First Fertility Appt - what to expect?

[AuntieRia]

I am 34 and have my first appointment at UCLH this afternoon. We have unexplained infertility and have been trying for 14 months. Can anyone give me an idea of what to expect? Not sure if they will just repeat all the tests or give us IUI or IVF as options. Also not sure if we qualify for IVF as not been trying for more than 3 years. But I guess the GP wouldnt have referred us if we werent? Also not sure whether to just keep trying naturally for a bit and whether IVF is too big a step to soon. IUI sounds sensible but not sure why we would go for something with lower chances of success. Any thought or advice would be much apprecaited.

[laurielou]

Hello there!

I've recently had my first appointment. I've had HSG (dye test), blood tests & the fella has had his sperm tested. All in working order. They've now given me a prescription for Clomid, just to make me "super fertile" (yikes). Also put us on list for IUI (which is 6 months waiting)& IVF (which is about 12 months waiting). They've just decided to have a plan B & C in place in case Clomid doesn't work.

Oh, be warned, first appointment they whisked me off for camera rummage around - I wasn't expecting that! But it wasn't painful or anything, more of a shock.

Hope this helps a bit. Good luck, x

[AuntieRia]

Hi

Thanks that's really useful.. wow I didnt realise there might be tests - had better put some better underwear on!

Interesting that they have given you Clomid on it's own first I thought that wasnt meant to be that helpful unless your periods are irregular. Guess it's a good thing to do when the waiting lists are so long for IUI and IVF. What part of the country are you in?

Thanks for the help.. good luck to you too!

[NewMember]

Have they mentioned trying ICSI?

[laurielou]

I'm in Cardiff. My periods are fairly regular (28 - 32 days). The fella's sperm was fine, but on the lower side of fine. Clomid is apparently usually used to stimulate ovaries into producing eggs. So mine should just be producing more, giving more chance of getting pregnant. Also more chance of multiple births.

BTW I'm 37 & we've been trying for about 2.5 years. I say "about" as I was a bit nervous at first so slow starting.

Good luck for your appointment. Come back & let me know how it goes.

[laurielou]

ICSI? Sorry, pretty ignorant here!

[AuntieRia]

Thanks Laurielou.. I will let you know how this afternoon goes. Will be interesting to see if London takes as different approach and has different waiting times to Cardiff.

Will keep you posted!

[NewMember]

ICSI is a technique sometimes used with in vitro fertilisation (IVF) in which one sperm is injected directly into one egg in order to fertilise it. This is especially useful for men with very low sperm counts since ICSI ensures that the sperm reaches the egg directly rather than waiting for the sperm to naturally fertilise the egg. Thus, ICSI is sometimes used as a treatment method for male infertility.

ICSI is the treatment I will be recieving

x

[NewMember]

ICSI - Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection X

[AuntieRia]

So I had my appointment which was OK. Lots of info to take in. We are going to have more tests some repeats of those we already had and I now have to have a HSG test which I am not too thrilled about! We have to go back in 2 months to go throuhg all the results and then we will try IUI. Looks like the waiting list is 2 months so not too bad at all. So am pretty pleased with that all round. After 3 rounds of that IVF is the next option although I am not sure how long the waiting list it. So am just going to try and forget it all for a bit and enjoy life rather than focussing on TTC!