"I have lived in Belgium for three years and discovered shortly after moving here that it is one of the world centres for fertility treatment. In addition, once you are working here and are on the Belgian national health insurance, any kind of treatment (in vitro, ICSI, IUI) is practically free (up to five tries with in vitro). Finally, I also discovered it is possible for single women to get the same fertility treatment, which means that many single women and lesbian couples come to Belgium for treatment from other European countries where this is not possible. If you come from outside Belgium, treatment is not free, but is still far less than in North America or the U.K., as I understand it.

There are some downsides to the approach to using donor sperm in Belgium, however. The only choice is completely anonymous and your doctor also picks your donor for you (based on basic parameters that you define.) You can choose to order your sperm from abroad and have it flown here packed in dry ice, but for me that option was prohibitively expensive.

I soon discovered the Belgian health service would only pay for in vitro until my 43rd birthday (IUI or insemination until 45). So I had to get going immediately, as I was already 42 when I started looking into it. I quit smoking, made some other life changes and started the process. Much to my surprise, ICSI worked on the first try and I am now pregnant with twins. (Twins were not part of the original plan so I'm now trying to manage planning for that turn of events!! ).

Anyone with further questions about the Belgian process can feel free to contact me. In addition, I'm trying to start up a group here so if you or anyone you know is a Choice Mom in the Benelux region, please get in touch!!"

Mikki's note: You can leave a message in the comments field below, or find contact info for the Benelux community in the EUROPE section of the "Support from city to city" blog.