Private Clinic/TTC 20months

[Sml93]

Hi 👋
I've been reading in the background and finally decided to join in the conversation.
Myself and my other half 28 & 29 have been trying for a baby for 20months. We've tried to get help under NHS but it seems impossible, not sure if this is due to covid or because my GP isn't the best. We went for blood tests in September (came back fine), my other halfs had his SA and this came back with no sperm found and weve been waiting for a new appt. Whilst I haven't been able to get a scan at all.

At the moment this is the only thing standing out but who knows!

Everyone around us seems to be getting pregnant or just had babies and its honestly killing me every time.

So we have finally decided go private, we just want to know what's wrong if we can do anything to help us along. Has anyone else been private or going through it? What are your thoughts? I want to know success rates etc.
Is there anything else we can be doing?

I briefly looked into it but decided to go with the NHS because the prices were eye watering. Was there no sperm at all found? They can do a small procedure called a TESA or PESA (hopefully got the name right) where they basically extract the sperm directly from the testicle. If there are sperm found then the best procedure would be ICSI, in my area that was around £7000 in total. You might be able to get cheaper treatment if you need to use a donor. Have you been referred for NHS treatment yet? It is such a faff with all the tests and waiting.

I know its ridiculous prices, we've been in limbo since September and feel really let down by NHS. It seems to be a postcode lottery.
We literally don't know what happened at the SA other than no sperm found and to wait for another appt. This is part of the reason we're going private, as they're seeing people in person as we can ask questions and understand the data a bit more whereas over the phone the Dr wasn't helpful with OHs results.
We haven't had any NHS tests bar blood test and Chlamydia testing.
I've been reading about the TESA procedure. I'm really worried about the ICSI/IVF options though 🙁.
I feel so deflated by it all!

I know how you feel, it just feels like you're just always waiting for the next test, appointment etc. It becomes so wearing, feeling like your life is on hold.

Hi Sml93

I completely understand your frustration. My GP kept putting me off until I pushed for referral due to my age, then they referred me to the wrong clinic, I was on the wrong waiting list for 6 months then was told id be put to the back of the list for the fertility clinic as it would be treated as any other new referral, despite the mistake. That was in November 2019, we've heard nothing from the NHS clinic & their webpage just says they are not offering any treatment due to covid & cant tell patients where they are on waiting lists or when they will be seen. We have used all our savings to go private. Our clinic had Access Fertility as an option (different clinics may use other similar companies, im not sure) they offer different ivf packages , some are dependent on medical review, you pay a private clinic for initial consultation & tests, if you look it up it might give you an idea of prices, cycle packages etc. compared to paying the clinic for a single cycle.

I have had several friends, including the ones who 'never wanted kids' all start their families & it is heartbreaking trying to smile at their news & listen to them moan about their pregnancies when you'd give anything to be in their position.