Letrozole on the NHS

[Dreambow]

Hi,

Please help!

I have a DS who is nearly 18 months old. We were very lucky to have him after having gone through problems getting pregnant and then managing to get pregnant on the first cycle of Letrozole.
I count my lucky stars every day that we have him.

I am 38 soon and have subclinical PCOS with irregular cycles.
I also now have a niche defect from my emergency CS (which may need an operation before I get pregnant as can affect fertility).

I was initially under NHS St Heliers Hospital for my Letrozole, got pregnant, Then moved areas and was under NHS Kings Hospital for my re-referral back to fertility services after my first baby. I was told that I would most likely need Letrozole again and this is when they picked up the Niche defect on a scan.

I have several appointments in fertility dept in Kings and the plan was to wait for periods to return (was breastfeeding) and then for a scan to check niche situation and commence Letrozole.

I called today to book the scan as advised, as periods have returned and I was told by an admin person that I would have to pay for a scan and any treatments.

I totally get that I would have to pay for IVF if needed. I was not aware I would need to pay for scan/ Letrozole or an operation to fix the niche (if needed). This was not discussed in any of my appointments.

Does anyone know if this is correct? Or been through something similar?

Thank you for reading xx

I think it’s very specific to your location and postcode. I had fertility treatment for PCOS via the NHS in London in 2017 (scans, tests and Clomid) and was also lucky enough to get pregnant first cycle.

We are now TTC no 2 and are not eligible for any further fertility treatment on the NHS as we have a living child - we are paying privately which has cost about £1500 to date including the costs of the prescriptions. We’re now living in a city in East Anglia but I think it’s similar in a number of places (although definitely not all).

It’s a bummer and very expensive but I do understand the rationale - with such limited resources available, the NHS need to focus on those that don’t have a child already.

hope you can find a way around it.

Thank you @DoloresOnTheDottedLine . It's so frustrating but good to know that this is how it works.

Will look at private options re the Letrozole.

I have no idea re the operation to fix the niche but may have to look at private options for this as well. It is going to be costly!

Did you have to do all the tests again when you when privately or can you use the ones you did on the NHS? I hope it all goes well for you xx

I've paid £6 per 2.5mg tablet of letrozole. Could you call a private GP service?

I had to do the tests again because it had been such a long time since I’d had the first lot (nearly six years) but they would have accepted more recent tests but I can’t remember how recent they have to be… could have been a year or could have been two. I was given the exact same diagnosis and exact same course of treatment as last time so the tests were pretty pointless but I suppose things can change in that time and they have to check. You may be able to get Letrozole prescribed via a private GP as the PP has said - bet that would be a lot cheaper!

In my health board unfortunately you will pay for any fertility care if you have a living child, or otherwise breach the free criteria

Ahhhhh good idea re letrozole from GP! Will any private GP do this or can they be a bit funny about it? Can anyone recommend a private GP in London or a virtual service?

I think it’s crazy that it’s such a postcode lottery even though people pay the same tax in the different areas x