Waiting for referral - advice?

[FernOnMyPhone]

Hello all, hoping for any advice or guidance. I'm 35 and we've been TTC for 18 cycles now, had initial tests by GP that all looked normal (SA for him, day 21 bloods for me), so 5 weeks ago the GP said she'd refer me to the Assisted Conception Unit. GP wasn't able to give much information about when I might get an appointment or even if there's anything more the GP could do while I wait for the ACU to contact me (she seemed really unfamiliar with this subject area so I didn't press).

I'm starting to get really antsy and would feel better if I at least knew how long before I can expect to be contacted about further testing. Would it be reasonable to call the ACU, or do I need to just wait?

Should I be asking the GP to do anything more? Everytime I'm on the phone with them, there's a real sense that they're in a hurry and trying to wrap up my call.

Basically, does anyone have any suggestions for what I could be doing (besides regular unprotected sex ), or is this a hold tight and just wait situation?

I would give ACU and ask what their current waiting list is like ☺️ they may be able to tell you where you are on that list!

Is it a consultant led clinic? If so if you find the name of the consultant and then ask for their secretary's number give them a call. I always find that the secretaries seem to be able to tell you a lot more than the nurses or receptionists x

You can call them - the ACS in my area were happy to say how long approx. Mine was about 2mo

@FernOnMyPhone 100% push on. 18 months is quite a while. If you're in the UK, at 35 it's after 6 months. Have you had day 3 bloods and transvaginal scan? They are also things to tick off before referral to fertility clinic. You also need STI checks I think.

1st Fertility referral chat - doctor called and went through my results. Requested I have my rubella immunity blood test, AMH test (which I did privately prior to referral) and a HSG (booked for next cycle). He applied for my IVF funding. We have male factor due to low count so we have been referred straight for IVF - the second call I got was my lead dr telling me about the protocol that we would do. We want to wait a bit and the funding is available for a year. I've found the process quick and easy tbh and I'm SW London so expected more of a wait.

Thanks all! That was the encouragement I needed to pick up the phone. Reception was really helpful and passed me on to the person responsible for referrals, and she confirmed I was on the list and should be contacted within a month (and said to give her a call if I hadn't heard by then). Also confirmed that I had done the tests needed at this stage.

So if anyone else comes across this thread who is waiting for referral to the Assisted Conception Service at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary, make sure you get the SA test done and it shouldn't be much longer than 2 months after your GP sends the referral before you're contacted for your first appointment.

@FernOnMyPhone I have literally had my referral put through a few weeks ago and have been wondering how long it will be to hear from them so that was super helpful. Thankyou :)

@FernOnMyPhone @Kirsten315 I am GRI Glasgow too! Just started letrozole

@TheDaydreamBelievers amazing. Did you find it a long wait between being referred to an initial appointment to treatment? How are you finding the letrozole?

@Kirsten315 I waited a long time to be referred by GP as I had a miscarriage and they wanted me to wait a year after MC. From referral in end of Nov 2021, I was then seen (telephone) initial appt in early Feb. We have however done all the initial tests already (hycosy, bloods, scan, semen analysis) so don't need to wait on those before letrozole.

@TheDaydreamBelievers I'm so sorry to hear that, it seems so unfair they make you start all over again with the waiting. That doesn't seem like it took too long, fingers crossed it's not long for me either!