IVF Wales

[DuelingFanjo]

They are starting to get me down. Anyone here able to give positive stories about the care you received please?

[FirstTimeTwinsOoer]

Hi DF,

I've had successful IVF treatment. What's getting you down? Can I help?

[DuelingFanjo]

Basically I missed being eligable for free IVF by 2 months because they say they count the referral date as when they first see you rather than when your GP referred you. I had to wait almost 4 months after being referred to get an appointment. Since then I have had a miscarriage but not been seen personally by my consultant just by one nurse who gave me a repeat prescription of Clomid after I asked for one on the phone. When I called them to say I was worried that I wasn't being scanned they said if I wanted a scan I would have to pay.

I haven't been offered any kind of counselling and I have only seen the consultant twice in one year.

I have an apointment on Tuesday and I want to put my foot down and say 'do something' but I don't think they have even put me on any kind of waiting list so even if I do choose IUI for example (Self-funded) am am not sure if i will get it soon or not.

Do private patients have such a long wait as NHS ones?

[FirstTimeTwinsOoer]

If it's because you had to wait 4 months to get an appointment and that is why you missed the free IVF window - that is incredibly harsh.

I'm sorry you suffered a miscarraige and not been given an offer of counselling or even seen a consultant - this sounds wrong to me! I can understand why you feel so the way you do.

I had fertility tests under the NHS and was prescribed clomid for a number of months under private health insurance... but my consultant was getting us nowhere fast and we got really frustrated. I'm not sure what you would and wouldn't pay for under the NHS.

We then decided to go to Care UK, a private fertility clinic who were absolutely amazing and saw us immediately.

I would definately put all your cards on the table at your next appointment and try to pin them down on times. It is stressful enough as it is without being messed about.

I'm sorry I can't be of anymore help. Let me know how you get on.

[Deemented]

We paid privately and went to the London's women clinic (then the Cromwell) in Swansea.

Excellent excellent service - we only chose to go there as we'd been waiting for two years on the NHS, and all they had offered us was clomid - which was useless as it was a male factor fertility issue, not a female one

We had five lots of IUI, the first two ended in miscarraige, the third was abandoned due to lack of stimulation, the fourth falied and the fifth i got pregnant with triplets - which resultewd in my now healthy five year old son.

We also went on to have a course of IVF, doing an egg share, in the hope of a sibling for ds, but that wasn't meant to be, and failed.

All in all, i can't fault the treatment we had from them. They always took the time to explain things. Yes, we were paying them to, but that shouldn' make a difference.

[DuelingFanjo]

have just checked the price list of the London Woman's clinic and they are just so high! Compared to what I would get through IVF Wales anyway!

Deemented, did you have to wait on a waiting list even as a paying customer?

I am not sure I understand how it works. My plan was to go for IUI at IVF Wales in Cardiff which would be around £500.

[DuelingFanjo]

FirstTimeTwinsOoer why did you go to a different clinic when IVF Wales will take self-funded patients?

[Deemented]

No, we didn't have to wait with the IUI at all - the only time we waited for anything was when we tried for a sibling for DS, we decided we'd like the same sperm donor, and have to wait to check his eligibilty - luckily it came back fine and we were allowed to use his sperm.

But no, just my next cycle and we were good to go.

I'm trying to remember how much exactly this all cost - i'm going back almost 7 years ago though, so it will have probably changed, but am sure a cycle of IUI, with meds, scans and donor sperm came to about £850 - a lot of that though was the donor sperm.

[DuelingFanjo]

thank you so much for getting back to me Deemented. I am starting to work myself up into a tizz again and worry that next week they will tell me I am too old to be considered for anything as I will be 40 in April.

I think it was a mistake for me to do clomid for 6 months and so I want to move on as quickly as I can to the IUI. My DH's sperm is ok (Our diagnosis is 'unexplained') so I wouldn't have to pay extra for a donor.

I just want to tell them 'please do IUI' and then move onto that as quickly as I can, though I think IVF Wales have a backlog as staff shortages meant they cancelled a lot of IUIs.

[Deemented]

It is hard, isn't it?

I think a lot of the backlog is people who are waiting for donor sperm/eggs - hopefully you won't have to wait for very long at all.

Out of interest, how much did the womens clinic quote you?

[DuelingFanjo]

I just looked online and IUI was over £700. I think that was without the drugs!! Though may have meant with donated sperm?

IVF Wales site says it's

"Intra uterine insemination (IUI) IUI treatment cycle ?excluding medication £546"

but have just noticed that with medication it's another £400 - £500!!

[DuelingFanjo]

oh - habg on ...

it also says

"Clomiphene IUI cycle ? excluding medication £286" and that medication is "Clomiphene IUI medication £10-£20 approx"

that seems a lot better?

I'm a bit confused by the difference?

here

[Deemented]

I think that's without the stimulation of your ovaries to produce egss - they just go with what egg(s) you produce during a normal cycle - i think.

Might be worth giving them a ring for a chat?

Also have you considered the possibility of becoming an egg donor - this way you'd have free IVF and would only have to pay for your own drugs?

[DuelingFanjo]

Am not sure that they accept eggs from someone my age, do they? I'll be 40 in April.

Am going to see them next week so hope to chat to them about it all then

[Deemented]

It's always worth an ask!

Good luck, and do update so we know how you get on

[DuelingFanjo]

Thank you.

Will keep you updated. I remember stressing just before I was prescribed clomid about being prescribed clomid, thinking they wouldn't give it to me and worrying if they did should I take it. Just typical of me to worry at the next step I guess.

You've been really helpful, thank you. Each person's needs and circumstances are so different it's hard to get info.

Am just hoping we get the all clear for IUI or that this months clomid helps me get pregnant (am on 2 week wait)or maybe next month (the last round) can be used for iui.

[Deemented]

Oh fingers crossed for you!!! Good Luck!!!