Dr. Maria Stefanidou

Dr. Maria Stefanidou is a leading reproductive medicine specialist at IASO Maternity Hospital in Athens, one of Greece's foremost private maternity and fertility hospitals. With 19 years of clinical experience in assisted reproduction, she has helped thousands of couples and individuals achieve parenthood.

Greece has become one of Europe's top destinations for fertility treatment, particularly egg donation, due to its favorable legal framework (donors remain anonymous), high-quality clinics, experienced specialists, and costs significantly lower than the UK or Scandinavia. Athens and Thessaloniki attract fertility patients from across Europe.

Dr. Stefanidou completed advanced reproductive endocrinology training at the Churchill Hospital and John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, UK, gaining expertise in complex ovarian stimulation and preimplantation genetic testing. She returned to Athens where she has built a large international fertility practice.

She is an ESHRE member and participates in European fertility research networks. She is known for her thorough patient counseling, her compassionate approach to fertility treatment, and her transparent communication about realistic success rates.

Dr. Stefanidou received her MD from the University of Athens School of Medicine in 2002. She completed her obstetrics and gynecology residency at IASO Maternity Hospital and undertook advanced reproductive endocrinology training at the Churchill Hospital and John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK (2007–2009). Her PhD from the University of Athens in 2011 focused on endometrial receptivity and implantation outcomes in IVF cycles. She is a member of ESHRE and is certified by the Hellenic Medical Association in obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive medicine.

Dr. Stefanidou specializes in all forms of assisted reproductive technology including IVF, ICSI, frozen embryo transfer, and egg and sperm donation. She has particular expertise in ovarian stimulation protocol design for poor responders, PCOS, and older patients, and in managing recurrent implantation failure. She performs preimplantation genetic testing (PGT-A and PGT-M), endometrial receptivity assessment, and uterine evaluation including hysteroscopy. She also manages fertility preservation including egg and embryo freezing and coordinates care for patients with endometriosis and uterine anomalies.

Dr. Stefanidou has published over 30 peer-reviewed articles in journals including Human Reproduction and the Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics. Her research focuses on endometrial receptivity, cumulative live birth rates in egg donation cycles, ovarian stimulation optimization, and PGT outcomes. She presents at ESHRE annual congresses and collaborates with reproductive medicine centers in the UK and Spain.

Dr. Stefanidou speaks Greek and English and has an extensive international patient practice from across Europe and beyond. IASO has a dedicated fertility tourism department with English-speaking coordinators, telemedicine consultation options for initial assessment, and remote monitoring protocols for stimulation cycles that allow patients to minimize time away from home. Greece's egg donation program is particularly popular with patients from the UK, Ireland, and Scandinavia. IVF and egg donation costs in Greece are typically 40–60% lower than in the UK.

Dr. Stefanidou received the Hellenic Society of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Award for Excellence in Reproductive Medicine in 2016. She was recognized by IASO for her leadership in building the hospital's international fertility program and received ESHRE recognition for her research contributions to egg donation outcomes.