fertility hospital process

[Rocma]

We have been trying to conceive for 2 years. We went to the doctors one and a half years ago to try and work out the issues. My boyfriend has been for 2 sperm tests, both showing no sperm in sample. I have been for one test but had several more at the GPs. It has been a struggle all the way with our referral not being sent, having to tell the GPs ourselves what we think should be done. With a wait of at least 3 weeks for booking any appointment at GPs also I feel we are not much closer. My partner got sent to the hospital, 3 month wait to be told the GP had sent him to completely the wrong place, nothing to do with fertility. I am nearly 38 and feel like we are no where near getting an answer and no doctor seems to have a clue what the process is, where we need to be referred, how long it will be etc. Can anyone tell me what tests we should have been sent for? Should we have to be going back to the GP every time? How long should the process be taking? Is 1 and a half years of tests normal at this point? He had a blood test at the docs which told him he was producing sperm. But as I say the last hospital trip told us nothing as the wrong dept. They have referred him back to then GP. Any advice would be great. Our GP just doesn't seem to know

Ok. First off check your ccg guidelines for access to assisted reproductive technology. See what/ if you qualify for help. Get as much info as you can about what tests have been done, what results and what those results mean.

Some ccg will not fund ivf for women over 35, so if that's the case for you, you need to go private ASAP!!! I hope that's not the case for you.

You also need to be way more persistent with your gp - remember it doesn't actually matter to them if you conceive, it matters to you!!! So you need to be your own advocate here as some gps are woefully unprepared. Get to know what hospitals/ departments they should be referring you to. Get to know all your options - you have a lot of research ahead of you... oh and ask on the infertility boards for help.

And yes, it's normal for the referral and testing process to take year(s)... but time isn't on your side, so get on the phone and be a nuisance. Get to know as much as you can!!!

Thanks very much for your reply 🙂 I have been to the gp many times telling them which tests I have read online I should have. They send me for one and that’s it. it’s so frustrating. The doctor told me as my partner had no sperm in his sample that there is nothing else to do and I should look at getting a donor. I was very upset as I thought that was it but after reading I found it could be a blockage so went back and told him this. He then sent my partner to completely the wrong department to look into this. So more wasted time. So my problem is I can’t trust the gp or get any information as he just doesn’t know which is dreadful but true. We have been to another one but she seemed equally as clueless. So even though I’ve read online there is more they can do eg look into a blockage, maybe fix it? But I don’t know if this should take one one appointment? I Don’t know timescale. So was hoping for anyone else with a similar experience to give a clue. But thanks for the info above I’m going to look into the advice you have given further 🙂 it’s a good start. Just so frustrating and don’t have the money to go private, maybe the odd test but I think the procedures we need will be costly, we are going to investigate Anyway.

Badger the gp for a fertility clinic referral. They actually know what they're doing. Did they refer your oh to urology? I would expect the gp to do that given the sample.

Even if you WERE looking at a donor, you would still need to be working with a fertility clinic!!!

If the gp keeps being obstructive, go straight to private. That means ring up the fertility clinic you like and book an appointment.

And I wasn't ignoring what you said about not being able to afford, it's just that I don't think you have time to waste as nothing moves quickly with infertility.

Loans? Credit cards?

I feel for you so much, have been there many many times, it’s a nightmare. I would ask straight out for a referral for ivf, gp should understand that and be able to explain if you qualify. Is there any alternative gp’s at your surgery? Keep battling on, remember the GP has 8 minutes per appointment. This is your whole life. You aren’t wasting their time or badgering them, it’s hugely important.

@Buenavista I have seen a couple of other gps, 1 is particularly bad but the others have not seemed to really know much either. There are only 3. I have booked with a new one today, got to wait until the 20th November. I had not thought about asking to get on the list I wasn’t sure how it worked. But that’s great advice, thanks. It’s hard having no one to talk to or get advice from, I don’t know what’s normal and what isn’t. I didn’t realise it would take so long I can’t believe it’s 2 years already. My tests are all good but who knows how long it will be until my partner gets sorted if he even can. By that time I might have issues as I will be several years older and it might be too late for me. Yourself and @physicskate have given me new perspectives. You are right I keep thinking we might have a solution after the next test but I’ve been thinking like that for a long time. I will at least get a private consultation.

@Rocma yes please get on to your GP and be persistent, I am 43 and have been back and fourth to Dr's many times, knowing more than they do (albeit now and I still feel a bit in the dark about somethings!) and wasted 3 years in the process have been told cut off for NHS funding for IVF was 44 in my area when I was 40.

I had all required blood tests done at GP, referred to reproductive medicine dept at Hospital, had scans done and waited 2 years with recorded mail going missing waiting lists that were longer than you can imagine, the fertility clinic at hospital were woefully slow and kept missing sending my GP results or answering the phone, and at the end of it the consultant Gynaecologist at the hospital said cut off was 42 (by this time I was approaching 42) and that I had a 2% chance of conceiving through IVF! there were blunt gave me nothing I needed to really know.

I have to admit I buried my head in the sand for a year after all of that, they said mine and my husbands results were normal for my age and to keep trying naturally so for another year I did.

Finally consulted a private IVF clinic abroad and through help on this board and the infertility board have decided to undergo private treatment asap and now it can't come quickly enough.

Yes waiting lists on the NHS are long and getting things done is painfully slow so if you can go private then I would highly recommend you do, I wish I had known all of this at 40! good luck!

If he has no sperm in his samples then he needs to be referred to a urology clinic who can investigate it. A blood test can't say if you're producing sperm, was that FSH? Although you need more investigations through a fertility clinic, they can be notoriously bad at investigating the male side as they are gynaecologists, but there are things to explore even if there's no sperm in initial samples. Where abouts do you live?