Fertility Check Wait Times...Private???

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I started making initial calls today to check on wait times. Both clinics are on NHS but offer private appointments too and said the wait for initial consultations and investigations are currently 6-7 months and there is no difference in wait times if you go private. So that means looking at fully private hospitals. What are people's experiences of the waits for these options and what do you watch out for when calling around?

Hey - I don't know where you are based, but in London (when I was looking, luckily I got an NHS appointment quite quickly) they were next week to get consultations. x

There isn't really a wait for any type of private medical procedure to be honest.

what do you watch out for when calling around?

I didn't watch out for anything! Just called a clinic that had good reviews and good results and went there. It was The Cromwell in London if that helps. I Recommend them.

Is this for a fertility MOT or are you TTC and having issues?

there have been no wait times (well, perhaps a week or so for a free appt but that's it) in my experience if you go private for fertility issues - this is going direct to the private clinics and in London though

We've been ttc for 6 cycles now with no luck, and it's actually been since January so nearly a year. I had quite a few minor gynae issues that were keeping us from ttc (UTI, recurrent yeast infections) so had to get on top of that first.

I want to get more investigations for myself and a SA for dh since when we had one years ago his count and motility were very, very low. In fact, at the time we thought our only option would be ICSI but ended up falling pregnant after two cycles of ttc. It may have been many factors contributing to those numbers so getting an SA seems a reasonable starting point. I have other potential health issues including pain around ovaries throughout my cycle, so want deeper investigations to see if we're missing anything on my side of things too.

I called two clinics and both said for what I wanted it was 6 months wait, private or NHS did not matter. I only know of one fully private hospital in my area and waiting to hear back from them on what they offer and appointment availability. Just wasn't sure if this was the norm to wait months even going private.

Which part of the country are you?

Have you been to your GP?

Depending on your age (and the fact that you have a child) it might be a confusion between whether you've been trying for a year or 6 months.

No where will do investigations before you've been trying for a year unless you're over 35 or have a diagnosed issue.

This might be why they are telling you it's a 6 month wait if they think you've only been trying for 6 cycles = 6 months.

@Twizbe . Yes, I have had some initial tests with my GP due to pelvic pain and changes in my period that were worrying me. I am also over 35 and have a family history of early menopause.

On the phone they didn't ask my age and just said 6 months period to get an appointment for initial investigations and consultation. I suppose it won't hurt to ring again, though I am due to speak with GP again soon.

@ChampagneCamping , I'm in the North East.