NHS referral

[SunshineS1]

Hi everyone,

Just looking for some advice/stories really. Me and my partner have been ttc baby number 1 for coming up to 19 months. Started investigations with GP end of November/beginning of December. Had my blood tests, partner has had his sa. Both have had sti tests which all came back fine. I am now just waiting for my appointment for an ultrasound. Referral was sent off by GP middle of December and was told to chase up if I hadn't heard anything by yesterday so I made a quick call today just to see if there was any updates on an appointment date for the fertility clinic. Was told by the lady on the phone that we will be waiting "many, many, many months"...

Just wondering how long the process took for others really and if there's anything we can do to speed it up? It's really starting to get me down now, I'm having a really low day today as AF has just arrived 4 days late (never ever happened before)!! Think it boils down to stress to be honest!

Thank you in advance!! X

What area are you in? It might help if you can hear from people in your area? I’ve been referred and had my first appointment with the clinic today, I am near Bristol. Hope it comes through soon for you

@Alexis7890

What area are you in? It might help if you can hear from people in your area? I’ve been referred and had my first appointment with the clinic today, I am near Bristol. Hope it comes through soon for you

I'm in Greater Manchester. Thank you for your reply! I hope everything goes well for you x

I’m Leeds not Manchester.
Referred in august 2020,
First appointment with fertility feb 2021, scans March-may 2021 (hag/ultrasound etc), follow-up with consultant June 2021,
put on list for polyp removal June 2021,
new scan to check polyp still there nov 2021 Dec 2021 polyp removed.
Late Dec 2021 follow-up with consultant and added to ivf list.
Still waiting for ivf pre-consultation but told likely to be March (although that’s only 2 weeks now so looking unlikely).

If you don’t have complications like my polyp I guess from referral to ivf it could be done within a year. Once I had my appointment in feb I felt we moved fairly quickly as I was having a scan/test every 3-4 weeks and then a 4 week wait for consultant. If I hadn’t had a polyp I would have been added to the list in June and probably done ivf in Sept/Oct.

I'm in SW London but I had my referral sent in Nov 2020 and had my appointment in Feb 2021. It was around a 3 month wait. The original appointment was for May though so I don't know if I got Feb due to a cancellation.

I've seen others on here do some of the testing privately in order to speed things up once they get to the NHS fertility clinic - eg having the HSG done. It's a bit risky though I think as different trusts might not accept private results and what if your clinic was never going to suggest an HSG?

@NorthernDuck

I’m Leeds not Manchester. Referred in august 2020, First appointment with fertility feb 2021, scans March-may 2021 (hag/ultrasound etc), follow-up with consultant June 2021, put on list for polyp removal June 2021, new scan to check polyp still there nov 2021 Dec 2021 polyp removed. Late Dec 2021 follow-up with consultant and added to ivf list. Still waiting for ivf pre-consultation but told likely to be March (although that’s only 2 weeks now so looking unlikely).

If you don’t have complications like my polyp I guess from referral to ivf it could be done within a year. Once I had my appointment in feb I felt we moved fairly quickly as I was having a scan/test every 3-4 weeks and then a 4 week wait for consultant. If I hadn’t had a polyp I would have been added to the list in June and probably done ivf in Sept/Oct.

Thank you for your reply! Don't seem to have any complications or anything they've noticed. However, I'll know more when I have my ultrasound I suppose. I hope you everything runs smoothly for you and it doesn't take too long! I expected a waiting list to be fair but "many, many, many months" doesn't fill me with much hope x

@Juno231

I'm in SW London but I had my referral sent in Nov 2020 and had my appointment in Feb 2021. It was around a 3 month wait. The original appointment was for May though so I don't know if I got Feb due to a cancellation.

I've seen others on here do some of the testing privately in order to speed things up once they get to the NHS fertility clinic - eg having the HSG done. It's a bit risky though I think as different trusts might not accept private results and what if your clinic was never going to suggest an HSG?

Aw wow! It must be a longer wait at the moment due to a backlog from covid etc then.

Exactly, I have no idea what they're going to suggest. Until we've had our first appointment I'm not too sure what to do, I just feel like I'm constantly chasing! My GP surgery are useless, they sit on results for weeks and never contact you. Constantly chasing. I don't think there is anything I can do now to speed things up, I don't even know who to chase about the ultrasound appointment whether it's my gp or the hospital. I feel like I'm never told anything!!! So annoying! Xx

@SunshineS1 not to sound too negative, and it all depends on your area. I'm Leicestershire, and was first referred in Aug 21, so it's been more than 6 months and my GP said it can take up to a year to get a first appointment. So at the 6 month mark, we decided to go private. Had my first appointment just two weeks ago, and since then, I've had ultrasounds, AMH and HSG to be done in two weeks time (to align with my cycle days) and a follow up appointment a week after that. So within 5 weeks, I will be getting a lot of answers and can have a plan. The private consultant is able to refer me to the NHS for treatment if we want to go down IVF/IUI way, and the NHS clinic will still accept all the investigations I've had done privately. We thought this would cut down a lot of time for us, as time is not on our side unfortunately.

@SunshineS1 I'm so sorry you're in this frustrating stage that you're just waiting and have to chase everyone around in order to get something done.

I am trying for my 1st too (and only), as a single mum by choice. I've been diagnosed with pcos, I'm older -40-, so egg quality is not pristine, but fingers crossed we will find a couple good ones to fertilize.

Have you noticed any symptoms? Have your GP suggested you start taking at least some basic fertility supplements?

[quote Tinkerbell098]@SunshineS1 not to sound too negative, and it all depends on your area. I'm Leicestershire, and was first referred in Aug 21, so it's been more than 6 months and my GP said it can take up to a year to get a first appointment. So at the 6 month mark, we decided to go private. Had my first appointment just two weeks ago, and since then, I've had ultrasounds, AMH and HSG to be done in two weeks time (to align with my cycle days) and a follow up appointment a week after that. So within 5 weeks, I will be getting a lot of answers and can have a plan. The private consultant is able to refer me to the NHS for treatment if we want to go down IVF/IUI way, and the NHS clinic will still accept all the investigations I've had done privately. We thought this would cut down a lot of time for us, as time is not on our side unfortunately.[/quote]
Thank you so much for your reply! Can I ask roughly how much it was to go private? I've had most investigations done that I can think of, apart from ultrasound (waiting for an appointment) and hsg etc. I've had bloods, sti checks, partner had had his SA. I just didn't realise how long of a wait it was until the first appointment!

Just an idea but could you book a private fertility scan? I had one at ultrasound direct where they did a full check of the uterus, lining thickness, counted cysts/developing eggs on each ovary, checked each tube looked clear etc. I had been ttc 13 months and they told me at that scan that I would likely ovulate within 2 weeks based on the size of the eggs in my ovary....I did, and that was the cycle we conceived!

I got my NHS appointment through for my ultrasound the same week as my 12 week scan...

[quote IsabelHerna]@SunshineS1 I'm so sorry you're in this frustrating stage that you're just waiting and have to chase everyone around in order to get something done.

I am trying for my 1st too (and only), as a single mum by choice. I've been diagnosed with pcos, I'm older -40-, so egg quality is not pristine, but fingers crossed we will find a couple good ones to fertilize.

Have you noticed any symptoms? Have your GP suggested you start taking at least some basic fertility supplements?[/quote]
Aw I'm sorry you're in this position too!! It's the waiting and not knowing which is more frustrating. I am taking Folic acid and vitamin D which was recommended by GP. Partner is taking his vitamins too. We've had most checks done and all is okay up to now. Currently waiting for an ultrasound but other than that, I'm not sure what else can be done! X

@Tinkles78

Just an idea but could you book a private fertility scan? I had one at ultrasound direct where they did a full check of the uterus, lining thickness, counted cysts/developing eggs on each ovary, checked each tube looked clear etc. I had been ttc 13 months and they told me at that scan that I would likely ovulate within 2 weeks based on the size of the eggs in my ovary....I did, and that was the cycle we conceived!

I got my NHS appointment through for my ultrasound the same week as my 12 week scan...

I'd never thought of that, thank you! I'll have a look into it, i feel like it's pretty hopeless waiting for appointments at the moment. The waiting list in my area is huge, I honestly don't think I'll get an appointment with the fertility clinic until end of the year.

Thanks again, I'll definitely look into this later!!

I'm also in the North West and was told 4-6 months. We paid privately with Manchester fertility. It was £400 - had all the usual blood tests, SA and a really through ultrasound. I've had a lot of ultrasounds because of other gynae issues and this one was by far the most detailed. She told me so much I didn't know. You also have an appointment with the consultant which was also really thorough.

@Wisemensay

I'm also in the North West and was told 4-6 months. We paid privately with Manchester fertility. It was £400 - had all the usual blood tests, SA and a really through ultrasound. I've had a lot of ultrasounds because of other gynae issues and this one was by far the most detailed. She told me so much I didn't know. You also have an appointment with the consultant which was also really thorough.

Thank you!! I've not even been told a rough waiting time for any appointments, I just got told yesterday I'll be waiting "many, many, many months" so it really disheartened me to be honest. I'm definitely going to book a private scan at least. Do you think if I still go through NHS for any ivf etc, they would accept the private scan results? X

@SunshineS1 as far as I know. We weren't eligible for NHS IVF so we didn't ask but I'm sure if you rang Manchester fertility they'd be able to tell you. We found them really helpful.

[quote Wisemensay]@SunshineS1 as far as I know. We weren't eligible for NHS IVF so we didn't ask but I'm sure if you rang Manchester fertility they'd be able to tell you. We found them really helpful.[/quote]
Ah I see, thank you so much. I'm just so tired of waiting now, we've been trying for going on to 19 months now so it's incredibly frustrating.

I hope everything is going well with you x

@SunshineS1 No problem, happy to help. So we had all the initial bloods and SA through the NHS as well. It was after that the GP referred me in Aug. She also ordered an ultrasound in November and I had it just two weeks ago, so was about a 2.5 month wait. To be honest, the report wasn't very detailed and highlighted a fibroid. GP was very vague and just said I need to wait until I get called from the fertility clinic to analyse the results. But I'll be taking that report to the private consultant, she may order another one as I think my lining was really thin for that time of the cycle. Apart from that, everything else was done privately. Initial appointment - £225, AMH - £125, HSG - £480 and follow up appointment £125. You can see the cost just building up, but having said that, as I'm running out of time, I feel this was a good idea as I don't want to be waiting for months to get an answer, especially if it's something that is very time-sensitive as this. For background, I'm 37 and this is our 15th cycle TTC.

[quote Tinkerbell098]@SunshineS1 No problem, happy to help. So we had all the initial bloods and SA through the NHS as well. It was after that the GP referred me in Aug. She also ordered an ultrasound in November and I had it just two weeks ago, so was about a 2.5 month wait. To be honest, the report wasn't very detailed and highlighted a fibroid. GP was very vague and just said I need to wait until I get called from the fertility clinic to analyse the results. But I'll be taking that report to the private consultant, she may order another one as I think my lining was really thin for that time of the cycle. Apart from that, everything else was done privately. Initial appointment - £225, AMH - £125, HSG - £480 and follow up appointment £125. You can see the cost just building up, but having said that, as I'm running out of time, I feel this was a good idea as I don't want to be waiting for months to get an answer, especially if it's something that is very time-sensitive as this. For background, I'm 37 and this is our 15th cycle TTC.[/quote]
Thank you so much, that's really helpful! I honestly don't think it's even worth waiting for an ultrasound with the NHS by the sounds of it, I'm going to book a private scan.

I can't imagine it's going to speed up the appointment for the fertility clinic but it's one less thing to wait for! I'm still only young so I know I've got plenty of time, I'm 24 and my partner is 28. That also bothers me though, supposed to be in our prime and it's still not happening! I probably won't look into doing anything else privately unless it's genuinely taking too long.

I've got everything crossed for you and I hope it all happens soon!