NHS Fertility waiting list time?

[BackAtIt]

I’ve finally got fed up of fruitless TTC and am getting referred to fertility services by the GP. Just wondering if anyone knows what the NHS waiting times for fertility referral and IVF are nowadays. I have a feeling it’s going to be at least a year due to Covid waiting list, or it is this (hopefully) dramatic ?

Hi I got referred for fertility investigations in January and had my first phone appointment in May. I'm in Berkshire and I know it's different in each area. Don't know about IVF though

Thanks, that’s useful information! Hopefully mine will be 5 months too

I was referred at the start of September and my first telephone appointment was scheduled for the middle of March... I got a BFP the day before my appointment. Funny old world!
We’re in Devon.

@backatit hi, my first appointment at the fertility clinic was January after going to the GP in October time and I'm starting treatment this month, so it's went really quickly for me. I'm in the North East x

3 months in Norfolk (for close friend, not me!)

Have you had any testing done other than say a day 21 blood test? Semen, hycosy/hsg, AMH, STI screens for you both etc? I was referred in mid 2019 and from memory had my appointment at Guys, London about 3-4mths later. I'd already had the above tests privately abroad though, so once referred, they didn't need anything further. I'm unsure how much longer they would have taken on the NHS?

Check the requirements for IVF in your area. Some have strict guidance on BMI, smoking, age etc. My area allowed 3 rounds if under 40, and only 1 if over. A friend lives nearby in a different borough, which provide NO IVF at all for any age!

If you are older, and nearing not being eligible, GP's are 'supposed' to ask for an urgent referral without delays.

If you are near the upper BMI limit, I suggest losing weight now, prior to the appointment too. Best of luck and happy to answer any questions x

Meant to say, that I ended up having the actual IVF in the week we went into the 1st lockdown in Mar last year! Then had another round in Dec.

IF there is going to be months of waiting, many NHS fertility clinics will also see private patients. Even if just for basic tests, it might speed things up and tend to be cheaper than stand-alone private clinics.

Cheers for all your answers, if giving me a ball park waiting time. I would like to think I’ll get pregnant before referral but the way things are going it doesn’t seem like it! Good luck to you all x

@BackAtIt have you had any progress yet (have you received a letter/call) or are you still playing the waiting game? My referral went through on Monday but mine is for IVF-PGD.

Hi there OP, do you have any updates? How is it going?

@IsabelHerna hi I’m not sure if the OP will reply as I tried reaching out early July, if it is any help I received my call to book letter last Monday (6 weeks after referral), and my first PGD appointment is the end of September.
What clinic have you been referred to?

@Bellwells Thank you for replying! Currently, I'm based in Spain, and I am thinking of starting here or somewhere else in Europe. I think it wouldn't be moraly right for me to come back to England just for the IVF. I will go private, possibly here in Spain or in Cyprus. How about you? What clinic have you been referred to?

@IsabelHerna I’m with Guy’s Hospital in London, but I am looking at moving to CRGH as they have a shorter waiting time

@Bellwells I wish you good luck!

In my London borough my first and only NHS round (April this year) was about a 9 month wait. When i asked about doing another round but self funded (the first wasn't successful) they said they could put me on the 6 month waiting list. I turned 42 in June, so decided to go fully private, and i found a clinic with no waiting list, so did my second round in Aug. I'm currently in the tww.

I would expect you could get all the investigations done though, in preparation for ivf. They can take a while.

@Bluebonnet3 what clinic did you got with for both of your cycles?

Fingers crossed embry-baby sticks, what day are you testing? Did your second cycle feel any different to your first cycle?

@Bellwells I was at Homerton for the NHS round. I think they were pretty good. Even though it didn't work and i had different nurses/consultants for each appt, I thought it went ok. I I'm at Fertility Academy now. (I did a search on the HFEA website and picked 4 to look into and do free mini-consultations before deciding.) If it doesn't work out this time, I'm hoping they are gathering enough info to 'troubleshoot' my situation for next time.

@Bluebonnet3 how are you finding Fertility Academy?

@Bellwells they seem good. I got my bfp a few days ago, so they are doing something right! It's a small clinic and i was always seen by the same doctor and nurse, which was nice. They did all the procedures there and used a blood testing center a 3 minute walk away. Nearly every time i went in for a scan they sent me for a blood test, so they monitored my hormone levels very closely.

@Bluebonnet3 oh that is so good! They seem on the ball.
I have my first PGD appointment in a couple of weeks, hopefully that will go well.

I've been so incredibly lucky. Received a referral from GP 5th May and had my first appointment with the consultant on 20th May. Sent for a scan, 2nd consultant appointment 12th August where I was started on metformin and clomid for PCOS with a monthly blood test between

@Thunderpants5138 what clinic are you with?

Hi I was referred in April by gp. Got my first appt in June. Had my hsg in September and they put me on clomid in October. Got another appt in jan where they discuss ivf I think. Does anyone who after all the testing how long is the actual wait for ivf. I live in the north west

@Infertilityishard it all depends on the clinic you are at and if your private or NHS

I’m going though nhs atm