NHS v Private

[scottishcharlotte]

I need some advice. I stopped the pill 8 months ago and my GP has confirmed that I am not ovulating. Have been ranging from 30 cycle to 10 week cycle and currently on a very,very light 32 day cycle - so not hopeful of getting 'back to normal' anytime soon .

I have private medical insurance through my employment which will pay for treatment to diagnose the cause of the infertility - no probs with DH he is fine! Insurance will not however pay for any treatment in obtaining conception post-diagnosis.

My GP has already referred me to my NHS hospital and have an appointment in April - when I expect to be put on clomid. Should I ask for a private referral or stick with the NHS. I was wondering if anyone knows how much it will cost to be treated with clomid privately and whether you have to cancel any NHS referrals if you ask for a private referral.

In the initial stages at least you are better off under the NHS.

I went under the NHS originally along with paying for some tests privately as these could not be readily done under the NHS. My NHS cons and private based cons were one and the same.

Have you actually been given a diagnosis of the underlying problem to date?. I would say that a common cause of infrequent to non ovulation is a condition called PCO (polycystic ovaries) or its related syndrome called PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome).

With regards to clomid ensure you are closely monitored whilst on it (via blood tests and ultrasounds) particularly if either of the above are issues.

No diagnosis as yet. Although GP says unlikely to be PCO as I had an ultrasound 3 yrs ago for a pain in my side - showed no signs of PCO. All inital blood tests came back fine too - apart from 21 day test which showed no ovualtion.

Am due for another ultrasound as had a constant dull ache on right hand side (near hip bone) for a number of months. Three sessions of reflexology has made this disappear though! GP thinks may have cysts on ovaries, but not PCO, if that makes sense.

Worried that this is the effects of the pill - was on it for nearly 14 years and now thinking that I should have stopped taking it a lot earlier!

The pill would not have caused this so would not worry on that score. If anything the pill has masked the underlying problem which has always been there.

The cystic follicles associated with PCO do disappear (only to be replaced by further follicles) and they can be very small. it can take a highly skilled operator to spot them.

The irregular periods and non ovulation are certainly indicators of an ovulatory problem.

Cannot quite fathom the GP saying its unlikely to be PCO based on an ultrasound done three years ago!!. Many GPs can be very ignorant of PCO.

What blood tests were done - I would argue that if a day 21 showed no ovulation then your LH and FSH levels are awry too. Ideally these two hormones (these are very important as they start the whole ovulation process) should be the same; an imbalance would certainly indicate hormonal problems. Thus it is important that both LH and FSH are compared. If your GP did not compare them then the test is meaningless.

Hopefully the referral to the gynae will give you some concrete answers - you certainly have not had any from the GP thus far.