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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

Original poster

Private Fertility Testing

56 replies

BriocheBuns · 29/10/2020 14:22

Hello all

I wish to have fertility testing done privately so that I can get some answers.

I’ve had two early losses this year and have been referred to gynaecology by my GP which could take months. Meanwhile, TTC not knowing if there is a problem seems odd as we could be putting our effort and energy into something that simply isn’t going to happen until we rectify what’s wrong (assuming something is wrong).

Equally, if nothing is wrong then we could find this out sooner as opposed to worrying for months to come and waiting for our referral and all subsequent appointments.

Has anyone got any experiences good or bad with private fertility tests x

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MJM1608 · 31/10/2020 06:45

@LT103 glad that info is helpful! 😊 I guess for us we wanted the testing done early on (8 months in) to know whether we were going to face challenges ahead. Time seems so precious when TTC & the longer it goes on, the harder it is mentally! It really gave us much more confidence that we are doing everything right & now have to let nature take its course!

@BriocheBuns Aww thanks, and you!! Yes absolutely it has made such a change to our mindset. I do think stress and obsession with it is not good for the body but it has really helped me relax this month. Time will tell if it’s made a difference 😂

CP’s are so hard, we had one last month. Going from the euphoria of a positive test, to seeing blood and having everything taken away so quickly! We asked the doctor about CPs and he said it is positive to know you can fall pregnant and he wouldn’t be too concerned unless there was multiple (I think 3+). Hopefully there is no issue & your sticky bean is just around the corner!! I got my BFP an hour before DH appt and the woman on the phone said so often people cancel their appts because they have fallen pregnant naturally before the appointment! worth asking if you get a refund if this were to happen! We had the CP so still needed the testing.

The doctor said it’s good that we both take vitamins (folic acid - I take pregnacare conception, he takes wellman). We exercise daily, eat well, don't drink much anymore but who knows if that helps! He also said that they don’t really recommend temping and OPKs, the best way to tell if you’re ovulating is by EWCM. He said DTD every other day from your period then a few days around EWCM should catch it! We also use pre-seed, have you heard of this?

The scan of the ovaries and follicles was a bit like a smear test, they put a probe inside you but no it’s not uncomfortable at all! The nurses are sooo lovely & kind too!

Sorry for the essay - please let me know how you get on!! Really glad I’ve helped but hope this month you don’t need it anyway!! 💜✨🥰 xxx

Original poster
BriocheBuns · 30/10/2020 23:33

@MJM1608 - aw good luck to you and I’m so glad it’s taken the pressure off. Don’t you think knowing everything is fine just gives you that reassurance and piece of mind?

We’ve been trying since January so will be a year soon. I’ve had two losses, extremely early and what you would class as chemical pregnancies but of course still a loss as far as the GP is concerned.

That’s why I’m thinking there may be an issue and so I would like to find out so I can see what the next step would be to resolve it.

I only use opks and don’t temp, I take no vitamins etc, I often read about so many things people do to aid conception and feel like I could do a lot more. Are you trying anything that you think helps other than the obvious? lol

Is the testing quite invasive? Uncomfortable? Or was it okay x

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MJM1608 · 30/10/2020 20:39

@BriocheBuns oh good to hear!! What month of TTC are you on? It really just gave us peace of mind that everything is in working order & we hopefully conceive naturally soon! 🤞🏼 They have brilliant customer service (of course cause you’re paying a fortune!). We only started the testing in September then had the phone consultation 2 weeks ago so no pregnancy yet... fingers crossed for this month! Had deffo made me feel more relaxed & optimistic about this cycle whereas the past few months I’ve been more stressy and obsessed! Anything else you’d like to know? Deffo a lot of money but has really taken the pressure off this month! xxxx

LT103 · 30/10/2020 17:54

@Twizbe ah yeah I guess. I didn’t think of that side. We’ve decided to give it til Christmas and if nothing we will contact the doctor and get the ball rolling. Crossing fingers it doesn’t come to that

Twizbe · 30/10/2020 17:42

@LT103

This is really helpful. I am at the stage where I’m considering testing and wondered if would be quicker going private. Am also near Glasgow so at least I know how much to set aside. Guess even if unexplained it’s good to know there aren’t any problems
Yes and no. It's good to know there are no problems, but that also means there are no answers ....

Then it's a waiting game for IVF

LT103 · 30/10/2020 16:47

This is really helpful. I am at the stage where I’m considering testing and wondered if would be quicker going private. Am also near Glasgow so at least I know how much to set aside. Guess even if unexplained it’s good to know there aren’t any problems

Twizbe · 30/10/2020 14:27

We did some private fertility tests after trying for a year and no joy. I can't remember why we decided to do some private tests ... we were in the referral for NHS so perhaps it was just to speed along. I don't fully remember though.

Tbh I felt like it was a waste of money. We were diagnosed with unexplained infertility so the tests didn't reveal anything and in the end our NHS waiting list wasn't that long. The waits between NHS appointments actually also meant that by the time we'd done all testing we were at the end of the second year and eligible to go onto IVF fully funded. Once the referral was in things seemed to move quite quickly.

Bells3032 · 30/10/2020 14:24

Was £400 for me (scan, consult and AMH test) and £150 for my husband's sperm analysis.

Original poster
BriocheBuns · 30/10/2020 14:21

@Pollyell - so far GCRM and GRFC are the only ones I’ve spoken to x

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Original poster
BriocheBuns · 30/10/2020 14:19

@MJM1608 - hello 👋 your reply really helped me. It pushed me to make a firm decision on definitely going ahead and getting the tests.

I spoke with GCRM today and they seem so helpful and approachable. The price was as you’ve stated. They said it’s a month wait at the moment but once all tested it’s 4 weeks until results and 2 weeks for semen analysis.

Glad everything is okay with you, I’m really hoping for the same.

Can I ask if you managed to fall pregnant after being tested or did you need any further assistance x

OP posts:
Shell4860 · 30/10/2020 13:00

I'm thinking of going for a fertility scan as we are on cycle 11 now and nothing. I worry there will be something wrong with me as I can feel when I ovulate and it's always from my right side every month but I tend to have a constant twinge on that side as well so I want to find out

MJM1608 · 30/10/2020 11:36

@BriocheBunsI should also mention that their full price list is available on their website - AMH blood test alone is £125, women’s treatment consultation alone (blood test & ovarian assessment) is £400... Hope this helps! Xxx

MJM1608 · 30/10/2020 11:33

@BriocheBuns @crabette @Pollyell Hi ladies, I’m in month 8 of TTC. Sorry to hear about early MCs, I had one last month too.
I’m in Glasgow & have been to the GCRM for tests as like you we wanted to know if anything was wrong or if we were in a good position to conceive (we know it’s still early days but we had the money available). We paid £550 which included a semen analysis, AMH bloods/ovarian assessment & video consultation with the doctor. You can choose which service you need.. so we didn’t need to pay for the consultation but tbh we had no idea what our results meant.
They are fairly quick to book you in, we had appointments within the month.
The conclusion of our tests were that everything is normal with us & we just need to keep trying. We felt that we wanted the tests done so we are ready if 12 months hits, we knew our next step (dye test/IVF).
Don’t know if this helps but please ask if you have any questions 😊 xxx

Original poster
BriocheBuns · 30/10/2020 10:54

Just an update - rang the hospital where my referral was sent to. They have no answers for me as my referral hasn’t even been dealt with yet, so it’s just in limbo.

This is why I want to go private, it’s taken a month for this part of the process and nothing has happened then how many more months do I wait to get testing done? These months are so valuable because it would save me the time and effort of TTC if it simply isn’t going to work our yet.

I’m so grateful for the NHS but I’m thinking I should start saving to get to that £400 mark just to speed the process up. Mentally TTC is becoming challenging x

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Original poster
BriocheBuns · 30/10/2020 10:16

@SpuriouserAndSpuriouser - I’m just about to ring the GP and get the hospital details and ring them direct for waiting times. You’re right it may not be as bad as I fear x

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Onceuponatimethen · 30/10/2020 10:14

I paid about £500 for a full miscarriage screen I think - South East England

Pollyell · 30/10/2020 10:04

Got an email back from Spire and just about spat my coffee out!
250 for initial consultation, each individual blood test varies from £40 to £295. I am looking more for fertility test rather than early miscarriage investigations, it doesn't specifically itemise those...

Have you heard from any others in Glasgow?

SpuriouserAndSpuriouser · 30/10/2020 08:27

In your case OP I wouldn’t necessarily go for the fertility MOT type packages. If you’ve had early pregnancy losses then I’d expect you to be offered testing for various different conditions that can cause this (eg thyroid problems, problems with your blood clotting, certain infections etc) and just an AMH test and scan won’t provide this information.

In your shoes I’d definitely ring the hospital you’ve been referred to to ask about their waiting times, hopefully it isn’t as long as you fear!

Original poster
BriocheBuns · 30/10/2020 07:59

@PurBal - maybe I’m overreacting then, if the full package is reasonable at £400ish then I best get saving!

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Original poster
BriocheBuns · 30/10/2020 07:58

@Pollyell - please keep us informed when they get back to u x

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PurBal · 30/10/2020 07:16

I think £150 sounds especially good
I had an ultrasound and it cost £200 a few months ago. Blood tests, sperm count etc were extra. I thought a "fertility MOT" was around the £400 mark tbh.

Pollyell · 30/10/2020 07:06

Hey, will be interested to hear how you get on too - I've just emailed Spire for a quote.

Original poster
BriocheBuns · 29/10/2020 19:53

@crabette - Hey I rang up the Glasgow Royal Fertility Clinic who quoted the £400+. Got two more clinics on the list who weren’t picking up so will try again tomorrow and let you know what they say x

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Original poster
BriocheBuns · 29/10/2020 19:50

@Moominmiss - Hey thanks for replying. I rang the GP yesterday and they said I had been referred in September so I asked what sort of timescale I was looking at but was told they are really busy and don’t know.

I think I’ll ring again tomorrow and get the name of where I’m referred to and ring them direct instead. I’m just expecting it to be months and months due to Covid etc but your reply makes me hopeful x

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crabette · 29/10/2020 16:29

@BriocheBuns I'm also Glasgow and considering the same. Can you let me know if you find anywhere more affordable please!