Which clinic to choose? North

[Vslightlystressy]

We are just starting the IVF process and don’t know which clinic to choose - have any of you lovely people used clinics in the North East at all - particularly around Leeds/Sheffield? Are there any you would recommend? Conversely any you would avoid? Thanks for your help - it is all just so confusing.

[Mseddy]

Hey. I'm at Seacroft in Leeds. Haven't started my actually treatment yet (due to start next week) but they have been good so far. They don't have huge waiting lists and all the nurses and sonographers I've met so far are lovely. The private patient secretary is really lovely and helpful. A friend of mine went to jessops in Sheffield and shes pregnant so I guess they are good too!

[shazzz1xx]

Hi
Seacroft leeds is where i had my ICSI - was successful too just had my baby 11 week ago today :) x

[Vslightlystressy]

Thank you so much for your replies and congratulations! I think we had narrowed it down to between Seacroft and Jessops so it’s good to hear success stories and positive experiences from both - think we probably just need to work out who we feel most comfortable with and just go for it... exciting/nervous/stress times ahead!

[Dot457]

@Vslightlystressy we were referred to Leeds Fertility Clinic (Seacroft) - due to the amount of appointments we attended for numerous reasons, we were made to feel part of the family tbh. I actually looked forward to going in a weird way! They were great with us from start to finish, we did only end up with one embryo but it took to my womb which was the best outcome! Sadly it didn't work out but it felt like they did everything they could in order to allow us to have a successful pregnancy :) I'd go back tomorrow if I could! Good luck with your journey and holla if you need any support/advice! x

[Embri]

Hi all! I’m so pleased to read this positive feedback about Leeds!! There is a lot of negative feedback online but it’s all really old!

I am currently waiting for my first appointment, I have filled out the information sheet they sent me asking for our details, that was sent back to them over 2 weeks ago, how long did you all have to wait for your first appointment after sending that back? (They did say to me 6-8 weeks after receiving referrals for first appointment but I am yet to hear anything!)
Thanks, Emily

[Mseddy]

@Embri if I remeber right after I posted the form I heard after about 3/4 weeks and then the appt was 3 weeks later. So about 6 weeks after sending that form back x

[Avocuddles]

Hi all. @Embri I had my first appointment at Seacroft yesterday, just under 5 weeks after I sent back the forms. First appointment entailed talking through medical history and test results so far with a nurse, have been referred for more blood tests and a HyCoSy which apparently has a wait list of c6 weeks for an NHS patient. IVF probably isn't the first port of call in my case as I have conceived twice, although both pregnancies miscarried at 7-8 weeks. I am over 35, have been TTC for 18 months and have long and irregular cycles so they will hopefully support me initially with medication (clomid?) to try to regulate things. I have to hold off TTC until after the HyCoSy which is a weird concept after concentrating so hard on it for well over a year, but hopefully it'll all be worth it in the end......

[Mseddy]

@Vslightlystressy one thing I would take into consideration is distance! Ive got 2 appts this week, and that's all before treatment starts. In the next few weeks I'll have lots of scans ect. I'm not far off half way between jessops and seacroft. About 35mins to jessops and 25 to Seacroft. I'm glad I'm at Leeds, because an extra 20 mins travel time for an appt seems like alot when I'm going several times a week. X

[Embri]

Thanks for the responses! Gives me hope that it will be in the next few weeks!
We unfortunately didn’t have much choice with regards for distance, I work in north Yorkshire, but I live in lancashire, so my options were Manchester (no thank you to driving in there regularly in rush hour traffic!!) Hewitts (Liverpool) which would be over 2 hours back to work, or Leeds, 1 hour 30 mins from home, 1 hour from work... Leeds got the choice due to their recent inspection reports on HFEA website and ability to get back to work.

[Vslightlystressy]

Thank you for your replies - looks like it will be Leeds - we will be self funding and need to pick a consultant - who are you using?

[Avocuddles]

Haven't met mine yet as only been through the initial meeting with a nurse stage but believe it is Professor Balen....

[Mseddy]

I'm professor Balen as well. Not actually met him mind, but I hear good things. We are self funding too. We have chosen the multicycle package through access fertility, it's a little more expensive but it includes frozen transfers where as paying the clinic directly doesnt

[Embri]

We have our first appointment on the 18th November! We are taking a day off, going to go for a day in Leeds and get lunch before heading to Secroft.
I’m hoping I don’t need to have a hycosy as I had a HSG in August and would rather avoid that test again so soon! We are going due to male factor so hopefully they will let me get away with not having it this time!
Hope everything is going well for everyone else!
Emily

[Embri]

I also have prof balen, my colleague had him and has 3 lovely children now, (not through IVF but other fertility treatments) she has warned me that he never really looks you in the eye but knows his stuff!
If I was paying privately I would read up about the consultants and their specialisms and request which suited us most. Prof Balen is PCOS specialist, he is still going to do a good job, but I would be asking for the male factor specialist to give ourselves the best shot.

[Avocuddles]

@Embri how did you find the HyCoSy? I have one at Seacroft tomorrow, i was feeling ok about it but have then read some pretty negative things online which are making apprehensive! Feeling fortunate to have the appointment so soon though - Id been told it would probably be late November based on current wait lists but when I called yesterday to tell them some dates I definitely couldn't make due to work commitments they offered me an appointment on Wednesday thanks to a cancellation!

Don't know how well you know leeds but if you want any lunch recommendations give me a shout

[Embri]

@Avocuddles its so good you’ve got in so quickly! I had the HSG which is the X-ray version of hycosy but same principle of dye put inside to look at Fallopian tubes.
I was really anxious about fainting as I have a tendency to do that, the ladies were lovely (wasn’t at Leeds) and they made me feel relaxed and comfortable as possible. It is very up close and personal, your vagina is initially at face level to the person doing the test, so there’s no point trying to be modest! 😂
The procedure was uncomfortable, I could feel quite sharp pain along each Fallopian tube as the dye was pushed in (I can now point to my Fallopian tubes with accuracy!!) to the point where I really wanted them to stop but if you stop they still have to do it again another day.
The second they released the pressure the pain went. It was over in less than a minute, and then I felt fine from then on, so it’s not long lasting.
Take painkillers 30 mins before, and some chocolate to feel good afterwards! Good luck!!

[TheArtfulScreamer1]

My DD currently asleep in my arms is a Seacroft baby born March this year, Catherine Hayden was my consultant and she was lovely. Good luck hope you're as fortunate as we are.

[Embri]

@Avocuddles how did it go today?

[Avocuddles]

Hi @Embri! It went well thanks. Having read the various horror stories on here I was expecting the worse and whilst it was certainly painful, it wasn't agonising. The hardest bit for me was when the doctor was doing the initial scan and showing me the ultrasound on the screen - this made me a bit weepy as it reminded me of my miscarriages and the heartbreaking scans I'd seen during both. The nurses / clinical support workers were absolutely lovely and one of them held my hand and talked to me during the procedure which was very helpful. I honestly couldn't fault the treatment I had, and the fact that I received it on the NHS makes me very proud of our healthcare system (for all its faults...). I'll get a follow up appointment through in the coming weeks to go through my various test results, but I suspect the outcome will be to go away for a few more months of trying naturally and see how my cycle goes. I imagine you can't wait for your appointment and to get the ball rolling. Hopefully next year you'll be bringing your baby home!

[Embri]

Hi all! I hope you are all doing well!
@Mseddy how’s your treatment going? I hope you are responding well and it’s all going in the right direction!

@Avocuddles have you had the results from your scan yet? I’m sorry that it brought back those memories for you, I’m glad that they supported you through it.

I have my appointment next Monday and the butterflies in my stomach are already starting!!
Can you let me know what to expect please at the first appointment as if I know what is going to happen it will help to calm me down!!!
We are going due to MFI, so we know we definitely need ICSI.
Is it just the nurse we meet? And is it just loads of consent forms and giving the nurse information about what’s been going on?

After you had this appointment when did you go back?

Also @Avocuddles please can you let me know some places to eat?! We are really open to trying new places! Anything from bistro style pub food to Mexican, tacos, wings! Anything freshly made and tasty!
Thanks!
Emily

[Avocuddles]

Hi! Still waiting for our next appointment. It would have been next week but have had to push back due to holidays.

Our first appointment just involved the nurse going through medical history and all the tests we had both had to date before deciding next steps. I imagine this will be the same for you and that you'll meet the appropriate consultant on your second trip, though if you already have a clear idea of your treatment journey then I guess you might meet them first time round?

The car park takes cards only, we've never had issues finding a space but still worth leaving plenty of time first time round as the hospital itself is a bit of a maze!

You are spoiled for choice when it comes to restaurants in Leeds! For an ever changing menu of street food the Trinity Kitchen food court is great - there are a few permanent stalls selling Mexican, Vietnamese, pizza and Indian wraps, then a number of pitches that feature different vendors each month.
For bistro style pub food George's Great British Kitchen is good with a quirky twist on classic dishes. The Thai restaurants Sukhothai and Chaophraya are another two of my favourites. You'll have to check out a different place each time you visit!

[Embri]

@Avocuddles thanks! Fingers crossed they decide that we can just go straight to ICSI without too many tests!

Thanks for the food advice! I’ll start to make a list of where we can go! 😊

[Avocuddles]

Another one to add to the list - just been to The Ivy with DH to celebrate my birthday which was lovely, they do a good value lunch / early bird menu as well as afternoon teas which I'll definitely be checking out in the future!

[Embri]

Happy birthday! Hope you had a lovely day!
I will definitely be adding that to the list! 😊 I think realistically (hopefully!) I’m going to be mid treatment in jan/feb which is my 30th! If thats the case Hubby can take me to the Ivy for that!!

[Embri]

Hi, I hope you’re all doing well!
We have had our review appointment and have booked our nurse consultation for mid jan!!

I have a quick question about Leeds, I’m reading their patient presentation and it reads as if they only freeze 2 embryos and will “humanely destroy” any more that are there. Is this true?!
If you have for example 5 good day 5 embryos they will transfer one, freeze 2 and destroy 2? Surely not?!?
X