Advice re next steps please - private fertility clinics

[Viola123]

Good morning :)

I was hoping someone might be able to help me with how to approach next steps if we want to consider going private for fertility consultations/treatment.

My history: I'm 32. I only have one ovary. I had a chemical pregnancy in Jan 2018, a MMC at 9 weeks in Nov 2018 (ERPC) and have just started AF on what is now Cycle 10 with no hint of a BFP since Dec 2018. I use OPKs to track ovulation and always get strong positives and we try to DTD at least every other day during fertile week. Tried SMEP last cycle as well.

My cycles are 25-26 days, and my luteal phase looks to be 10 days. Was taking a B-50 complex but my luteal phase hasn't shifted and so currently just on pregnacare conception vitamins.

I have had days 2-5 blood tests (normal) and awaiting progesterone ('day 21') results (have a GP appt this week). I have also had an AMH test and follicle scan but they weren't done on CD3. AMH was 11, 10 follicles counted. Told this was good considering I only have one ovary. My husband has had his sperm tested privately and it came back as normal.

So on the face of it we are seemingly ok, and have just been really unlucky. But it's been heartbreaking and we both would like to line up anything we need to privately as from the NHS perspective, I think we would not be eligible for any further assistance given we've conceived before.

I'm in London and wondered if (a) anyone had any recommendations for private fertility clincs; and (b) what happens/how to approach setting up appointment etc given what I've described above?

Thanks so much if you've read this far - and huge virtual support to any of you going through similar things!

xx

Hi @Viola123 I'm sorry for your losses . I might have got the wrong end of the stick but do you or your partner have children? If not, then you would still be eligible for NHS treatment / support. I think they do also do investigations for those who do have children but they wouldn't be eligible for ivf.

Obviously if you want to go privately you can as it might be quicker.

I had a missed miscarriage in April this year and have been under an NHS fertility clinic since May. I had some tests with them and and now pregnant after following smep / waiting for our next consultant appointment.

Maybe have a chat with your GP and they can get the ball rolling. Dh and I booked a joint appointment to go through things.

Good luck xx

Thanks @VenusStarr! I actually posted a little while back under a different name (and then deleted my mumsnet account ) about an OPK surge early in my cycle and remember you replying. Amazing to hear you are currently pregnant and I wish you all the best for a happy and healthy 9 months.

No we don't have children. The GP/fertility chats we have had so far have been quite dismissive ie just keep trying, you are young, there's no reason you wont conceive. But I guess it doesn't feel like that to us as we first started TTC in 2017 and no closer to a much wanted baby so are considering going private to maybe speed things up a bit and take a bit more control.

If you dont mind me asking before you fell pregnant recently, what was/is the process for you under the NHS fertility clinic?

Xx

Thank you @Viola123, I'm only 6 weeks so very early day but really hoping its out rainbow 🌈 how funny we've spoken before :)

We've been trying since 2017 too. I'm 35 and dh is 37 so we went to the GP after a year with no luck. The GP sent me off to have the cd1-5 and cd21 blood tests, triple swabs (chlamydia etc) and an ultrasound. I also had to have an up to date smear test. Dh was sent for a sperm analysis, which we ended up paying privately for because the NHS test was pushed back 3 months.

Once all our tests were back I chased the GP to send our referral then we got a letter around 6 weeks later for an appointment in May. I was already pregnant by then but for some reason didn't cancel and I'm glad I didn't. So from first GP appointment in November 2018 to our first fertility appointment in May 2019 - it can take ages!

I was concerned we'd be taken off the list when we told the consultant about the pregnancy / miscarriage, but he didn't even bat an eye lid.

I've since had another ultrasound and the hsg (dye in tubes) test. I was due to have a hysteroscopy (camera in uterus) test last week but cancelled that when we found out I was pregnant.

I've still got the consultant appointment booked for September as I don't feel confident yet. Hoping a scan this week will reassure me.

Hope that helps? It might be worth looking up your local ccg guidelines. You might find that you are eligible to be seen quicker due to having a known challenge with only having one ovary. I think it helps going to the GP knowing was the nice guidelines are.

Xx

That's really helpful, thank you!

The reason I only have one ovary is that I sadly was diagnosed with an early form of ovarian cancer in 2017 - I'm under regular monitoring and all has been ok since (touch wood!). My oncology consultants are happy for me to TTC but I think it confuses things from the GP perspective as it's a bit more complicated. To say the last 2 years have been hard is an understatment!

Hearing your recent positive news is a massive boost and I will keep everything crossed that your pregnancy continues to go well :)

I think I will keep pushing on the GP when I see them this week for the day 21 results and also to get some clarity on what to expect/timescales etc.

If anyone else has any private fertility recommendations in London in the meantime to keep in mind, that would be great!