Ivf timeline?

[Trickymiss14]

Hi all

My long story is- diagnosed with PCOS, endo, bicornuate bicolis uterus (basically split the whole way through to my cervix), single left kidney and blocked right tube. ttc 18 months, turned down for nhs ivf because in my area need to be ttc for 2 years- today had ultrasound to confirm blocked tube and uterus abnormality and was told that I should be referred for ivf asap as it's only harming my chances by waiting. Feeling such mixed emotions as, at least finally someone has confirmed what I thought but obviously, in an ideal world I'd be wrong and I'd just magically get pregnant.

Anyway, getting to the point. From your first ivf appt to implant roughly what have your experiences been time frame wise? How many months does it generally take. and any pcos sufferers- will this affect the quality/ numbers of my eggs? (Been told would be no point in IUI would have to do ivf) thanks in advance if you even read thus far! X

[Gabbitygubbity]

Hello there.
I’m in London. Saw GP August 2016. First appt with infertility consultant Nov 2016. 10 months of investigations and referred for IVF in August 2017 (unexplained). There was a bit of faff and paperwork mess up but we had our appt to kick it all off in early Nov. Started the pill about 10 days later (im on long protocol). Sniffing now... injections following on soon...and egg collection and implantation due mid jan.

Basically, it was the investigations that took time for me. Once we’d been referred things moved pretty quickly. Just the time it takes for papers to get sent back and forth. I expect it depends on your area, but where I am there was no “waiting list” as such, just some administrative time. And then on the long protocol you’re looking at about 2 - 2.5 months from that first appointment to implantation. Obviously my process might all go wrong in the meantime, but that’s the current timeline!

On one of the bits of paperwork we received it said “when do you want treatment?” and we said “ASAP”. There was definitely a sense that you could plan it for a few months later if you wanted to avoid particular events for example.

Hope that helps, and Good luck!

[Gabbitygubbity]

Ps time from referral (August 17) to starting treatment (Nov 17) would probably have been a month shorter for me if there hadn’t been some paperwork silliness (letters going to wrong adresss etc). Also had to get some new blood tests done in that period.

[Winenight]

The referral from GP to NHS fertility clinic was about a month later. Then there was around 8 weeks of investigations, awaiting blood tests results, discussing results before the consent forms were signed. Treatment could commence the cycle after the forms were signed.

The actual treatment was around 6-7 weeks for long protocol (1st cycle) but only 4 weeks for short protocol (2nd cycle). We only have one funded cycle in our area so that may keep the waiting times briefer than in other areas where more are offered.