Fertility Appointments and Beyond.... the journey continues

@beckyCarlos I think MIL needs to go on an information diet 😬. There's no reason why she needs to know about your medical procedures, especially if this is how she reacts.

@kay00 I sent my referral in beginning of August I think and got it approved first week of Sep. The confirmation came directly with an appointment to get everything rolling for just five days later!

@beckyCarlos @Kay00 @thislittlebird

Hello 😊

I'm assuming we will get the results on the 14th so not long now...considering the 1st one was done in July! I did keep chasing the result and they said it can take up to 8 weeks...then got a letter through for 2nd one...and before that 8 weeks were up we had this appointment. My GP hasn't had the results on their system - they requested the first one initially but the clinic is the one doing it and requested 2nd.

DH has a diagnosed hormone condition...although he gets yearly checks and last years testosterone was fine- his consultant said it shouldn't affect fertility....I'm sure the fertility specialist may pick up on different things though 🤣 Don't think DH will cope if results aren't ok....although I'm trying to prepare him by letting him know there's medication to try first if there are issues etc.

Hey @CuriousAries :) my husband had 2, which were weirdly impossible to get the results for (first one, the practice nurse rang and said the department had been 'unable to analyse the sample' which was just a lie 🤣 they had, and it was below normal on all aspects, and they need a repeat in that case which we did, and never received the results for, the practice said they'd be sent straight to the clinic...) then we had our contutants appointment with the clinic who said thats never happened ever because its a different department etc and they legally cant transfer info. So after that, when my husband went back to the practice for a STI screen (required by clinic) he asked the receptionist and she said they HAD been sent to the clinic (they hadnt, I had to photograph them and send by email) but she printed copies of BOTH for him there and then 🙄

If there's anything I've learnt over the last year or so, its ask someone else, ask the same person the question in a different way, ask on a different day, and eventually you'll get what you're after 😅 its not in my nature to be what I see as 'a pain' but it seems to be the only thing that gets things moving! X

@thislittlebird yes, I have have two rounds of IVF private before an NHS funded cycle, and on the NHS they will cover you for two transfers. Yes, im sure one of the private doctors will sign off on what I need. I'm feeling much more equipped.

@curiousAries welcome! Perhaps your DHs initial SA was inconclusive?

@Kay00 yeah it really is all so variable by area! Did they say if you're allowed to do private before NHS in your CCG? And how many transfers? Mine was quite clear but not sure everyone's is. May isn't too far. On the plus side you have a private doc who can write a letter telling your GP what's wrong and what you've tried.

@CuriousAries welcome! When do you expect DH's results?

Hello... new poster in MN.

Hoping I can join in this thread.

Initial appointment on 14th January 2022 in Scotland after the general tests done by GP 6 months ago. DH has had to go for 2 SA...with no reason or results yet.

Well, I still have a couple of Clomid cycles to do, which will take me up to mid-March, then it's only a couple of cycles before I hit the two year mark, so maybe an NHS funded cycle will be a possibility first.

My next task is to contact my fertility clinic when my 5th Clomid cycle starts to arrange a follow up appointment with the consultant, and we can start discussing my options.

Thanks again ladies xx

Thank you all, you're painting quite the differing picture! We only have one clinic in Exeter based at the hospital, but CRGW who have a much better rating have clinics in Bristol, Cardiff and Plymouth and are opening one in Exeter in 2022.

@thislittlebird my CCG will allow me 1 cycle of IVF on the NHS if I am under 40. But its not clear to me if I need to have been trying for 2 x years (which will be in May 2022), if this is the case then we'll be looking to do a self funded cycle first I imagine.

@beckycarlos how annoying about that polyp 😒

@kay00 our GP referred us direct in March (and did initial bloods and separate referal for husbands SA) waited until july for initial consultant appointment, ordered more tests, which were done in Aug, then waited until october for next consult (amh bloods took 6 weeks to be processed!) Then had nurse consultation and cycle planning in Dec. Should be downregging soon but have a polyp 🙄 so waiting 4-6 weeks for removal.

Didnt have a choice, but also didn't ask, as we're in West Yorkshire, suspect its referral straight to Leeds as the only option anyway. From what I've heard things go a lot quicker privately here but no current person experience of it x

@thislittlebird yes thats correct. I was told this was the same for most areas. They were using one per main city.

@PurpleUnicorn01 was it the only one open at the time?

@Kay00 at the time due to Covid there was only one hospital which was Birmingham Women’s. They did my funding application themselves.

@Kay00 I think my wait is longer than lots of people on here, some London clinics have longer waiting lists than many on here from what I’ve seen. What’s the IVF CCG guidance in your area, what do you get and so on?

Initially we were sent to gynaecology by the GP and had to wait from Feb to May for that. Gynaecology sent us packing in early May, then we changed GPs in June and asked the new GP to refer us directly based on letters from private consultants we saw in late May/early June. If I’d known a GP could do this at the time I would have gone straight to them but you live and learn.

The clinic applied for funding for us, we didn’t know they would, but we suddenly received an email saying it was approved. Other people I know with Guys had to have a virtual appointment to complete the funding application from what I recall. I assume we skipped this step because of the private letters, that’s my best guess anyway.

My GP asked me if I’d prefer to be referred to Guys or Kings, basically. I could have asked for elsewhere, or to be referred to the clinic my private doctors were at IF they had an nhs arm, but they didn’t so I couldn’t. So I requested Guys because it’s easier to get to for us. Again, I think this is one of those odd things that varies, @PurpleUnicorn01 might have had little or lots of choice. Depends where you are.

Thank you @thislittlebird. It sounds like you both got the funding fairly quickly (I assumed this would take months) but the wait for IVF varies.

Did you both apply for funding via your GP? Or did your fertility clinic apply for you? And are you restricted by which clinic will undertake your NHS IVF treatment?

Sorry for all the questions!!

@Kay00 happy new year! I started talking to private in May/June. Needed a hycosy and sperm dna fragmentation etc but could have started August/September really. NHS GP referral to the fertility clinic was the very end of June. My funding was approved via email in late July/early August and I was invited to the clinic for an appointment to do all the consents and have a scan/bloods etc on 31 August. If it wasn’t for Christmas I would have started IVF in December, but it’s now January instead.

Unlike for @PurpleUnicorn01 the forms and funding bit was fast. The waiting list for ivf has been 4 months really, not accounting for my Xmas delays, whereas the funding and forms etc was 4 or 5 weeks from GP referral. I think it varies everywhere but for me having the private consultant letters saying we were eligible for help and what was wrong sped that part up.

Thank you @purpleunicorn01 that's very helpful and interesting!!

Also @Kay00 with nhs the longest part is getting to them filling and sending your funding forms. Once thats sent your good to go.

@Kay00 with nhs funding was approved within 2 weeks even though they said 6 weeks and i think we started maybe 3 weeks after that. I did used to ring the clinc regularly soon as the funding was approved for a start slot so id recommend calling your centre soon as you have approval.

With private there's no wait at all for anything. Its purely dependent on your cycle.

I had nhs first round and private now.

Happy New Year ladies!

I also have some IVF questions.

For those of you who hot NHS funding, how long did the funding take to come through, and how long after that did you start treatment?

And for those of you paying private, how long was it between your first appointment with the clinic and your treatment starting?

I'm just trying to gauge whether it would be worth waiting for NHS funding or to got private first.

Hi Ladies, those of you who have cycled with King's fertility, were you told that you had to be covid vaccinated prior to treatment?

Hi All,

Nice to hear from you all.

Everyones been busy by the looks of it.

I love it how people try and give advise yet have no clue how this journey actually feels.

Ive just had my baseline scan. Starting the next round of drugs in a couple of days to hopefully grow a decent lining.

How are you ladies getting on? I know some are awaiting a new year start. Maybe 2022 could be the baby year ladies x

@beckyCarlos tell your MIL to stick it where the sun don't shine she has no rights to make comments like that.

@Gracie2021 thanks. I bet she is a cutie! and @Kay00 and yours as well! Gorgeous greyhounds.

@thislittlebird Take it easy hun. Worrying does no good... Sorry I don't understand what your blood test results mean but support as always x

Oh and these were my PCOS blood test results in full. So I guess based on that I don’t have it? Maybe I just have high prolactin but it looks like the doc wants me to do the prolactin test that takes two hours ☹️

@beckyCarlos oh that sounds stressful, I would not be thrilled by that convo. Hope you’re feeling better today.

@Kay00 love the photos. I got annoyed that this is my third Christmas where it’s failed. I don’t understand why I can’t be the lucky people

@Gracie2021 the new puppy sounds great, maybe show us pictures 👀. I wish it was me. We have been toying with the idea for a while but I’m so scared of doing it and regretting it, or not coping if the ivf works and we have a dog, and wondering where I’m going to fit a dog’s stuff in this house never mind a baby too. I overthink everything and I kinda wish we’d just done it months ago.

I have some allergy issues so I can’t have any high shedding dogs, so will need a poodle or bichon or a mix of them. I’m ok with shih tzus too. My mum has had these in the past, so I’m fine with that, but the adoption places will never let you have them with small kids and I worry it won’t work out with baby and dog...ugh. I just want something to be an easy decision and be ok and work out and make me happy and not stress me out. Everything stresses me out.

Speaking of which I’ve been up all night worrying about IVF and my protocol and it all not working. I’m tired. I wanted to lose a few pounds but the first few days of this plan have gone to hell between booster side effects, migraine and now sleeplessness. I’ve worked out once all week and then I got ill again.