First Fertility Clinic Appointment Tomorrow

[dogmam]

Me and my partner have our first appointment with our fertility clinic tomorrow!

We went to the GP after a year of TTC and after 21 day bloods and partners SA, we were referred straight away to the fertility clinic. GP tests were in October/November so it's moved along quite quickly so far.

Feeling slightly nervous but also excited to hopefully get some help! My partners SA showed low motility and morphology so I assume that will be discussed..
What else should i expect from this first appointment? Is there anything I should be asking?

Thanks in advance! I'll update this after the appointment tomorrow as I know there are a few others on here who are in a similar position and might find it useful.

Sorry some of you here will have to read this on another thread I’ve always posted this in .

Virtually met with Alison Taylor at the Lister and she was great. Wasn’t pushy about ivf, is going to wait for my husband’s test results with Mr Ramsay and then meet us again to discuss options. Either a) ovulation induction with letrozole plus trigger shot and scans for a couple of months before ivf or b) straight to short protocol ivf/icsi if his dna frag is poor.

She was very pro natural conception and wants me to have a hycosy so we have the best chance, also going to write a letter so we can challenge our “unexplained” classification with the NHS because she thinks we should get our tests and treatment entitlement. Really impressed with her, a very nice doctor that filled me with confidence tbh.

Gave me the stats for ivf success with my age and high amh, was very positive, and raised the issue of OHSS and getting the balance right. Honestly a relief after all the horrible doctor encounters I’ve had the last year.

@thislittlebird I'm so pleased for you! Sounds super positive :) When are OH's SA results due back in?

@Juno231 he could have gone for the tests on the day but he said he had to get to work so annoyingly they’re not until next week sometime now. Then about 3-4 weeks after that we should have all the results. Would be nice to get a plan in place by early July, I’m keen to get started. Although we’re away for a week in July so maybe not then.

@thislittlebird that's great news! Sounds like good progress is being made with this new team of experts My OH has his SA next week too. Fingers crossed they both have decent swimmers!

Hi ladies. So I have had my implications appointment today, before consent forms tomorrow. It was to go through out treatment plan, short protocol confirmed and I'll be on Rekovelle injections, couldn't confirm exactly how long as that will depend on how I respond. She said I'll be closely monitored for OHSS even though my AMH isn't sky high at 34.1 and AFC 32. She went through the whole process in detail, how it works etc. Told me to take folic acid and Vit D, nothing else, also mentioned no intense exercise during treatment, but to stay active with plenty of walks. She said not to lie in bed all the time and to just live as normally as possible. Lots of pretty generic advice but it was really helpful.

I have to ring them when my next cycle is starts and then it's all happening! Although she did mention the clinic is shut for a deep clean for 3 weeks currently so there's a possibility due to how busy they'll be when they reopen that it might be my July cycle when I start, but either way is fine, just a pain not knowing until I ring them in at the end of this month. Final bloods, weight etc tomorrow aswell.

@thislittlebird I am so pleased for you. Finally getting somewhere. It would be even better if you manage to get some treatment entitlement through the nhs.

@dogmam woop full steam ahead! Short protocol is good - I think long protocol would feel like eons to me. Typical about the full clean though.... Sounds like something they should be able to do without shutting the whole clinic down for 3 weeks?

@Kay00 we already know he has wonky swimmers unfortunately, just need to see how bad the dna fragmentation is.

@dogmam we have similar situations and the doctor today said she wants to get the balance right to avoid OHSS etc. I guess levels like ours are still high enough to respond very well, or too well. Would be nice for the nhs to recognise our issues at least, it’s been a frustrating few months. She was very confused by their lack of investigations and the dismissal of us.

I’m just waiting for my period to start in the next day or so and then I need to book a hycosy with them. I don’t want one but I think it’ll be good to get it done this cycle so I don’t have a month to worry about it.

Hi Guys, how are you all doing? Haven't checked in with you all.

So im going to start my treatment either this month or next month cycle depending. Woohoo. They said i need a blood test before i start? What is that for?

Feel nervous and excited. We are on long protocol icsi.

@PurpleUnicorn01 woop that's come round quickly I feel! No idea about the blood test. Let us know as things progress though - I'd love to hear about the meds and how you feel etc :)

@Juno231 i know it has. Im so excited. Argh! How are u getting on?

Very exciting! @PurpleUnicorn01

The end of the waiting (at least for now) is the dream.

@PurpleUnicorn01 wow that’s great! Glad things are speeding along for you! I’ve got a hycosy booked in for July. Then it’s just waiting until our 2 years is up to apply for IVF. A friend just got pregnant on her first month of trying and it’s all so depressing. Lots of tinkly laughs and “ooo it just happened! We must be super fertile”. Grrr.

Hi ladies

I had my consent appointment yesterday (face to face at the clinic) so everything signed and ready to go! I've got to ring up when my cycle starts which is not until 30th June as I'm on my period now, and hope to start then if there's space, if not it'll be towards the end of July. Either way I can't believe it's happening!
My consent appointment was really good yestersay, both me and my partner had bloods done (@purpleunicorn01 it's for screening for HIV, Hep B and C) and I got weighed.
My protocol is in line with my normal cycle so I'll start Rekovelle stims which the dose is specific to my AMH and my weight to controll OHSS and focus on quality eggs not necessarily quantity. Then from day 5 of stims I'll start Cetrotide injections which blocks premature ovulation. Go in for scans I'm between to check for follicle growth and then I'll be told to do the HCG trigger ready for egg collection.
It was all very positive and so informative, we really feel like we know exactly what the plan is now which is good. She did have to go through success rates which but a bit of a dampner on it but it's facts.

@juno231 to be honest I'm not sure about the whole shut down for the clinic as they keep mentioning it but obviously we were there yesterday so I'm really not sure. Doesn't seem yo be affecting us so that's good.

@thislittlebird I wonder then if you do go down the ivf/ICSI route you'll be put on a Rekovelle too? My clinic has actually only been using it for just over a year but has had good resulsts from it and I really like how it's tailored to specific weight and AMH.

@purpleunicorn01 looks like we will be starting at the same time! How are you feeling? I'm nervous/excited!

@myfavouritefudgecake pleased you have your Hycosy booked in, at least it's progress and hopefully not a long wait for treatment once you reach the two year mark. I know exactly how you're feeling with your friends news.. I've just recently had the same from the one friend I've told we are going through this so feels like I've lost my only real life support.

@dogmam could be a deep clean for the clinic-y parts where they do EC and embryo transfers and therefore not affecting you right now? So pleased it's all set up for you! Fingers crossed you can get started next cycle!

@PurpleUnicorn01 all good, nothing to report as per usual! FW starting next week but feeling pretty pointless lol. If it wasnt for the consultant asking us to "try really hard" until the next appointment I'd have been tempted to just foret about it.

@Myfavouritefudgecake tell me about it! I had another pregnancy announcement this week - she looks 4-5 months pregnant and they only got married in Dec... another first or second cycle unicorn then!

I typed a response out and it’s vanished ugh.

@dogmam that’s exciting! Very interesting on the Rekovelle, I’ve not heard of it, I’ll have to see what’s suggested and maybe mention it. What’s the weight aspect? I’m about one stone overweight right now.

Stats wise, I was pleasantly surprised by the ones the Lister gave me. They have their own calculator and based on my age and AMH the regular stats jump up to a pregnancy rate of 52%, 35% LBR. Was an improvement upon the regular numbers for my age, anyway. You’re younger so even better still. Obviously that doesn’t account for any unforeseen obstacles but still, I’ll take what I can get.

@dogmam. I think we will literally be a couple weeks apart as im due on the day after my consent call. So if i don't start this month i will also start mid july. Feeling nervous and excited. I never look at the success rate, your body us unique. Think postive always.

@Juno231 don't give up ive heard stories where people conceive just before they are due the ivf.

Like @PurpleUnicorn01 said, don’t give up but I get it @Juno231. It feels pointless sometimes, feels like it hasn’t worked so far so why will it now? Has to be done but yeah, it’s hard to keep doing without an end in sight.

Where are you at in the process of it all, juno?

@thislittlebird all tests done, confirmed unexplained infertility - currently just waiting for July to apply for IVF funding. Have an appointment for 17th of June that I'm hoping could be it though, otherwise I have no clue what it's for.

@Juno231 fingers crossed it’s for ivf then!

@thislittlebird the rekovelle takes weight into account for your dosage so don't think it's relevant if you're overweight, I just like that it's not a one size fits all when it comes to dose.

@juno231 hmm I wonder if your next appointment will be to discuss a treatment plan. Hope so.

@purpleunicorn01 yeah, positive thoughts for us both! Are you doing anything to prepare? Did you ask if your clinic recommended anything?

@dogmam yes i has acupuncture yesterday. Was amazing. Im having that weekly and the day before and after embryo transfer. Really relaxing l.

Ahh really? I've not looked into it much but I think I might.. are you seeing one that's specifically for fertility? @purpleunicorn01

@dogmam ah ok, so they just dose according to weight. Gotcha. I just want to get going now but not yet. More tests first. And then a holiday in Cornwall mid July.

I’ve emailed to book my hycosy for next week after AF started today. DH’s tests happening next week too. Then we wait for his results.

My acupuncturist is away until late June now. I do find it very relaxing and I’m sure it helped my cycles get back to normal heaviness for me.

Hi all...
Ive spent the time looking through these posts
Me and My hubby have been trying for our own child for 6 months,
we both have children from previous relationships but he is a lot older than when he had children.
I've just had my fertility blood tests all came back ok, my ovulation test came back yesterday at 50.3 so that's a great ovulation doctor said.
Hubby needs to book his SA
I know though if its unexplained fertility we wont get IVF funded and will have to pay ridiculous amounts
If his SA comes back with issues though would we get offered some support?

@Mum2Girls19 hi, and welcome!

Unfortunately I don’t think you would get IVF. You both have to be child free as far as I’m aware. If either partner has a child you don’t qualify. If you’re unexplained then you have to be trying a certain amount of time, but maybe if you’re not eligible for ivf they’ll still look at other help. Tests, drugs, referrals. We’ve had to go private to get help and neither of us have kids, it’s frustrating.