Fertility Treatment Advice...

[Hayleigh00]

Hello ladies,
Me and my partner have an appointment booked on the 8th November to start our fertility treatment journey.
My partner is booked to have a sperm count check on 23rd October so we will have the results from that before this appointment!

Can anyone who has been through this advise me on timelines, their experiences, what they tend to to first test wise etc.

I don't really know what to expect, i know what tests i need to be asking for etc but it would be nice to read other peoples journeys and experiences whilst we wait for our appointment!

Thank you!

Hey.
We had our first appointment back in June with our fertility clinic, I'll try and remeber all the stuff we've had to help you out.

Before our appt our GP did 21 day bloods on me and a sperm analysis on my DH. His sperm analysis came back with zero sperm (kind of expected) and we where referred straught to fertility.

First fertility appt they asked us a lot of lifestyle questions and about my cycle ect. They didn't focus too much on frequency of sex ect due to our zero sperm, but I believe they do in other circumstances. Because our GP has referred us early following our sperm results, I needed a whole lot more tests. Fertility clinic sent us with a list to the gp for more bloods and STI testing. The clinic did a scan of my follicles and we had a follow up appt 16 weeks later.

At the follow up appt the Dr we saw said we needed icsi ivf due to our frozen sperm. Things all started moving quickly from here (worth mentioning at this point we switched other to private patients so that may be why we have sped up) after that Dr's appt I've been sent for one more blood test, and another scan of my follicles. We had to watch some videos so we could consent.

We are due to start ivf at the start of my next cycle after 1 more nurse appointment to teach us about injections ect.

Hope that has helped a little! Our first gp appt was December so it's taken nearly 10 months to get to treatment stage.

@Mseddy
This is a huge help thank you!
I’ve had to blood test done by my gp to confirm ovulation and we will have the test results from my other half’s sperm check before our appointment with the GP so I guess that puts us a step ahead of things!
My other half does already have 2 kids from a previous relationship but he’s being checked just in case!
So hopefully they refer us straight away!
I’m really hoping we don’t end up needing IVF because we won’t get it on the NHS with my partner already having children! I have spoken to a fertility expert who has sent me a template letter for if I need to appeal to the committee board about getting it NHS funded, if not we will be left to go private and pay for it so I’m really hoping that won’t happen!

We are just waiting for my partner's sperm test to come back, he went to hospital last wed - my blood tests came back normal I had them done back in july.

Can I just ask how do we find out about his test results? Will our GP write to us?

X

How long were you trying before you decided to get tested? What made you think you need tested? I think I’m getting to that stage and feeling very disheartened. I have been to the GP who seem very dismissive of my worries so I’m considering going private for tests. Good luck to you all.

Myself and partner went to the drs July this year. I came off my contraception aug 2017 but my periods were all over the place and only became regular last nov 18.

When we booked the appointment in july we calculated it was coming up to 2years (but our dr said she wasnt to worried as shes calculating it from last nov so not even a year) I was gutted.

She could see how upset I was and said she will refer us for peace of mind also to get the ball rolling, as hes 9yrs older than me, I'm 28 and partner 37.

I am so anxious now waiting for my partners results to come back.

For your own sake I would just book an appointment with your dr and take it from there xx

@KLG12 I’m presuming you ring your gp? Or ring the number you rung to book in for the sperm test and ask them!?

@coran3 you have to have been trying for 12 months if you’re under 35 and 6 months if you’re over 35 I believe! We have been trying 12 months next month with no success, no chemicals, no MC nothing and I’ve never been pregnant before so it’s alarm flags to me, especially considering my partner already has 2 children so he likely isn’t the problem!

@KLG12 fingers crossed for you! Our appointment can’t come quick enough it really can’t! I just want answers as to why starting a family isn’t working for us 😩

@KLG12 we got a letter from our gp asking DH to make an appt. We rang and asked for results over the phone but they refused so we had to wait 2 weeks for an appt! It was frustrating but we knew what the result was going to be given the fact they wouldn't tell us over the phone!

We first went to the drs after a year, I had 21 day bloods and confirmed ovulation, OH had his sperm test, the doctor rang him after 2 weeks with the results. Came back low volume but that was because he missed the cup! 6 months later we went back, he had his 2nd test, all came back fine & I have my first fertility clinic app on the 31st October.

My partner got his results 3 weeks after the sample. Results were sent to his GP and then they called him to discuss over the phone. They weren't too helpful over the phone, just asked to speak to me and said I needed to get my tests done before referral (I have done now)

We asked for a copy of the report but still don't have it. Luckily had a GP appointment this morning and I asked and was told everything is fine but he has 1% morphology. I'm still waiting my blood tests results back and I had those done on Thursday for day 21 bloods. My GP did refer us to fertility clinic this morning when I was in though despite not having my results back

Yeah we got referred to fertility clinic before we got the results of OH 2nd sperm test, I did have to wait 6 weeks for the earliest appointment, so be prepared for a lot of waiting around.

@MrsChicken89 Yeah im not expecting it to be a fast process, ill relax a little once we get referred to someone, at least then i know its being looked at!

@hayley thank you and for you, who knew it would be this hard to fall pregnant! Every month feels like an eternity!

@mseddy I think once we have his results we will know if help is needed, he is convinced the problem is him. Hopefully we find out asap!

Thanks to everyone sharing there experience I dont feel as alone now!

Fingers crossed for you all xx