Clínica Santa María Guatemala

Clínica Santa María is the leading reproductive medicine and assisted reproduction clinic in Guatemala, specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of infertility for individuals and couples. Established in 1998 by its current director, Dr. Juan Francisco Solís Bercián, the clinic was founded to address a significant gap in the region: there was a need for a center dedicated specifically to human reproductive technologies (ART) in Guatemala and Central America. In the nearly three decades since its founding, the clinic has helped thousands of families achieve their dream of parenthood through technically advanced, evidence-based fertility care.

The clinic is situated within the prestigious Edificio Multimédica complex in Vista Hermosa, one of Guatemala City's finest residential and commercial districts. This large, purpose-built medical complex houses more than 200 physicians specializing in all branches of medicine, a full hospital, and a range of diagnostic and specialist services — providing an ideal integrated environment for fertility patients who may require complementary specialist consultations as part of their fertility workup or treatment.

Clínica Santa María is equipped with its own dedicated IVF laboratory facilities and specialized reproductive technology, meeting international quality standards for embryology and reproductive science. The clinic provides the latest treatments in human reproduction, from basic infertility investigation through advanced assisted reproductive technologies including IVF, ICSI, and preimplantation genetic testing.

The clinic serves both Guatemalan patients and international patients from the United States, Mexico, and other Central and South American countries who are drawn to Guatemala for its combination of experienced fertility specialists, modern facilities, and significantly more affordable pricing compared to US fertility clinics — where IVF costs may be three to five times higher.

Clínica Santa María offers a comprehensive range of fertility diagnostic investigations and assisted reproductive treatments. For female patients, investigations include hormone profile testing (FSH, LH, AMH, estradiol, progesterone, thyroid function), transvaginal ultrasound for follicle count and ovarian reserve assessment, hysterosalpingography (HSG) for tubal patency, saline infusion sonography (SIS) for uterine cavity evaluation, diagnostic hysteroscopy, and laparoscopy where indicated. Male fertility investigations include semen analysis, sperm DNA fragmentation testing, and andrological consultation.

Core ART procedures include in vitro fertilization (IVF) with embryo transfer, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) for male factor infertility, and intrauterine insemination (IUI) with partner or donor sperm for milder infertility presentations. Egg donation cycles are available for patients with diminished ovarian reserve, premature ovarian insufficiency, or advanced maternal age, using fresh or frozen donor eggs. Embryo cryopreservation by vitrification allows surplus embryos to be stored for future frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles.

Preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidies (PGT-A) is available, enabling chromosomal screening of embryos prior to transfer and reducing miscarriage risk for patients with advanced maternal age or recurrent implantation failure. Endometrial receptivity testing, recurrent pregnancy loss workup (including thrombophilia screening and immunological testing), and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) management are additional areas of clinical focus.

Gynecological surgery for fertility — including operative hysteroscopy for polyp or fibroid removal, laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy, and endometriosis surgery — is performed in coordination with surgical partners within the Multimédica hospital complex.

Clínica Santa María operates a dedicated ART laboratory within its clinic premises at Edificio Multimédica. The IVF laboratory is equipped with the specialized tools and technologies required for advanced embryology, including CO2 and tri-gas incubators for embryo culture under controlled atmospheric conditions, micromanipulation stations for ICSI procedures, stereomicroscopes for gamete and embryo assessment, and cryopreservation systems for vitrification of embryos, eggs, and sperm.

The laboratory environment is maintained to clean room standards with HEPA air filtration, temperature control, and volatile organic compound (VOC) monitoring to ensure optimal conditions for embryo development. The embryology team monitors fertilization, cleavage, and blastocyst development according to established embryo grading criteria, with detailed documentation of each patient's embryo cohort.

Clinical facilities at the clinic include consulting rooms for fertility consultations, ultrasound examination rooms equipped with high-resolution transvaginal ultrasound for follicle tracking during stimulation cycles and for cycle preparation monitoring, and a dedicated procedure suite for office hysteroscopy, egg collection, and embryo transfer procedures.

The Multimédica complex within which the clinic is located provides access to a full hospital, diagnostic imaging services (including MRI, CT scan, X-ray, and ultrasound), clinical laboratory services, and more than 200 specialist physicians across all medical disciplines. This integrated environment is highly convenient for fertility patients who require additional specialist input — such as endocrinology, immunology, or hematology consultations — as part of a complex fertility workup.

Clínica Santa María welcomes international patients from the United States, Mexico, Canada, and other Latin American countries seeking high-quality fertility treatment in Guatemala City. Guatemala offers significantly more affordable IVF and egg donation treatment than the United States, where IVF costs can be four to five times higher, making international fertility travel a financially meaningful choice for many patients.

The clinic's team, led by Dr. Solís Bercián, is fluent in both Spanish and English, enabling comfortable communication with English-speaking patients throughout the consultation and treatment process. All patient protocols, medication instructions, and laboratory reports can be provided in English for international patients. Remote pre-cycle consultations are available via telephone or video call for patients who wish to evaluate the clinic and discuss their medical history before travelling to Guatemala City.

For patients undergoing stimulation cycles using their own eggs, the initial monitoring phase may require approximately two to three weeks in Guatemala City to encompass stimulation, follicle monitoring, egg collection, fertilization, and embryo transfer. For frozen embryo transfer cycles, the period required is shorter. International patients are assisted with accommodation recommendations in the Vista Hermosa area, which is one of Guatemala City's safest and most pleasant districts, with good restaurant and hotel options.

La Aurora International Airport is served by direct flights from Miami, Houston, Los Angeles, Dallas, Atlanta, and other US cities. Guatemala does not require a tourist visa for US, Canadian, or most European citizens, simplifying access for fertility patients.

Clínica Santa María operates in compliance with the regulatory framework governing medical laboratories and assisted reproduction services in Guatemala, under the oversight of the Guatemalan Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance (MSPAS). Dr. Juan Francisco Solís Bercián holds full Guatemalan medical licensure and specialist registration in obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive medicine.

The clinic's ART laboratory and clinical practices are conducted in accordance with international guidelines from the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), which represent the global standards for fertility clinic quality, embryology laboratory management, patient safety, and treatment outcome reporting.

The clinic operates as part of the Multimédica complex, which maintains institutional quality standards for all housed medical practices. Clinical equipment and medical devices used in the laboratory and clinic meet relevant regulatory requirements. The embryology team undergoes ongoing professional development and maintains current knowledge of advances in reproductive technology through participation in international scientific meetings and continuing medical education.