Ovulation test kits (by way of urine):
available over the counter in a drugstore
Ask for: "hairan o checktsuru kit oshiko de"
I walked across the street and checked it out. I found two brands:
Do test - 7 tests for 2680 yen, toll-free number 0120-610-219 *9-17:00
Check one - 5 tests for 2280 yen, tel: 052-962-2203 *9-16:30

Pregnancy test kits (by way of urine):
Also available in Japan over the counter in a drugstore
Ask for: "ninshin o checktsuru kit oshiko de"
I found 6 brands: Pigeon, P-check, Do test, Clear Blue, Check one and Predictor. The cheapest was 680 yen for one test. Pigeon had two tests for 980 yen, but Clear Blue just happened to be on special offer - two tests for 748 yen. VERY REASONABLE considering that the last time I bought a box of two tests was in San Francisco for $13.
Clear Blue has English instructions enclosed. Toll-free number 0120-30-6606 *10-12:00 and 13-16:00

I just looked this topic up in the _Japan Health Handbook_. A translation for home pregnancy tests is "ninshin kensa" and for ovulation prediction kits is "hairanbi kensa-yaku"

Hi,
My husband and I are likely moving to Tokyo by the end of the year.

Our first baby (due later this year) has been the result of some years of fertility planning and treatment - and was eventually conceived via IUI (artificial insemination). After a number of previous miscarriages, we have been able to successfully keep this pregnancy by taking lots of hormones and doing daily injections of heparin to counter a blood disorder. We also see the doctor regularly to monitor any difficulties or changes (every 2 weeks approx).

The good news is - we have a "recipe" for conception and beyond cooked up by our doctor in Singapore (where we now live) that we can hand onto a new doctor.

My question is: are there English speaking doctors who are experienced in "difficult pregnancies" and able to give the type of fertility treatment, care and monitoring that a high risk pregnancy requires?

I would greatly appreciate all your advice and any tips.
Sarah

Dear Sarah
Please check out this hospital (website below, there is an English page--just scroll down the left hand side for the link).
http://www.ncchd.go.jp/

This is the national pediatric hospital in Tokyo. My daughter goes there for a rare blood disorder. Her drs were trained in the States and speak English well. I know that they have a OB/GYN section, but have not experienced it first hand. In any case, give it a try and good luck to you.
Sherri

Sarah-
I'm going to go out a bit on a limb and say unless someone comes up with a VERY specific and POSTIVE alternative for you here, DEFINITELY stay where you are until you give birth.

Although, there are statistics about low infant mortality and all of that, our experience here (2 births) is that things are decdidely low tech.

Many people are happy to have a drug/technology averse environment, but it doesn't sound like what you need.

You don't have room for an "oops, wrong choice". Stay with what you have.
Just my opinion.

Dear Sarah,

I totally agree with Scott.
Stay where you are, people here travel abroad for fertility treatment and delivery.
Even if you have a recipe ready it is very difficult to find a "cooperative" doctor, let alone whther he would follow it.
Singapore is more advanced and more medically technological advanced, not so here.
Best of Luck

Thanks all so far. Really helpful.

I might not have made myself entirely clear so let me add something to this
- we will have had our first baby by the time we get to tokyo, it's the second we're trying to plan for. Do all your comments count for trying for (and having) a second baby in Tokyo?

thanks again all - what a wonderful resource this is.
Sarah

Dr Odawara who speaks good English is reportedly excellent for fertility related issues at the Odawara Women's Clinic in Ebisu. 03-3477-0369
A web page is available in Japanese at http://odawara-ivf.mid-corp.co.jp/
His email is listed on the page as odawara-ivf[at]gate01.com

It might be worth contacting him before deciding whether it would be better to stay in Singapore for the birth. Depending on the sort of birth you are hoping for, with your particular set of circumstances, Tokyo may be a really great place to have your baby. It would pay to do the research first. You can hear nasty birth stories in any country, it is all a matter of perspective.

Sarah-

Ah hah! I was a bit confused by your original story. Should have asked in the first place. Since you're talking about starting from scratch and not mid-way in the process, it's worth talking to the various people mentioned. You will have a solid example to compare to.

Scott

3 births produced via implant of eggs into fallopian tube
Saturday, October 4, 2003

TOKYO ・A clinic in Hyogo Prefecture has succeeded in delivering three babies from women who had fertilized eggs produced in vitro implanted directly into their fallopian tubes without invasive surgery, the clinic director said Friday.

The method of directly implanting fertilized eggs into the fallopian tube via a special narrow tube from the opening of the uterus is believed to boost the chances of pregnancy, according to Toshun Jo of Jo Clinic in Nishinomiya. (Kyodo News)

Some of you may have read about the twins born with the Japanese father's sperm and another Asian female's eggs via a surrogate mother in California, and how they were being refused Japanese citizenship even though the father is Japanese. They have been living in Japan for about 10 months now after being brought here shortly after birth. Well, I couldn't understand the issue because it seemed to me that it would be pretty simple for the wife to just adopt them as her own. Lots of step-parents do that with their spouses children. Here is the latest on the issue as per the news at about 3 pm today.

Gov't OKs citizenship to twins from surrogate birth

Tuesday, November 11, 2003 at 15:01 JST
TOKYO ・Justice Minister Daizo Nozawa said Tuesday the Justice Ministry will allow twin baby boys born to an American surrogate mother for a Japanese couple to become Japanese citizens, reversing an earlier decision.

Speaking to reporters after a cabinet meeting, Nozawa said the ministry is "moving toward allowing Japanese citizenship" for the twins, who will be recognized as "legitimate children" of the Japanese couple through adoption. (Kyodo News)

Woman appeals paternity ruling on test-tube baby

Thursday, November 20, 2003 at 03:06 JST
MATSUYAMA ・A woman filed an appeal Wednesday to the Takamatsu High Court against a lower court decision rejecting her request to legally recognize her late husband as the father of her 2-year-old boy who was conceived via in vitro fertilization after his death.

The plaintiff ・a woman in her 40s ・gave birth to a boy in May 2001 using sperm her husband had frozen in 1998 before undergoing chemotherapy to treat leukemia. He died in 1999. The civil code allows for legal recognition of children conceived in vitro while the father is alive, but not after his death. (Kyodo News)

Scientists test the boundaries of fertility
This article is about research into harvesting eggs from women who are facing immediate radical treatement for cancer at a young age, for later use after they recover but are sterile. http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1508&ncid=751&e
=7&u=/afp/20040315/hl_afp/health_women_fertility

I'd like to hear comments on infertility treatments in Tokyo. In my home country I was diagnosed with a low estrogen level and recommended a medicine together with a frequent ultrasounds. That was not possible as we live here in Japan now.

What is the general opinion on infertility treatments here? Are the treatments very byrocratic, I mean how long does it take before treatmets get started? Which clinic do you recommend? Are there any medicine (no recipe) available here that would increase the estrogen level ? Any natural products? I'm not sure if I want to go in for real treatemens just yet...

Hi Isabella,

I don't have any personal experience of infertility treatments, but I know that the hospital where I had both my children also runs an infertility clinic, as there are lots of posters and leaflets about it in the Ob-gyn area: St Lukes International Hospital: 03-3541-5151. That's the general number, but you could ask for the Ob-gyn (Sanfujin-ka) or infertility (funinsho) departments. The doctor I always saw was Dr Kurishita, who is very nice and friendly, much better about explaining things than many Japanese doctors, and he speaks quite good English.

St Lukes is a big, modern private hospital in between Ginza and Tsukiji, and is relatively foreigner-friendly as most of the doctors and some of the nurses speak English, and there are usually English-language materials available about the various hospital procedures and services.

Good luck with your search.

Hi
I am trying to conceive for one and a half year but without any luck, and I am already 31 now. I did a recent checkup in a reproduction center and all tests seemed to be normal,doctor told me to ttc for some more time.
I know how tough it is to be patient--i am going absolutely crazy waiting..and would be looking for options. Could anyone suggest of some good fertility treatments in tokyo which helped to acheive pregnancy..
I have heared a lot about Seibu,Aiku and Sanno hospitals in this forum, do they specialize in infertility treatments...have anyone gone through any medication/treatments in any of these hos which aided in pregnancy? please share your experience..
Also I have heared that chinese accupuncture sometimes give good result in acheiving preg, but i am not very sure of if such clinics are there in tokyo..Anyone have any experience...Any help greatly appreciated..Thankyou so much.

Hi,
usually Seibo, Aiku and Sanno are good hospitals for deliveries...
For fertility treatment I can suggest you HART clinic in Shibuya
http://www.tokyo-hart.ne.jp/main.htm

Tel: 03-5766-3660
Nurses there don't speak English but you can ask of Dr. Goto, he is good and he speaks a very good English.
Another option is the Fertility Dep. at Sanno Hosp., you can ask of Dr. Kobayashi, I have heard he is very good.
Good Luck

Dear Nicola
There is a great acupuncture clinic 7 minutes walk from Shibuya station. They treat a huge variety of problems, including fertility. All staff speak English, even the interns. Here is the homepage: http://www.acuraclinic.com/Default.aspx?ID=1
Good luck! Sarah

I just started IVF/ICSI in Osaka at the IVF
Osaka Clinic.
http://www.ivfosaka.com/index.html

Dr. Fukuda speaks English and there is a
translator there. A Japanese speaker must
make the 1st appt as reception does not
speak English.

I'm very hopeful that my treatment will result
in pregnancy sooner or later.

I have been trying to conceive with artificial insemination (AI) at a private hospital here in Tokyo. I have done already two AI but not yet successul. I will be trying again in fews days.

I am looking for information on any experience related to AI here in Tokyo. I want to know any success story. Thank you.

Are you talking of IUI (intra-uterine insemination) or IVF (in-vitro fertilization)? We had a successful IVF in Osaka last year.

I was talking about intra-uterine insemination. Since you had a successful IVF, how long did it take? What were the steps toward the IVF? It will be great if you can explain your overall experience. Thank you.

My wife Yoko and I want to try IVF cycle in Osaka, Japan. Yoko is from Osaka but we live in NYC. My wife choose the IVF Osaka Clinic but IVF Namba Clinic is a little closer to her parents home. Does anybody have any positive information about these clinics especially IVF Namba Clinic? We tried NYU in NYC twice, one fresh and frozen cycle. We were not successful but at least we received a grant. Because of the costs involved, Japan sounded an good alternative, however choosing the right clinic is a bit of a mystery. Thank you.