Dr Marcos Ferrando – Review: IVF Specialist at IVI Bilbao
Finding the right fertility doctor abroad can feel like a lottery. Websites all promise the same things, success rates blur together, and in the end you are left wondering: who will actually be looking after me?
This article takes a proper look at Dr. Marcos Ferrando, gynecologist and medical director of IVI Bilbao in northern Spain. Where he trained, what he has published, what he is known for, and why Forbes recently put him on its list of the country’s top doctors.
Dr Marcos Ferrando at a Glance
- Role: Gynecologist and Medical Director of IVI Bilbao, also directing IVI Santander, IVI Vitoria, IVI Logroño and IVI Donosti
- Fertility specialist since: 2007, first at IVI Valencia, then leading IVI Bilbao from 2009
- Medical degree: University of Valencia
- Residency: Obstetrics and Gynaecology at La Fe Hospital, Valencia, finishing with the First Prize of the End of Residency Training Program
- Postgraduate degrees: Master’s in Assisted Reproduction (Complutense University of Madrid – SEF), Master’s in Advanced Endoscopic Surgery (University of Valencia), Master’s in Medical and Clinical Management (UNED)
- Recognition: Named by Forbes among the 100 best doctors in Spain in 2026
- Main interests: Endoscopic surgery and regenerative medicine in assisted reproduction
- Languages: Spanish and English
Interested in IVI Bilbao? Read more here >
Who is Dr Marcos Ferrando?
Dr Ferrando is the man in charge. Not just of one clinic, but of five. As medical director of IVI Bilbao, he also oversees the IVI centres in Santander, Vitoria, Logroño and Donostia-San Sebastián, which together cover the whole north of Spain.
His fertility career started in 2007 at IVI Valencia, the clinic where the IVI story itself began. Two years later he moved north to lead the medical team in Bilbao, and he has been running it ever since. That adds up to nearly two decades devoted entirely to reproductive medicine, and over fifteen years in the director’s chair.
In 2026, Forbes included him in its ranking of the 100 best doctors in Spain, a list built on clinical excellence, research activity, medical innovation and international reach. Only a handful of fertility specialists in the entire country made the cut. He was one of them.
His own words sum up his philosophy nicely:
“Continuous advances in research are what allow us to keep bringing children to the people who dream of them.”
Dr Marcos Ferrando
Education and training
His medical foundations were laid in Valencia. A degree in Medicine from the University of Valencia, followed by residency in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at La Fe Hospital, one of Spain’s most respected university hospitals. He completed that residency with its First Prize, awarded to the top finishing specialist.
Rather than stopping there, he stacked up three master’s degrees. One in Assisted Reproduction from the Complutense University of Madrid together with the Spanish Fertility Society. One in Advanced Endoscopic Surgery from the University of Valencia. And one in Medical and Clinical Management from UNED, the kind of training that explains how he ended up running five clinics at once.
Research, teaching and publications
Plenty of clinic directors leave science behind once management takes over. Dr. Ferrando has not.
He serves as an advisor for the Master’s Degree in Human Reproduction run jointly by Rey Juan Carlos University and IVI, helping train the next generation of fertility specialists. He is a regular speaker at courses, seminars and congresses in Spain and abroad, with more than 60 presentations at scientific meetings to his name.
His published research spans national and international journals. Recent work he co-authored includes a study on how physical activity influences sperm quality and fertilization rates in IVF, and research into the proteins found in endometrial fluid during implantation, part of the wider effort to understand why some embryos attach and others do not.
For you as a patient, this matters more than it might seem. Treatment plans at his clinics are shaped by someone who reads, produces and questions the evidence himself, not someone repeating what was standard a decade ago.
What does Dr Ferrando specialize in?
Two areas define his practice, and they complement each other well.
Endoscopic surgery
Sometimes the uterus needs attention before an embryo ever enters the picture. Fibroids, polyps, adhesions, septums, endometriosis – all of these can quietly sabotage implantation. Endoscopic surgery means fixing these problems through keyhole techniques, with tiny instruments and a camera, no large incisions involved. Recovery is quick and the fertility benefit can be huge. Dr. Ferrando holds a specific master’s degree in advanced endoscopic surgery, so patients who need this kind of preparation before IVF are in experienced hands.
Regenerative medicine in assisted reproduction
This is one of the most exciting frontiers in fertility care. Regenerative medicine explores ways to reactivate or support tissue that has lost function, for example techniques aimed at improving a thin endometrium or supporting ovaries with a very low egg count. It is a field still under active research, and Dr. Ferrando’s involvement in it says a lot about how his clinics operate: at the edge of what modern science makes possible, while staying honest about what remains experimental.
Working with international patients
Since joining IVI, Dr. Ferrando has cared for patients who travel from abroad, and the northern IVI clinics see a steady stream of them. Bilbao is an easy destination, with an international airport just fifteen minutes from the clinic and direct connections to much of Europe.
The routine is built around minimal travel. A first consultation by video call, tests and monitoring arranged close to home where possible, then a short stay in Bilbao for egg collection or embryo transfer. He consults in English as well as Spanish, so British, Irish and other English-speaking patients can discuss their treatment with him directly.
Patients rate the experience highly. IVI Bilbao holds an average score of 4.8 out of 5 across more than 700 published patient reviews, with the medical team’s warmth and clear communication mentioned again and again.
About IVI Bilbao
IVI Bilbao sits in Leioa, on Paseo Landabarri, just outside the city centre. It belongs to IVI, the group founded in Valencia in 1990 that has grown into one of the largest assisted reproduction organisations in the world, credited with helping bring hundreds of thousands of babies into existence.
The Bilbao centre offers the complete range of treatments: IVF with your own eggs, egg donation, embryo genetic testing, artificial insemination, fertility preservation and the ROPA method for female couples, all backed by on-site laboratories. Spain’s fertility laws add extra appeal for foreign patients, with anonymous donation, short waiting lists for donor eggs and clear regulation.
Is Dr Ferrando the right doctor for you?
He may be an especially good fit if:
- You suspect or know that fibroids, polyps or endometriosis are part of your fertility problem, and surgery might be needed before IVF
- You have a very low ovarian reserve or a thin endometrium and want a team engaged with regenerative approaches
- You want a doctor whose standing has been recognised at national level, most recently by Forbes
- You prefer being treated where the medical director himself sees international patients
- You speak English or Spanish and want direct answers, not messages relayed through coordinators
Beyond the clinic
When he is not in the clinic or at a congress, Dr. Ferrando runs, travels and plays the piano. A detail worth knowing, perhaps, for patients who value a doctor with patience, discipline and a good ear for people.
FAQ
Which clinics does Dr Marcos Ferrando direct?
He is medical director of IVI Bilbao and also directs IVI Santander, IVI Vitoria, IVI Logroño and IVI Donosti.
What languages does he speak?
Spanish and English.
What are his specialisations?
Endoscopic (keyhole) surgery and regenerative medicine applied to assisted reproduction.
How long has he worked in fertility medicine?
Since 2007, when he began at IVI Valencia. He has led IVI Bilbao since 2009.
Has his work received any recognition?
Yes. Forbes named him among the 100 best doctors in Spain in 2026, and he earned the First Prize of the End of Residency Training Program at La Fe Hospital earlier in his career.
Can international patients start with an online consultation?
Yes. The first appointment usually takes place by video call, with travel to Bilbao needed only for the key stages of treatment.
