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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

First Fertility Clinic Appointment Tomorrow

964 replies

dogmam · 04/01/2021 18:07

Me and my partner have our first appointment with our fertility clinic tomorrow!

We went to the GP after a year of TTC and after 21 day bloods and partners SA, we were referred straight away to the fertility clinic. GP tests were in October/November so it's moved along quite quickly so far.

Feeling slightly nervous but also excited to hopefully get some help! My partners SA showed low motility and morphology so I assume that will be discussed..
What else should i expect from this first appointment? Is there anything I should be asking?

Thanks in advance! I'll update this after the appointment tomorrow as I know there are a few others on here who are in a similar position and might find it useful.

OP posts:
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thislittlebird · 10/04/2021 22:57

@paintfairy yeah, it is. Seems unfair that the short straw just keeps being drawn Confused.

I was reading about Create's prices earlier, and the '3 cycle package' they do makes it sound like you get 3 attempts at IVF for the price. But they're actually only doing one attempt and collecting eggs over three cycles. It's all so confusing.

paintfairy · 10/04/2021 22:34

@thislittlebird about 1500 i think. Its a lot.

thislittlebird · 10/04/2021 22:18

@paintfairy I had no idea it was pricier. Ugh, I don't know if I want to know how much but I probably should investigate in case we need it.

paintfairy · 10/04/2021 21:12

@dogmam @thislittlebird with ivf the sperm only need to swim like a cm in a dish. And they pick the best ones. So even with low motility it's achievable. But if the sperm is pretty dire then they do ICSI which means they physically pick a sperm and put it in the egg. That's a lot more expensive though.

thislittlebird · 10/04/2021 21:02

@dogmam that's a good question. I would be interested to know that too. I should ask when we go. How does IVF work with low motility? I don't really understand but I know why ICSI they select a sperm and put it in, don't they?

He's been taking impryl as recommended by the fertility consultant we paid to see privately. But they say it needs three months and he hasn't been on it that long, probably half that time by the time he did the second test. I think he was really feeling quite fragile when he got these results, I felt bad for him. I think he's blaming himself a bit, which I don't want him to do. On the plus side his vitality did go up, and his sperm count is high, but the morphology got lower as did the motility. Ugh, very frustrating tbh.

Original poster
dogmam · 10/04/2021 20:52

Just catching up!

@juno231 the laparoscopy means you need to take 2 weeks off? What exactly is it? I've read about ladies getting one but haven't googled that one yet!

@thislittlebird oh no, no improvement with the motility, had your partner been taking any vitimans or anything just out if interest? Our first SA the motility was 15% and get the results of the second one soon and hoping wellman has helped.. a question I'm going to ask my clinic is what circumstance do you need to be in to be offered ICSI because I assumed that would be better for low motility but our last appointment only IVF was mentioned.
In terms of more tests, no, I think if SA is found as an issue then that's enough for them to offer IVF, which does worry me slightly as I feel like I would prefer a few more tests on me to see if there's anything else along side the motility issue.

I totally get the whole life on hold feeling, it's like absolutely everything depends on getting pregnant or not, and I think it's going to be even worse when lockdown ends.

OP posts:
thislittlebird · 07/04/2021 20:44

@paintfairy support for ovulation you mean? I don’t know if it’ll work with his results. I wish I could know for sure.

I just went to the infertility boards to try to work out the process of ivf, I don’t feel more enlightened yet, need to read more. I also booked a webinar with create and need to look into some others.

paintfairy · 07/04/2021 18:50

@thislittlebird they can still support you if you do it naturally? With the IUI they'll give me injections before and progesterone after.

thislittlebird · 07/04/2021 18:09

@paintfairy I was interested in ivf without the down regs because I'm a little worried about that but now I don't even know what to think. I have lots of eggs and decent AMH but low progesterone, they may or may not be coming out. I need to talk to an expert I guess, maybe get a consultation with a clinic or two lined up as well.

If I'm allowed one free round on the NHS then I'd obviously take it.

paintfairy · 07/04/2021 18:06

@thislittlebird yeah your eggs will be mega because they pump you with drugs. And they give you progesterone after. None of it relies on your own body doing anything. So that won't matter.

thislittlebird · 07/04/2021 18:03

Would my low progesterone have an impact on whether they'd send me to ivf? @paintfairy

I'm assuming IVF drugs override that problem, but I don't know.

paintfairy · 07/04/2021 17:52

@thislittlebird I think they will. If he's had 2 SA and both are crap then it tells them all they need to know i would have thought? So they should go to ivf without messing about. Fingers crossed for you.

thislittlebird · 07/04/2021 17:22

That sounds like a weight lifting thing @PurpleUnicorn01. I’ll google it.

Appointment is May 17, it’s our first referral.

I’ve had a really bad day at work today too and I’m so done with everything. I just want to go to bed and stay there but I can’t, I have a deadline for 11am and need to get some stuff finished. Just struggling to convince myself to work right now.

PurpleUnicorn01 · 07/04/2021 16:50

@thislittlebird that is poop. I would really recommend a supplement called Bulk Dominate for him. I used it on my husband and his count shots up after about 3 months.

When is your next appointment?

thislittlebird · 07/04/2021 16:41

Will they do that based on just those tests do you think? @Juno231

I keep worrying they’ll make us run tons again.

Juno231 · 07/04/2021 16:38

@thislittlebird ah that's poo! Either way you're heading straight for IVF ville so hopefully when you have your appointment you can maybe get the funding application going pretty much straight away?

thislittlebird · 07/04/2021 16:01

We just got the next SA results through and they’re worse than before 😭

I am so over it all. His motility has dropped from 14% to 9% and I don’t know if I’m ovulating. What an infertile pair we are.

PurpleUnicorn01 · 07/04/2021 15:02

@paintfairy that sounds like my OH results lol. Exciting though x

paintfairy · 07/04/2021 14:58

@PurpleUnicorn01 no idea what the issue is. The first SA was low motility. But the second it was in the normal range (not amazing though at 35%) and everything else is way above normal. I spot in my LP so they'll give me progesterone support. They'll also medicate slightly before. So who knows if it'll be enough to work! We shall see.
@Juno231 I am slightly scared about the whole thing. I sit here wondering if I really want to be running around after a 10 year old when I'm 50?! If it hasn't happened by next year though I'm not prepared to be any older. We'll have to forget it. DH is even older than I am. I'm struggling to drag myself around most days as it is. 🤣🤣🤣

Juno231 · 07/04/2021 14:46

@paintfairy I'm so excited for you!

@PurpleUnicorn01 hm maybe I should milk it...

PurpleUnicorn01 · 07/04/2021 14:22

@paintfairy, that sounds positive, i assume you have a male factor issue? I did think about IUI

@Juno231 well all im saying on that is get him to pamper you after lol

Juno231 · 07/04/2021 13:50

@PurpleUnicorn01 ha that would make sense but I'm more thinking - how long will they keep me after the procedure? Do I get OH to take time off work and wait in the waiting room or just call him once I know they'll release me relatively soon?

Oh and the procedure is on a Tuesday and I've taken the rest of the week off to recover but now I'm seeing lots of ladies saying it took them 2 weeks to recover... I guess we'll have to see!

paintfairy · 07/04/2021 13:46

@PurpleUnicorn01 no experience of clomid either.
I'm waiting for AF to arrive. Sunday or Monday in theory. So I can call the clinic and see about progressing with the IUI.

PurpleUnicorn01 · 07/04/2021 13:20

@Juno231, yes ive not had one but im sure it will be okay. It's normal to get anxious about a test. It's the what if? That pops into your head

Juno231 · 07/04/2021 13:10

@PurpleUnicorn01 sorry, haven't tried clomid :(

Cycle 17 started for me today so I guess the HSG didn't work its magic after all! Getting a little bit anxious about the logistics of the laparoscopy/hysteroscopy tbh - but that's just cause I'm an anxious person lol as there's not that much to worry about.