TTC and awaiting Fertility treatment- anyone else?

Wish1 · 2023-04-03T20:44:17+00:00

Hiya I am new to this group and wondered if there was anyone on the same boat as me. I have been referred for fertility treatment.

Diamond1985 · 11/08/2023 11:37

Hey,
I just joined today and this is my first post.
I am going through my first attempt at IVF and took the first Norethisterone tablet this morning.
I just wondered if anyone else has or is going through the process and could let me know how they feel/felt on the tablets - just a bit anxious on what to expect.
It would really help to hear some good news stories as well!
Thanks in advance!

SummerSun04 · 10/06/2023 04:28

Wish1 · 09/06/2023 09:56

@SummerSun04
Hiya
Im with you on this journey. 🫶
I also have PCOS and my AMH came back high.
Although there is an increased risk of OHSS i was told that the medicine used would be helpful towards managing this.
Think of it as a carefully created concoction.
Im saying this so confidently on here although I’m also worried.
My recent appointment was also really overwhelming with all the information and upon asking questions I kept being directed to what he had planned, this was rather frustrating to be honest.
I don’t think he understood half the questions I was asking.
I hope everything works out for you, be kind to yourself.
You are doing everything you can and that itself is amazing. Xx

Thank you Wish1. It seems like we've had similar appointments with our similarly-minded consultants!

I had a surprise call at 6pm on Friday from Admin telling me the costs. It sounded like a young lad and it felt a bit awkward talking about periods and start dates. I was pleased about the speed, but the costs were just generic ones and not tailored to me. I have to do a freeze-all and have another medical procedure before FET and it didn't include that. Again it left me feeling a bit like it's all very generic despite personal circumstances.

It's looking like it'll be closer to 9k. The costs make me feel a bit sick and guilty, but I also just want to get it over and done with and get started on the treatment. There's only one vial of the donor sperm available and I'm worried about it going to someone else. I don't like any others. I'm a bit frustrated that I need to wait till Monday now to speak to embryology and pay as they organize it, I can't sleep for thinking about it all.

What next steps have people got coming up? I'm finding this limbo stage difficult.

AlwaysPlayingYellowCar · 09/06/2023 11:43

Thank you, the same to you ❤️

Original poster

Wish1 · 09/06/2023 10:39

@Wish1 Please don’t apologise, you have done nothing wrong.
There are some fantastic charities that help with things like this.
Have you heard of Fertility Network?
If not have a look at their website they signpost you to groups you can join and other things that may be of interest to you.

Big virtual hugs for you ❤️

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AlwaysPlayingYellowCar · 09/06/2023 10:31

@Wish1 thank you! To be honest no, I don’t have a very good support network right now. I’m feeling very lonely and isolated. My friends either have kids, are pregnant or are happily child free. A lot else has gone wrong in my life and I’m really struggling because life without kids looks really bleak. Sorry, not in a great place right now.

Original poster

Wish1 · 09/06/2023 10:22

@AlwaysPlayingYellowCar Welcome to the group, it’s lovely to have you here.
I know it is super stressful and depressing but please know you are doing everything you can and that is amazing.
There are some fabulous stories on here (on other threads too) some I’d say are miraculous.
your feelings are so valid and I hope you can find some support on here.
Do you have a good support network around you?

I have struggled to come to terms with not being able to conceive (I mean I feel betrayed by my own body as that’s what I thought it should be good at) but I know that whatever happens I’ve tried my best and that is all I can do.

I’m also comforted by a quote I had seen that said ‘whatever is meant to be for you will reach you even if it’s beneath two mountains and whatever is not meant for you will not reach you even if it’s between your two lips’

The above might not help you at all (and I apologise in advance if it doesn’t help or makes you feel worse) but it really stuck with me so wanted to share this.

Please ask any questions you need as there are some fab people on here who are very generous with their time and answering questions.

Wishing you all the best. 🫶

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AlwaysPlayingYellowCar · 09/06/2023 10:06

Hi all, we’re going through initial tests at the GP surgery right now and then my GP is going to try to persuade the fertility clinic to accept a referral for us on special grounds. We are in our 40s, I’m 42, and we couldn’t TTC until recently because of some health issues so we don’t meet the usual criteria.

DH is doing his sperm analysis next week. I’ve had my day 3 tests and my FSH was very high so I’m worried it’s game over for us before we even start. Put it this way - it was 35. GP didn’t seem that worried, she said the normal range was 0-30 and it was just one result one day, but I’ve googled and things look super bleak for us.

I’m really struggling with depression and stress. Sending luck to the rest of you, will now go read the thread properly.

Original poster

Wish1 · 09/06/2023 09:56

@SummerSun04
Hiya
Im with you on this journey. 🫶
I also have PCOS and my AMH came back high.
Although there is an increased risk of OHSS i was told that the medicine used would be helpful towards managing this.
Think of it as a carefully created concoction.
Im saying this so confidently on here although I’m also worried.
My recent appointment was also really overwhelming with all the information and upon asking questions I kept being directed to what he had planned, this was rather frustrating to be honest.
I don’t think he understood half the questions I was asking.
I hope everything works out for you, be kind to yourself.
You are doing everything you can and that itself is amazing. Xx

OP posts:

SummerSun04 · 09/06/2023 03:39

I have PCOS so my AMH came back high and I'm worried about the increased risk of OHSS as the consultant said they'd "push me hard". I liked their positivity, as I'm trying to make enough embryos for 2 children, but I'm still nervous about the side effects. I can only afford one round of IVF so it's nerve-wracking.

I have suspected endo and completely forgot to bring it up, and the pain I've been having after I ovulate. I'm kicking myself for not asking, but at the time I was too overwhelmed with the amount of information that made little sense.

I suffer terribly from motion sickness and hormonal migraines, so I'm really worried about traveling to so many appointments. I asked if there was any variation in treatment that could reduce the number of visits, maybe lower meds over a longer time, or more over a short time, just to reduce the need for constant appointments. The consultant didn't understand my question and went ahead with their plan based on my AMH and weight.

I should receive the full costing on Monday. It's all getting real now! I wish it was more affordable, if things were different we'd have gone to Europe for treatment.

Original poster

Wish1 · 08/06/2023 21:35

@SummerSun04
Hey!
how did your appointment go?
I think the prices vary in different areas but it’s so frustrating how expensive IVF is whether NHS self funded or private clinic.

@Khanny awh, wishing you the best of luck!
🫶

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Khanny · 08/06/2023 09:09

SummerSun04 · 08/06/2023 01:23

I've just looked at the prices on that link and see it's for 2021, clinics tend to increase them every April so it may all be a bit higher now (e.g. on that one AMH was £70 in 2021 and I paid £140 self-funded this year).

@SummerSun04 when we had our first gyno appt in April the doctor said it would be approx £8k for us to self fund, and there is no guarantee that it would work😥

I know we have not been successful this cycle again and it has been 39 months we have not used contraception now. We can only just afford our bills every month and have no savings so IVF is out of the question unfortunately.

Hope your appt goes well today x

SummerSun04 · 08/06/2023 01:23

I've just looked at the prices on that link and see it's for 2021, clinics tend to increase them every April so it may all be a bit higher now (e.g. on that one AMH was £70 in 2021 and I paid £140 self-funded this year).

SummerSun04 · 08/06/2023 01:08

I have my second IVF appointment tomorrow. I'm excited and nervous as have been ready for this since 2019, which means I also feel a lot of pressure for it to work.

I'm also with an NHS clinic but self-funded, I'm not finding it's a lot cheaper as PP suggested though. I was given a ballpark figure of £8K but will get a definite price on the third appointment. Although cheaper than the independent private clinics, it doesn't offer the multi-cycle deals that private clinics do.

Original poster

Wish1 · 08/06/2023 00:40

@GSmed34
We were referred end of last year for next step - I wasn't sure what that next step was going to be but have now found out it's IVF.
The hosp confirmed there would be no point in doing IUI as I already had OI for 6 cycles.
We've had our first appointment so now just waiting for the info session.
Everything is so painfully slow although I can't really moan too much as we are going through NHS which honestly feels like a miracle.
Just hoping this works for us.
I never knew going in to my 30's was going to bring so much chaos. X

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Khanny · 07/06/2023 10:23

GSmed34 · 07/06/2023 09:59

@MK85 @Khanny I have the price list for the NHS treatment costs. It is a lot cheaper as MK said. Here is the link to the price list. In cotext, private Ovulation induction you're looking around £1,300 Vs. £800 ish from NHS. Hope that helps xx

https://nuh-fertility.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/27084129/NUH-Prices-2021-22.pdf

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@GSmed34 thank you! That’s great. I will have a look after work today x

GSmed34 · 07/06/2023 10:01

Wish1 · 06/06/2023 23:24

@GSmed34 Awh, sorry about the abandoned cycle.
keeping everything crossed for you.
I know how heartbreaking it can be during that period.
I had 6 cycles of clomid, according to my Gynae I was responding well but at the end of 6 cycles there was still no pregnancy so we’ve had to move to the next stage.
it’s so different for everyone but there are so many success stories with ovulation induction so I’m hoping it’ll be a success for you.
Remember to be kind to yourself 🫶

@Wish1 It's such a bugger when t happens. This time, for some reason, my body put up the barriers and just said nope and did nothing! bearing in mind I had to cancel previously cuz I had over stimmulated. So god knows what it's doing!

Where are you at now with it? Are you waiting for IVF or you doing IUI? xx

GSmed34 · 07/06/2023 09:59

MK85 · 06/06/2023 22:46

@Khanny my nhs clinic are about 2k cheaper than private for ivf

@MK85 @Khanny I have the price list for the NHS treatment costs. It is a lot cheaper as MK said. Here is the link to the price list. In cotext, private Ovulation induction you're looking around £1,300 Vs. £800 ish from NHS. Hope that helps xx

https://nuh-fertility.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/27084129/NUH-Prices-2021-22.pdf

Original poster

Wish1 · 06/06/2023 23:40

I would second this! Check out NHS clinics and compare prices.
l can’t believe how expensive everything is.
I mean even supplements are extortionate- we started taking this new supplement and each month it’s about £90!!!

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Original poster

Wish1 · 06/06/2023 23:36

The rules are so annoying!
I have friends who are struggling to have their second and are not eligible for funding and it’s so expensive to private fund especially in the current climate.
I don’t see why the rule exists to be honest but I also understand they need to draw a line somewhere.
wishing you the best of luck. X

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Original poster

Wish1 · 06/06/2023 23:31

How exciting!
wishing you all the luck 🫶
We were ready to go private because of the waitlists I kept hearing about but then our referral happened quite quickly and we were given an initial appointment.
We are eligible for funding as we do not have any other children so best decision was to go ahead with that.
sadly life threw more curveballs and they’ve found a polyp on my cervix so awaiting next steps for this but hoping things will move fast. X

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Original poster

Wish1 · 06/06/2023 23:26

@MK85 best of luck!
how are you getting on with clomid? X

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Original poster

Wish1 · 06/06/2023 23:24

@GSmed34 Awh, sorry about the abandoned cycle.
keeping everything crossed for you.
I know how heartbreaking it can be during that period.
I had 6 cycles of clomid, according to my Gynae I was responding well but at the end of 6 cycles there was still no pregnancy so we’ve had to move to the next stage.
it’s so different for everyone but there are so many success stories with ovulation induction so I’m hoping it’ll be a success for you.
Remember to be kind to yourself 🫶

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MK85 · 06/06/2023 22:46

@Khanny my nhs clinic are about 2k cheaper than private for ivf

Khanny · 06/06/2023 22:37

MK85 · 06/06/2023 19:39

@khanny I don't know about all nhs clinics but I know many nhs clinics also offer private treatment. It's at a far greater reduced cost than an independent private clinic

@MK85 thank you, I will most certainly look into that x

BabyMamma7 · 06/06/2023 19:51

I'm TTC whilst waiting on FT. Just had a HSG a few days ago, waiting on an appointment with the fertility clinic.

I'm 42, 3 kids from previous marriage, DH 48, 2 kids from previous. He had a vasectomy 13 years ago...we had it reversed in 2022 to TTC our own. I got a bfp in Jan and miscarried very early, another in April.

All my bloods are good, DH has low motility but higher than average count.

We will need to self fund any treatment