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Original poster

IVF Clinics in London - Should I Switch or Stay with My Current Clinic?

35 replies

extremelychocolateymilkroll · 02/04/2009 16:10

Just wondering if anyone has any ideas as to whether it's a good idea to change clinics after a couple of cycles? After a naturally conceived miscarriage in December 05 I've had 2 cycles at the ACU at Chelsea and Westminster. Had dd from first cycle, 2nd cycle failed but was able to freeze some eggs and became pregnant from that cycle but miscarried 3 weeks ago at 9 weeks. I'm 42 in July so realise that age is obviously affecting the quality of my eggs. In a way the clinics are not really doing that much with IVF. Once the correct drug dosage is achieved and providing they can take out and return the eggs okay there's not much more involved. On the failed cycle had a different doctor put them back - don't know if that made a difference. The Lister obviously has a good reputation, deals with many more women and has a better success rate for my age group - 23% compared to 16% for Chelsea and Westminster. Then of course there's ARGC which seems to achieve better results by monitoring women more closely.

Have an appointment booked at the Lister for end April and waiting to hear back from ARGC just to hear what they say - but of course they will want to sell their clinics. Anyone have any advice? TIA

OP posts:
Original poster
extremelychocolateymilkroll · 03/04/2009 13:02

Hi Caitni. Good to hear from you.

It's interesting what you say about the different approaches the clinics have. A friend of mine is pregnant with her 3rd cycle under Dr Parikh. She had a baby with her 2nd cycle as well. She was really impressed with Dr Parikh - she found her quietly confident and honest. Have you had any cycles anywhere else?

I was wondering if one of the difference between ARGC and other clinics was the daily scans to check progress with follicles - this seems to the opinions of some people.

I have posted a couple of questions in Fertility Friends but haven't had any response yet. Makes you appreciate MN even more! I do know what you mean about the huns and emoticons. The flashing is giving me a bit of a headache. I saw you can turn them off but haven't got around to it yet.

Best of luck.

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Caitni · 03/04/2009 12:19

hi extremelychoclateymilkroll

so sorry to hear about your m/c (and yours Onlyaphase ).

I'm planning to start IVF at the Lister in a couple of months. I was initially impressed by their stats but am now more comfortable with the collegiate atmosphere there, as Sam Abdallah (who I saw initially but I'm now under Dr Jaya Parikh) is quite anti the idea of "brand name" IVF consultants where women are deperate to see a particular doctor as a "miracle worker". This was part of what made me uncomfortable about the ARGC as it's all about Mr Taranissi there (though their stats are so impressive that it's hard not to be tempted).

I actually asked about this at the Lister on my first consultatation and was told that it would depend on the outcomes but that if there was no success (live birth) after three cycles then it may be best for the patient to move clinics. Having said that, Mr Abdallah went on to emphasise that he's also happy to treat women who've had failed cycles elsewhere...

Going to see a few clinics (and checking out Fertility Friends - though it's far too "hun"/emoticon heavy for me to post there!) is a good idea. Whatever you decide I hope you get excellent treatment and you get your baby

Original poster
extremelychocolateymilkroll · 03/04/2009 11:40

Bump.

OP posts:
Original poster
extremelychocolateymilkroll · 02/04/2009 23:19

Glad to hear you're doing okay Onlyaphase and that the bleeding didn't last too long. I agree that we just need to do all we can so that we don't regret not trying later. It's great that you've got a good clinic. How old is your dd?

Hi soosy - good to meet another C+W veteran. VERY interesting what you say re. the consultant. Would love to check that it's the same consultant we're thinking of - are you emailable through CAT? Very interesting what you were told about the embryologist - have always been very impressed with the embryologists at C+W.

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soosy · 02/04/2009 20:22

Only so sorry to hear your news - I hope you are ok and send lots of love. You are right about regrets and yes I too am at it again and strangely the Chelsea and Westminster!

extremely I think I can guess who your consultant was and not wanting to mention names I have a friend who thinks he may be on the autistic spectrum (my friends daughter has asperger's, so she wasn't being rude just pointing out a fact from her experiences).

I have been with the C&W for 11years I have spoken with my preferred consultant may times about different treatment and there is little evidence to support much of it. They also as a NHS clinic have to treat every one, I know ARGC are very picky about their clients and when they do their cycles, as for them their success rate is everything. I just think I don't get pregnant very easily.

I think the most important thing is you feel comfortable at your chosen clinic as probably being relaxed is the most important thing when doing IVF. Incidentally Sam Abdullah at The Lister was one of the consultants I used to see at C&W. Finally I was told by my Obstetrician who delivered my darling boy that it was the embryologist who was the most important person in all this! Good Luck with whatever you decide.

Onlyaphase · 02/04/2009 20:03

Hi Chocolatey - thanks for asking, I'm actually doing fine. My bleeding only lasted a week and was relatively painless in comparison to some periods, so I guess I'm back to normal physically now. Good that your bleeding has slowed down, hope it stops soon.

I was all set to quit IVF after the last cycle, but after the miscarriage I had a re-think and realised that it wasn't that I couldn't face any more IVF, but that it was the trek to the clinic I couldn't face. I was still using my old clinic in the south, we used to live so close to them, they had great results and we had DD on our first cycle with them.....but they are a long way away and I was sick of the travelling. So, when I looked locally I was really pleased to find a good hospital based clinic, with fab results (1 in 3 for my age group) and I am so pleased we have decided to go ahead.

I think the problem is that age-wise we have to rush ahead now, we can't delay. For me the key is that I don't want to regret anything in 5 years time, I don't want to look back and wish I'd had more cycles now. If things don't work out then so be it, but I feel that I really want to give it one or two last shots now.

Completely agree that visiting the potential clinics is the best way forward. Good luck with the visits

Original poster
extremelychocolateymilkroll · 02/04/2009 17:11

Thanks MrsHappy. Will look at UCH and Fertility Friends. I alsways susspected ARGC of being a bit dodgy to be able to produce such results but it does seem from what a lot of people say that the extra monitoring they do has a lot to do with it. A friend of mine has a friend with PCOS who had 9 failed cycles, went to ARGC and on her first cycle there had twins and 6 frozen embryos. It's kind of hard not to be swayed by anecdotal experience like that.

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Original poster
extremelychocolateymilkroll · 02/04/2009 17:08

Thanks onlyaphase. How are things with you - how are you feeling? I'm still getting very light bleeding and it's 3 weeks today since it started. My GP said that it was impossible to say how long the bleeding would last but what was important was that it was getting lighter. I'm still feeling a bit more tired than usual but nothing as bad as a week or so after the bleeding.

Your comment that your consultant had said that miscarriage was a positive sign was one of the factors which contributed to me thinking of having another cycle. I had been thinking to myself that it would have been better all round if I had just had another failed cycle rather than a positive test and then a miscarriage but his comments - and those of other people - made me review this and think it might be worth giving it another shot. I also spoke to my doctor re. my concerns about long term effects of the drugs and she said that it was not really significant compared to taking the Pill for years or being on HRT.

I think I've become hardened not to be too bothered by the bedside manner - or lack of it - of the nurses and doctors. The doctor who did the egg collection for our first cycle says fairly insensitive things quite regularly. After putting back the two embryos this time he said, presciently as it happened, "If they're any good, they'll stick". But he was partly responsible for our daughter so I can't hold it against him or expect too much really. The other doctor who put the eggs back on that occasion spent the whole time on our first consultation with him looking at my husband - except when he looked at me to say "Well, we can't make you any younger" - which strangely enough wasn't why we had gone to see him. But again, he was partly responsible for dd.

I agree that results are the most significant factor and if the clinic has done more procedures I guess they should be more efficient at it. The Lister did 476 cycles for my age group and Chelsea and Westminster 48 in the last recorded year. I know that I have read that you should lie down for 30 minutes after the eggs have been put back. At C+W the most I managed was 10 minutes before being shunted off whereas a friend said that at the Cromwell they insisted that you wait for half an hour.

I've got an appointment booked for the Lister at the end of April and need to call ARGC back on Monday - apparently there's a 6-8 week wait for a visit there.

OP posts:
MrsHappy · 02/04/2009 17:06

Most of the clinics run open evenings so you can go along and get a feel for the place. I felt it worth paying for an initial consultation so I could meet a consultant on my own and work out if I felt comfortable. I guess you still need to work out if you want to move at all, and seeing the places might just help with that.

ARGC does get good results although the process seemed somewhat rigorous to me and I ended up thinking of it as the clinic of last resort. Of course, many women swear by the place.

Have you considered the UCH ACU? I believe their current results are amongst the best. See here. I had some investigations there but then conceived naturally so don't know how they go about IVF, although from what I have read they seem quite thorough - doing a dummy transfer etc.

Have you also considered asking the ladies on Fertility Friends about their experiences of the different clinics? Some of them have been at more than one and so might have a helpful perspective to offer.

Onlyaphase · 02/04/2009 16:31

I'm in the process of changing clinics at the moment, caused by a 250 mile move north, and had much the same debate with myself before changing clinics.

I would say that you really have to go on results for your age group to a large extent. It is nice to be able to go back to a clinic where you know the nurses and receptionists by name, but I think the most recent live birth results are the key. Also, the more women undergoing treatment the better in some respects - for example, the busier clinic will do egg collections each day, so you aren't made to fit in with their timing requirements over your own cycles.

Is it possible for you to visit the other clinics and have a consultation first, to see how they would treat you? This might help clarify your thoughts.

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