Ovom Care Clinic Closure: How Amilis Can Support You

Ovom Care, a venture-backed fertility clinic based in Cascais, Portugal, ceased all operations suddenly in late August 2026 after filing for insolvency. 

The closure came as a shock to hundreds of patients—mostly British women seeking more affordable treatment abroad—who were either mid-cycle, about to begin treatment, or had embryos and gametes stored at the clinic.

Unlike the legal requirement for fertility clinics to provide six months' notice before closing, Ovom Care shut down without warning patients, clinicians, or Portuguese health authorities. 

If you're someone affected by the closure, waiting on answers about your treatment, or wondering what to do next—here's how Amilis can help.

Why Did Ovom Care Fertility Clinic at Cascais Close?

Ovom Care launched in 2023, initially opening a clinic in London before moving its flagship operations to Cascais, Portugal. The clinic offered AI-assisted, hybrid reproductive care spanning IVF, egg freezing, and sperm freezing.

In 2024, Ovom had secured over €4.8 million in funding to expand its AI capabilities and physical footprint.

But on August 26, 2026, a Lisbon court issued an insolvency declaration for Ovom Care's parent company, Ovomcareportugal Unipessoal Lda.

The clinic had been accepting payments and starting new treatments up until days before the bankruptcy announcement. Some patients had paid for multi-cycle packages, only to learn the clinic had filed for insolvency days before their scheduled embryo transfer.

According to reports, Ovom Care's management did not notify patients, staff, or the Portuguese regulatory body (CNPMA) until after the court ruling. The insolvency administrator has now been appointed to manage the liquidation, with a 30-day window for creditors to file claims. 

Ovom Care's official statement

In an official LinkedIn post, Ovom Care's leadership issued a statement expressing deep regret:

The company explained that "financing we had planned for did not come through as expected, and without it we could not continue to operate the clinic safely."

Dr Cristina Hickman, Ovom’s co-founder and embryologist who left the company in November 2024 after differences with investors, has spoken out about the closure. 

In a LinkedIn post, Hickman wrote: "Fertility is too important to be treated as just another high-growth investment category. Patients are not revenue. Embryos are not assets. Clinical care is not a spreadsheet." 

She revealed that she had "fought hard for a patient-first approach" but left due to "fundamental differences in values" with the venture capital investors managing the company. 

She's now calling for regulatory changes to protect fertility patients, arguing that embryos and gametes should have creditor priority in insolvency proceedings—just like employees. 

"Portugal can innovate on this. The law must change. Money paid for treatment must be secured, safe. Perhaps there need to be insurance policies for this type of treatment—like chemotherapy. It's not acceptable for someone to pay for treatment at a clinic, the clinic goes bankrupt, and they can't continue," she said. 

How Does Ovom Care’s Portugal Clinic Closure Affect Patients?

The sudden closure has left patients in an incredibly difficult position. Here's what we know so far:

Your biological material and records

According to Ovom Care's official statement, all stored embryos, eggs and sperm, together with patient data and treatments under way, are being transferred to AVA Clinic in Lisbon. The transfer is the responsibility of the Insolvency Administrator and is supervised by the CNPMA (Portugal's fertility regulatory body). 

If you are mid-treatment

AVA Clinic has agreed to continue treatments under way at a reduced price. [cite:1] If you are in a stimulation cycle or have a time-critical step scheduled, Ovom Care's statement urges you to contact AVA Clinic immediately if you have not already. 

However, AVA Clinic has stated they cannot proceed with treatments without proper documentation from Ovom's insolvency administrator, and patients wishing to continue care there will need to pay for procedures and storage—despite having already paid Ovom. 

If you have paid for treatment that has not taken place

According to Ovom Care's statement, this is a claim against Ovom Care Portugal and must be lodged with the Insolvency Administrator, Bruno Costa Pereira, at bcp@brunocostapereira.pt. 

If you didn't hear from the clinic before closure

Patients report that Ovom's phone lines went unanswered, emails were not being replied to, and there was no direct communication from the clinic's management until after the insolvency announcement.

In their official statement, Ovom Care acknowledged: "We have not been able to answer every message yet. Everything that reaches us is passed to the Administrator and to AVA Clinic." 

The emotional toll of a clinic closure

Beyond the financial and logistical challenges, patients describe feeling devastated, betrayed, and uncertain about their fertility timelines—especially those with medical conditions requiring time-sensitive treatment. 

As Lucy Froese, a fertility writer and advocate, wrote in response to the news: "This is incredibly sad. My first thought is for the patients who have suddenly found themselves in this position. Fertility treatment is already emotionally difficult enough without the added fear and uncertainty of what happens to your care, records or embryos and eggs. Patients place an enormous amount of trust in their fertility clinic, and protecting that trust has to be at the heart of fertility care." 

At Amilis, we see patients and clinics that go through fertility cycles day in and day out. Our hearts feel heavy for all their patients as well as their employees.

How Amilis Can Help on Your Fertility Journey

First, we want to acknowledge how hard this is. Starting a fertility treatment cycle is emotionally and physically demanding enough. 

Having your clinic close without warning—leaving you stranded mid-journey—is beyond frustrating. 

Our team at Amilis is here to help you navigate this. Whether you need clarity on your next steps, want to transfer your cycle to a new clinic, or simply have questions about your options—we're here to guide you.

If you were about to start treatment with Ovom Care

If you had booked a cycle with Ovom Care but hadn't yet started medications or received your protocol, you're likely looking at starting fresh with a new clinic. Here's how we can help:

• Book a free consultation with one of our partner fertility specialists to review your medical history, discuss your goals, and create a personalised treatment plan.
• Get matched to a vetted clinic that aligns with your needs, timeline, and budget.
• Understand your options for egg freezing, IVF, or other treatments with clear, jargon-free explanations.

If you're mid-cycle or have embryos/gametes in storage

If you've already started stimulation, had egg retrieval, or have embryos/gametes stored at Ovom Care, your situation is more complex—but you still have options:

• Transfer your care seamlessly: Our partner clinics can coordinate with AVA Clinic (or wherever your materials are being transferred) to retrieve your records and continue your treatment without starting from scratch.
• Free consultation with a fertility specialist: Discuss your specific situation, review your protocol, and understand what's needed to pick up where you left off.
• Storage continuity: If you need to move your embryos or gametes to a different clinic for ongoing storage or treatment, we can help you navigate the transfer process and connect you with clinics offering secure, regulated storage.

If you're considering treatment abroad

We understand that many patients chose Ovom Care because treatment in Portugal was significantly more affordable than in the UK. If you're still considering treatment abroad, we can help you:

• Compare regulated clinics across Europe and the UK with transparent and discounted pricing, verified success rates, and proper patient protections.

Your next steps, in a nutshell

We completely understand how overwhelming this can be, so here's a simple checklist to help you move forward in this stage:

1. Contact AVA Clinic if you're mid-treatment: If you're in a stimulation cycle or have a time-critical step scheduled, contact AVA Clinic immediately at their Lisbon location 
2. File a creditor claim: If you've paid for treatment that hasn't taken place, lodge a claim with the Insolvency Administrator, Bruno Costa Pereira, at bcp@brunocostapereira.pt 
3. Contact your payment provider or insurer: If you paid via credit card, financing, or insurance, reach out to them about potential refunds or chargebacks [cite:1]
4. Request your medical records: If you haven't already, ask for copies of your medical records, test results, and treatment protocols—these will be essential for continuing care elsewhere.
5. Book a free consultation with Amilis: Our fertility specialists can review your situation, answer your questions, and help you decide on the best path forward.

Get Expert Gynaecological Care in the UK, via Amilis

Situations like this shouldn't happen. No one should have to navigate their fertility journey wondering if their clinic will still be open next month.

While we can't undo what's happened, we can offer you something we’ve always had: stability, transparency, and a team that's genuinely invested in helping you reach your goals—without the hiccups.

Whether you're looking to transfer your cycle, start fresh with a new clinic, or simply understand your options, we're here to help. 

Book your free consultation with an Amilis fertility specialist

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