Confused about IVF

[fingerscrossed2021x]

Hi all

Myself and my husband have had our fertility consultation earlier today and have been told that we have "unexplained" and IVF is our only option (as we expected).

The consultant (Private through St Marys - Manchester) led us to believe that "one cycle" of IVF would mean implanting all viable embryo's (separately) - is this correct?

e.g. if I had 4 and the first implantation didn't work, I would then go on to have 2, 3 & 4 under one cycle therefore one "cost" - she ballparked £4-5k with medication which seems reasonable compared to elsewhere?

From everything I seem to have researched, "one cycle" means one implantation of one/two eggs and if that didn't work, we would need to pay for IVF again.

Sorry if this is a silly question, just trying to get my head around it before making any decisions on where to go!

I was also told I had low AMH (10.1 - I'm 32 years old for reference) which I was unaware of.... this is after waiting since 2022 for answers! In hindsight we should have just gone private straight away.

Thanks in advance for any help at all.

I self funded in late 2922 and paid roughly £4000 for a cycle plus £900 for meds so pretty much what you was quoted….that included one embryo transfer which thankfully was successful.

Further embryo transfers I was looking at £1200 plus medication costs each embryo transfer.

That was on a pay as you go type system though. If you are using a pre-paid/payment plan like access fertility or a multi-transfer package then potentially more are included but I think what you have been quoted seems too cheap to be one of those options.

I'm sorry you are going through this and sympathise. We TTC 12yrs, also had no cause for sub-fertility found, lost 3 and had several rounds of IVF. No children.

You will need to clarify what they mean by one cycle. My understanding, is that the cost of one cycle is for the stimulation, ultra sounds, blood tests and the collection of the eggs. (Drugs are often a separate cost and can be bought from various pharmacies, hence price differences). IF enough eggs fertilise and make it to blastocyst stage, the excess can then be frozen.

Some clinics will include say 12mths of freezing as part of the one cycle price, and then charge if you want to store them longer- but you'd need to check their T&C's

IF that 1st cycle doesn't work, you'd then have FET (frozen embryo transfer). The fees are generally much less- because you aren't needing as many drugs, scans, bloods and the actual egg retrieval surgery.

Some clinics do offer different pricing structures though, so always best to clarify exactly what that includes. Sometimes there is a nurse or finance person to speak to.

I assume you have checked whether you qualify for NHS treatment? I worked part of each year abroad, so had private fertility testing done there. On return to the UK, my wait for NHS IVF wasn't too long- because all the tests had been done. This was early covid though.

Happy to answer any questions you have x

Thanks both.

That is correct, it is just one cycle. After your responses I have spoken with the clinic and have clarified that there is a further fee for the frozen transfers.

The person who we spoke with at the "fee paying NHS" route had got confused and thought all frozen embryos were included in the one off fee so that's clarified now at least before we got too excited!

We are now looking at private options as they are similarly priced with better success rates than through the fee paying NHS route - thank you for your replies!