Tranfering a frozen embryo from overseas for treatment in the UK

[Rumplestrumpet]

Hello wise women :)

I'm starting to think about trying treatment again after we were lucky first time and now have a 10 month old daughter. Trying naturally is not an option and I know we may not be lucky again next time so want to start sooner rather than later. I don't want to sound ungrateful for what I have (I remember seeing these sorts of posts before we got pregnant and thought "cake and eat it, eh?!) and hope I don't upset anyone struggling with their treatment. If we only have one baby I will be forever grateful, but I always hoped to have at least two.

We have a frostie in France where we used to live and had IVF/ICSI treatment over there, but moved back just before our daughter was born. I'm not sure where to start on treatment in the UK and wondered if anyone had any experience of moving a frozen embryo from overseas to the UK for transfer? Can we (should we?) use the NHS or is it better to go to a private clinic? We did have one appointment at the UCH a few years ago and I found them quite good, but don't know how we would go about getting back into their system.

The alternative is to go and stay in France and do transfer there, but that would be very difficult as I'm due back at work soon, and there are no direct flights to the town where we lived so it would all be a logistical nightmare.

Grateful for any advice you can offer

[Lweji]

I don't know the particulars for embryo transfer, but if they are in liquid nitrogen, I suspect it would make the transfer rather expensive.

I might consider doing most of the hormone treatment in the UK (if possible) and travel to get the embryo implanted.

Otherwise, not much help, sorry.

[VimFuego101]

I don't think the NHS will assist if you already have a child, you would need to go private in the UK.

[Rumplestrumpet]

Thank you both.

No idea about liquid nitrogen, will have to ask.

I wasn't expecting free NHS treatment, but understand you can use the NHS and pay (that's what UCH offered us last time as we were not eligible for free treatment).

Any other experience to share?

[TepidCat]

I haven't done international transfer but we used Kynisi for transfer between UK clinics and it very straightforward and wasn't very expensive. There are a couple of couriers that most clinics use I think so worth seeing which one the clinic you choose works with but no harm
investigating prices etc first.

On clinics - I assume you mean as a private patient at an NHS clinic v private only clinic. In my experience very easy as a private patient at an NHS facility. Just call up and arrange a consultation. Lots of places have open evenings - are you in London? Chose somewhere easy to get to appointments from work and home.

[allegretto]

There are couriers who do it. The best thing is to ask the clinic you are thinking of using.

[Rumplestrumpet]

Many thanks ladies that's useful. I think I'll give UCH a call as they are well located and also seemed good when we saw them last time.
Best of luck to everyone on this roller coaster!