Private Vs NHS for fertility investigations

[Jackie02]

Hi all,

First time poster here looking to understand people's experience of fertility investigations if possible
We've been TTC for over a year and I've recently Started to have bleeding from my belly button during my period which suggests endometriosis. I've been referred to a fertility clinic, and the wait time is at least 3 months.
To complicate things we are moving from Scotland to England in....about 3 months so I'm worried I won't get my appointment before we move NHS board and I'll go back to the bottom of the waiting list somewhere else in 3 months time. I turn 37 in 3 months too so I'm keen to minimise wait times if possible as I'm not sure what I'm facing/what is going on right now (+ I'm freaking myself out and assuming the worst).

I'm wondering about going private for the initial investigation/referral just to keep things moving.
Just wondering if anyone has gone private for initial fertility investigations - is it extortionate? Can you then get referred back to the NHS?
Cheers 😊

Hey I'm sorry to hear this. I'm mid thirties also. We've been trying since August, one miscarriage in there, so I've been looking into this. We are thinking private to avoid any delays. For full fertility assessments for both of us, we were looking at about £500, plus £105 for my bloodwork I think. But I don't know if that's what you'd need if you think you might have endometriosis?
Also been looking at ABC, as it seems much cheaper www.abcivf.co.uk/costs. But their cut off is age 37 or below - hence why private sooner.
A friend is having IVF currently on the NHS, aged 36, and its taken her three years to get to this point. I guess its location dependent though

That's actually a lot more reasonable than j expected, thanks for sharing. I have just managed to find price list for somewhere fairly nearby and it seems fairly similar so that's really helpful.

I think the fertility referral will look into whether I have endo at the same time, so right now I'm not sure what I need beyond the initial investigation - I just want that done asap. I've actually managed to get an appointment for the potential endo with a gynaecologist through my other halves private healthcare at work, it just won't cover anything to do with fertility so I still want to look into that too!

I'm sorry to hear about your miscarriage, I really hope it all works out for you soon.

In England if you have private IVF treatment you forfeit any NHS treatment , not sure if that would include consults though. Scotland (I think) you get the 3 cycles on the NHS, England your in the postcode lottery some areas get 3 rounds, some 1 and some areas non!

@Ijustlikefood I didn't see that in the NHS guidance 😲 it just said for age 40-42 as you only get one cycle that you can't have had IVF already. If you saw a private doctor, how would they even know?

The private gynae sounds amazing to look into the endometriosis. I'm worried about the waitlists after Coronavirus, I've heard they're crazy long and I can't really afford the time. I'm also not up for battling for referrals, and tests, and treatment. Would rather save and pay I think.

I have the same question, if I get all the testing done privately and end up needing IVF can I still have my one NHS round first? I'm in South West England

Hi all,

Just as an update, and a bit of an answer to your question @chillichutneysarnie - I've had my appointment with the private gynae through partners work health care, and you can definitely go private for investigations and then go to NHS based on my experience.

The Dr was great, she doesn't think I've got endo - she thinks she saw a mole in my belly button (but tbh I don't see why it would only bleed on my period so I'm still expecting endo). She scanned me at my appointment .....and it turns out I have polycystic ovaries! I don't have PCOS, just polycystic ovaries, so she said that may be why we are still ttc.
She's been amazing tbh.
I'm going in for a laparoscopy in about 4 weeks - she will see if I have endo + while she's in there she will see if my tubes are blocked and do ovarian drilling as a wee freebie. It's really good of her, I am so so unbelievably grateful.

It may not work but worth a try!
Anyways, @chillichutneysarnie, she said she will do the investigation and then when I get the appt at the fertility clinic I'll have all the info to give them and they can basically pick up where she left off.

maybe do some extras while she's in there

@Jackie02 thanks for the info. That all sounds really positive for you. Good luck with the laparoscopy and hopefully you find out more soon.