Dexeus, Barcelona, Spain
🏥 Dexeus Mujer, pioneer of IVF in Spain
Dexeus Mujer, whose fertility service is called Dexeus Fertility, is a private centre for gynaecology, obstetrics and reproductive medicine founded in 1935 in Barcelona. It operates within the Hospital Universitari Dexeus and achieved the first IVF birth in Spain in 1984.
Dr Santiago Dexeus Font opened the Clínica Mater in 1935. On 12 July 1984, the team of Dr Pedro N. Barri and biologist Anna Veiga achieved the first IVF birth in Spain[7]. Dexeus then performed the country’s first egg donation treatment in 1988[8]. The hospital that hosts it has belonged to the Quirónsalud group since 2012, while the gynaecology department remains managed by the company Consultorio Dexeus[7].
The Hospital Universitari Dexeus has been affiliated with the Autonomous University of Barcelona since 1989[7] and accredited by the Joint Commission International since 2021, with a renewal in 2024[6]. Dexeus Fertility reports more than 3,000 IVF cycles per year and time-lapse embryo monitoring[2] .
💼 Areas of expertise
Dexeus Fertility offers the main reproductive medicine treatments[4]:
- In vitro fertilisation (IVF): IVF with ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection), embryo culture to the blastocyst stage and time-lapse monitoring, which Dexeus includes in its fixed price.
- Egg and sperm donation: the medical team selects the donor and aims for the greatest phenotypic and immunological similarity with the recipient. Dexeus also offers the ROPA method and embryo donation.
- Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT): analysis of embryos before transfer, offered in addition to IVF.
- Fertility preservation: egg vitrification to postpone a pregnancy plan, sperm and embryo freezing.
💶 Procedure prices
| Procedure | Dexeus price (indicative) | In the UK |
|---|---|---|
| IVF with ICSI | £4,900 | £5,000 to £8,000 |
| IVF with egg donation | £6,500 to £7,500 | £7,000 to £12,000 |
| Artificial insemination | £885 | £700 to £1,500 |
| PGT (preimplantation genetic testing) | £3,000 to £4,000 | £3,000 to £5,000 |
| First consultation | £59 | £100 to £250 |
| Fertility preservation (vitrification) | £1,500 to £2,000 | £2,500 to £4,000 |
Indicative prices, only the quote is binding. Dexeus Fertility does not publish a price list: it provides a fixed price on request, which includes ICSI, culture to blastocyst, time-lapse and four Dexeus Balance consultations[4].
🧑⚕️ Medical team
Dexeus Mujer states it has more than 300 people, including doctors, biologists, nurses and administrative staff, across its centres in Catalonia[3]. The Hospital Universitari Dexeus, which hosts its department, reports more than 450 medical professionals[9].
Dr Pere N. Barri Soldevila leads Dexeus Mujer and its endometriosis unit; he speaks French. Dr Nikolaos Polyzos is its scientific director and chairs the Dexeus Mujer Foundation. Dr Marta Devesa heads the reproductive medicine service in Barcelona[3].
The Dexeus website is available in French, English, Italian and German, and an international department welcomes foreign patients[1]. Languages spoken vary by doctor; each practitioner’s profile details them.
As a university hospital, the centre trains medical students and participates in around fifty clinical trials[9].
🎥 Presentation video
📸 Photos of the clinic
Some images of Dexeus premises in Barcelona:
🧭 Course of the stay
Contact and first appointment: Dexeus Fertility can be reached on +34 93 227 48 96, or on 0805 376 016 (freephone from France). The first visit can be done by video conference[2].
Consultations and examinations: in Barcelona, the gynaecologist confirms the protocol and prescribes additional tests, which can be done at the centre.
Treatment phase: Ovarian stimulation generally lasts 10 to 12 days with regular ultrasound monitoring. Egg retrieval is performed under light sedation in the clinic’s operating theatres. Embryo transfer takes place 3 to 5 days later depending on embryo quality.
Follow-up after transfer: a pregnancy test is done about 14 days after transfer. If positive, an ultrasound is scheduled.
✈️ Practical information
Access from the UK: Barcelona-El Prat airport receives direct flights from several UK cities. High-speed trains arrive at Sants station, connected to Dexeus by Rodalies suburban trains[1]. A valid passport is required for British citizens.
Languages spoken: they vary by doctor; Dr Barri, for example, speaks Spanish, Catalan, English and French[3]. Check the practitioner’s language when booking.
Foreign patients: Dexeus Mujer has an international department, which also provides information on accommodation[1].
🛏️ What the price includes according to Dexeus
According to its website, Dexeus Fertility’s fixed price covers all treatment phases and the indicated techniques: ICSI, culture to blastocyst, time-lapse, as well as four Dexeus Balance consultations of your choice (nutrition, psychology, physiotherapy or acupuncture)[4]. The quote specifies what is not included.
🏨 Hotel near the hospital
📅 Waiting times & duration
Appointment waiting time: Dexeus does not publish waiting times. The centre indicates them when you request an appointment, and the first video consultation avoids an initial trip.
Length of stay: the number of stays depends on the protocol. For IVF with own eggs, generally allow a few days on site around egg retrieval and transfer; stimulation can be partly monitored from the UK. The centre specifies the schedule in its quote.
Procedure durations: egg retrieval usually takes 15 to 30 minutes under sedation. Embryo transfer takes a few minutes, without anaesthesia.
📊 Key data
| Indicator | Dexeus |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1935 (Clínica Mater, Dr Santiago Dexeus Font) |
| First IVF in Spain | 12 July 1984 |
| First egg donation in Spain | 1988 |
| IVF cycles per year | More than 3,000 (figure from the centre) |
| Hospital accreditation | Joint Commission International since 2021, renewed in 2024 |
| Hospital Universitari Dexeus | 144 rooms, 11 operating theatres, 10 intensive care beds |
| Status | University hospital (Autonomous University of Barcelona) since 1989 |
Sources: Dexeus website[2], Quirónsalud[5][6] and Wikipedia[7].
❓ FAQ
What is the success rate of IVF at Dexeus?
Dexeus reports on its website a cumulative success rate of about 80%. This is a figure declared by the centre, without public detail on the calculation method. The result depends mainly on the patient’s age and the type of treatment (own eggs or donation).
How much does IVF cost at Dexeus Barcelona?
Dexeus does not publish tariffs: the centre sends a fixed-price quote. As an indication, IVF with ICSI costs around £4,900.
Are there waiting times at Dexeus?
Dexeus does not publish waiting times. The first visit can be done by video conference, and the centre indicates the treatment schedule after initial examinations.
Does the staff speak French at Dexeus?
Some doctors speak French, including Dr Pere N. Barri, and the website is available in French. Dexeus has an international department and a freephone number from France (0805 376 016).
What is Dexeus’ experience in IVF?
Dexeus achieved the first IVF birth in Spain in 1984 and performed the country’s first egg donation in 1988. The centre reports more than 3,000 cycles per year and uses time-lapse to monitor embryos.
Does Dexeus offer egg donation to British patients?
Yes. In Spain, donation is anonymous. Dexeus’ medical team selects the donor, aiming for the greatest physical and immunological similarity with the recipient.
How to get to Dexeus clinic from the airport?
From Barcelona-El Prat airport, the easiest is a taxi. By public transport, metro line 3 and trams T1, T2 and T3 stop at María Cristina, next to the hospital, in the Les Corts district.
📍 Location
Address: Hospital Universitari Dexeus, Gran Via Carles III, 71-75, 08028 Barcelona, Spain[1]
Access: metro line 3 and trams T1, T2 and T3, María Cristina station; buses 59, 70, 72 and 75[1].
🔗 Useful links
🔎 Other interesting articles
🔗 IVF in Spain: Prices in Barcelona & Complete Guide
🔗 Price of IVF with egg donation in Spain
🔗 IVF PGT with sex selection in Spain
🔗 ROPA method in Spain – Prices in Barcelona & Ultimate Guide
🏁 Conclusion
Dexeus Mujer has been performing IVF in Barcelona since 1984 and operates in a JCI-accredited university hospital. The centre offers IVF, egg donation, PGT and fertility preservation, with an initial video consultation possible.
Prices are not published: request a detailed quote and compare it with your local options.
