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Meet Dr. Katharina Spies fertility specialist at Vida Fertility Madrid
At Vida Fertility we want you to meet Dr. Katharia Spies, gynecologist and Medical Director of Vida Fertility. And put a face to the entire team of professionals who will accompany you in the most important decision of your life: starting a family.
Closeness and warmth are important for the patient to feel understood and find the connection they need in their fertility treatment. That is why we want you to get to know us and know a little more about us before coming to visit us at our home.
Let’s start this series of interviews with the Medical Director of our fertility clinics, Dr. Katharina Spies. A woman dedicated to her work and devoted to her patients.
- 1. CV of the Medical Director at Vida Fertility Madrid
- 2. Gynaecologist specialising in fertility
- 3. Language skills
- 4. Fertility specialist
- 5. Why did you choose to specialize in Assisted Reproduction?
- 6. Is it what you expected?
- 7. What continues to surprise you most about your work?
- 8. Dr. Katharina Spies, How has Reproductive Medicine advanced since you were at the University?
- 9. What do you think the future holds?
- 10. What would you say about the bond that is created with patients?
- 11. What advice would you give to patients who are starting their fertility treatment?
- 12. Fertility clinic in Madrid
- 13. Book an appointment with Dr. Katharina Spies
CV of the Medical Director at Vida Fertility Madrid
Education
- 2012–2016: Residency in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Fuenlabrada University Hospital, Madrid, including Job Rotations at the Prenatal Diagnosis and Treatment Unit of the Charité Berlin Hospital, Berlin (2016) and, IVI (Valencian Infertility Institute) in Aravaca, Madrid (2015).
- 2004–2011: Medical Degree (MD), Faculty of Medicine at Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, Freiburg – Germany
Work experience
- 2022: Medical Director at Vida Fertility Institute, Madrid.
- 2021: International Medical Director at IVF Spain, Madrid.
- 2017: Gynaecologist specialising in assisted reproduction at the ProcreaTec clinic, Madrid.
- 2016: Rotation at the Prenatal Diagnosis and Treatment Unit of Charité Hospital Berlin, Virchow-Klinikum Campus, in Berlin, Germany (Head of Unit: Prof. Dr W. Henrich).
- 2015: Rotation at the Valencian Institute of Infertility (IVI) in Aravaca, Madrid.
- 2012: Junior Registrar in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Fuenlabrada University Hospital.
Main Research & Communications
- Ongoing: Relationship between progesterone levels on the day of embryo transfer and clinical outcomes: pregnancy rate and gestational progression.
- 2022: Follow-up in clinical practice on cumulative live birth rates after scraping in successive transfer cycles.
2021: Analysis in Diagnostics that evaluates its benefit in patients with or without previous implantation failures. - 2020: Studies on endometrial scratching in egg donation cycles, participating in both the design and protocol (ENDOSCRATCH trial) and the analysis of clinical and reproductive results.
- 2018: Effect of endometrial scratching on assisted reproduction cycles in treatment with donor oocytes.
- 2017: The role of hysteroscopy in assisted reproduction treatments. Retrospective study.
- 2015: Cases of small for gestational age (SGA) foetuses and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) at the University Hospital of Fuenlabrada: relationship with uterine artery Doppler in the first and second trimesters, PAPP-A levels in the first trimester and maternal risk factors (hypertension, gestational diabetes, smoking and obesity).
Specialist in Assisted Reproduction Techniques, Gynaecologist expert in complex cases of infertility, In Vitro Fertilisation – IVF, Egg donation, Endometrial receptivity, Ovarian rejuvenation, Implantation failure.
Language skills
One thing that characterises Dr. Spies is her language skills.
Dr. Katharina Spies is German and lives in Madrid, so she is fluent in German, Spanish, English and French.
Fertility specialist
Dr. Katharina Spies has a degree in Medicine and Surgery from the Complutense University of Madrid, specialising in Gynaecology and Obstetrics and Assisted Reproduction. She holds a PhD in Medicine.
Why did you choose to specialize in Assisted Reproduction?
I studied Medicine at the Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg (Germany). But my first contact with Assisted Reproduction (AR) would not come until my fourth year of residency in Gynecology and Obstetrics, already in Spain.
From the very first moment, I was fascinated. It was the first time in my entire medical career that it was not about curing disease, but about creating life.
I am moved by the excitement of getting the positive pregnancy test, of seeing the heartbeat in the first ultrasound. And the hope you give to your patients.
Shortly after that first contact with Assisted Reproduction, I returned to the same clinic where I started my training in AR, but this time from the other side, as a patient.
The dedication and care with which they helped me get pregnant completely convinced me. At that moment it was clear to me that I wanted to dedicate myself to Assisted Reproduction when I finished my residency.
Is it what you expected?
When I began to dedicate myself 100% to reproduction, I discovered all that it entails.
It is a team effort: without a good laboratory, without a good patient care team, and without the right facilities, success is rarely achieved, no matter how good the doctor is.
These are highly protocolized processes, but they must also be humane and personalized, in order to transmit this to patients.
What continues to surprise you most about your work?
It is a world that is in constant change, new techniques are coming out all the time, there is a lot of research.
The technical and biological advances are impressive, especially genetic research and the additional tests that we can ask patients to undergo.
We are currently using artificial intelligence programs to analyze the quality of the oocytes before vitrification. It’s amazing!
Dr. Katharina Spies, How has Reproductive Medicine advanced since you were at the University?
The changes are abysmal. Here are just a few:
- In the past, IVF processes were diferent. Transfers were made on day 2 or 3 of development. Now we reach the blastocyst stage (day 5-6 of development). This allows us to obtain the maximum information about the cellular development of the embryo.
- Fewer biopsies were taken for genetic analysis. And if it was done, it was done with embryos of 8-10 cells. Now, thanks to the genetic analyses, we are able to lower the rate of repeated miscarriages or implantation failures.
- There were no techniques such as Time-Lapse or tests to verify the window of implantation. Now we seek to implant the best embryo at the right time, and thus optimize the chances of achieving pregnancies.
What do you think the future holds?
Perhaps the most innovative are endometrial and ovarian regeneration techniques, and the use of artificial intelligence to analyze the quality of oocytes and embryos.
These are new practices that are just starting, with great potential that can undoubtedly help our patients. However, it will require the support of a good human team behind it.
What would you say about the bond that is created with patients?
It is such a close and intense process that you live it with the patients. In fact, there are many patients with whom I still keep in touch after the treatment is done.
One of the most special moments for the whole team is when they come to present their babies to us and we see the “result” of our work.
What advice would you give to patients who are starting their fertility treatment?
Don’t give up!
The process of assisted reproduction is sometimes a long and difficult road. But in the end it is almost always successful.
We are here to help them get there and to accompany them along the way.
Book an appointment with Dr. Katharina Spies
Vida Fertility Madrid
C/ Palermo 15, Hortelaza, 28043 Madrid
Monday – Friday: 8h – 19h.
Vida Fertility Alicante
Avenida Óscar Esplá 1, bajo. 03008 Alicante
Monday – Friday: 8h – 19h.
Contact us through the channel of your choice, by telephone, using this form or by visiting us at one of our clinics.
You will always receive an answer from a specialist in assisted reproduction, who will provide you with clear and personalised information without waiting for your appointment.
Vida Fertility’s patient care team is eager to help you solve all your doubts, and to accompany you from the first step.
Book an appointment with Dr. Katharina Spies
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ℹ️ The information published on Vida Fertility is reviewed by our fertility specialists and medical team, following up-to-date scientific criteria and evidence-based medicine. Our team is a member at scientific societies such as SEF, ESHRE and SEGO.
