally in the sector”.
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At least 38 British patients are known to have been using the clinic at the time it became insolvent. However, The Independent has been told Ovom likely had around 200 clients and that around 60 per cent were UK nationals.
Ms Moncaster and Mr Webb were walking their dog when they received the email at 5pm on the Friday afternoon.
“It was really stressful when we got that email,” she said. “It was a big shock and we were like, ‘what on earth do we do now?’
“We didn’t know the first thing about transporting an embryo. How do we know the embryos won’t get mixed up? We were quite worried about that side of things, and the communication from Ovom was basically nothing.”
They had discovered Ovom Care at the beginning of the year after seeing an advert on Instagram. The couple had been trying for a baby for more than two years and had previously undergone IVF in a UK clinic, which they had found a negative experience.
Impressed with its vow to put customers first and its coverage in prestigious media outlets such as Forbes, Ms Moncaster and Mr Webb had a consultation with Ovom’s clinical team and decided to travel to Portugal to undergo treatment.
Their first transfer in June was unsuccessful, but they decided to return for a second transfer at the beginning of September, hoping they would be able to welcome a child ahead of their wedding in July 2027.
While the UK-based fertility clinic Avenues has stepped in to help a number of affected British patients and return their embryos, they have no timeline for when this could be.
“We’ve just been left in the lurch,” Ms Moncaster said. “That is our one remaining embryo and nearly our last chance to get pregnant this year. It’s ruined the plan of having a baby before the wedding, so we’ve had to put everything on hold until next year.
“Having this year and now having to wait until next year has put a massive downer on things.”
The couple now believe they have spent a total of £30,000 on IVF treatment, including procedures at a UK clinic, Ovom and costs for medication with Avenues.
They are also among a number of patients who had not paid via a credit card to avoid hefty exchange fees, and are therefore ineligible for refunds and have received no word about compensation.
Investors in Ovom said claims for prepaid treatment can be registered with the insolvency administrator.
Other patients have spoken to The Independent about the distress caused by Ovom’s closure, with one couple making a payment of £10,000 on 15 August for three egg collections, just days before the clinic declared insolvency.
Many of those affected have been offered treatment at Avenues, which was founded by Ovom co-founder Dr Cristina Hickman. She told the Independent that she had left the clinic in 2024 over disagreements with the way Ovom was operating, and described it as the “biggest disaster I have seen globally in the IVF sector”.
For Ms Moncaster and Mr Webb, the next few months appear uncertain, but they are hoping to continue their IVF journey in 2027.
She said: “It would mean everything to us. We just want to be a family and our life is on hold even though we’re getting married next year.
“It’s the one thing that is missing; you feel like you’re constantly waiting for that positive test. Just to get that would be a massive thing for me, it would mean everything and I have no words to explain it. It’s something we’ve wanted for so long.”
Ovom Care chief executive, Felicia von Reden, said in a statement to The Independent: “I would like to start off by saying that we as management are deeply sorry for the distress and uncertainty caused by the insolvency proceedings.
“Stored eggs, sperm and embryos, together with patients' clinical records, have been transferred to AVA Clinic in Lisbon, with the authorisation of the Portuguese health authority (CNPMA). If you are currently undergoing treatment, or wish to continue your care, please contact AVA Clinic directly. They are able to advise on next steps.
“If you have paid for treatment that was not provided, this is a claim against the insolvent estate.
“We are currently in the process of finding a fair outcome for patients who paid for treatment that was not delivered, and I will communicate further as soon as there is something concrete to share.
“The circumstances surrounding the insolvency, including the operational decisions taken after the court appointed an independent administrator, are before courts in Portugal and Germany. It would not be appropriate for me to comment on matters under judicial review.
“I will say, however, that a number of claims circulating publicly are factually not correct.
“My focus, and the priority of everyone involved, is making sure patients get the support and answers they need - we are working on this with all the resources we have.”
Ovom Care's German parent company is separately subject to its own insolvency proceedings. Restructuring measures are initiated and a mergers and acquisitions process is organised.
The insolvency administrator and Portugal's regulator for assisted reproduction, the CNPMA, approved a process for stored eggs, sperm and embryos to be transferred to the Ava Clinic in Lisbon. Ovom say this was safely carried out under the CNPMA’s authorisation and clinical data is also being securely transferred.
