NHS Advice

[hennie222]

Hey all looking for a bit of advice on when/how to approach the NHS. Going private isn't really an option for us due to the cost ... so here's the background. Both me and DH Are 38 (39 in 3 months time).

• No contraception used for ~2 years in total prior to first pregnancy. For ~1 year of that, actively "thinking" about conceiving and for the final 6 months properly tracking etc. and didn't conceive.
• Had appointment with NHS for fertility - they did 2 blood tests for me (d1-4, and d21) and semen analysis for DH and all came back fine.
• By the time results came back, I time got PG which ended in a MMC after ~11 weeks.
• Since the MMC have now had 5 unsuccessful cycles.

I'm wondering at what point to go back to the docs to try and get more tests? Given it took so long to get the first bfp I'm worried about time ticking away, but equally don't want to waste the docs time if they'll just tell me to wait a bit longer as I can clearly get pregnant. It's also really hard to get an appointment at my surgery, would both me and DH need to go, or just me at this stage? (he's in a job where he can't really get time off....)

Any advice welcomed. Thanks.

Hi @hennie222
Sorry to hear about your MMC.

I think it varies by area, but I would go back to your GP and ask for a referral to the hospital for fertility treatment. They referred me after 6 months of trying due to my age (40 at the time). But seems like you can say you’ve been trying for over a year, even if that’s the criteria for under 40.

Also I found out after referral that the waiting list in my area was 35 weeks, so worth getting on the list as soon as possible.

As the waiting list was so long I did actually get pregnant and miscarry during the time, but it didn’t affect my position on the list (ie it didn’t reset). And I was told I was eligible for 1 round of IVF, and again the miscarriage didn’t seem to make a difference to that.

You could ask for a telephone appointment at your GP? I don’t think your DH would need to be there anyway - mine came but it wasn’t necessary.

On a positive note I got my bfp 1 week after my first telephone consultation at the hospital and now 28 weeks pregnant :)

Wishing you the best of luck.

@Natpat81 thanks for the advice. I will give the docs a call and try to get an appointment and see what they say. I just want to get things moving if I can! Congrats on your BFP :)