British couple's embryo stuck in Portugal after IVF clinic goes bust: 'What on earth do we do now?'

UK · 2026-10-03

1. Step 1 · The triggerOvom Care, a Portugal-based IVF clinic, is declared bankrupt, halting treatment for at least 38 British patients and stranding embryos overseas.
2. Step 2 · Knock-onAffected patients lose prepaid fees of up to £10,000 and face uncertainty over their embryos held in Portugal.
3. Step 3 · Knock-onUK fertility clinic Avenues, founded by former Ovom co-founder Dr Cristina Hickman, steps in to help return embryos and offer treatment, absorbing displaced demand.
4. Step 4 · Reaches youTrust in cross-border fertility services erodes, shifting demand toward UK-regulated clinics and increasing scrutiny on financial stability and patient-protection practices.

The trigger is reported by the source below. The steps that follow are Branch²’s traced reasoning — how the shock could reach a business like yours, not a prediction.

Source: independent.co.uk

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