How long did your first NHS fertility clinic appointment take?

[sunshinecitrus1]

Myself and partner have just been referred to the fertility clinic via our GP. Has anyone recently been in the same position? I know it will vary in different areas of the country but I am just wondering how long it took for you to get your first consultation via the NHS from the initial referral?

From referral to appointment around 6-8 months - y the time ready to start about 18 months I’d say. Found out I was pregnant the week before starting.

@usererror99 Thanks for the reply. So 6-8 months for initial appointment and then 18 months total to start treatment? (Even though you didn’t need it in the end 😊) You had some tests in between?

@sunshinecitrus1 for me I think I was referred in the July, first appointment in October and started meds for first egg collection end of December, so it was really pretty quick all in all - but we had had some tests privately in the months leading up to that, which I think sped up time from appointment to starting treatment

Hiya I had my 4th miscarriage 3 weeks ago, EPU referred us. I got my initial appointment in for 7th of September. We’re based in central Scotland.

Does anyone know if I would be entitled to progesterone if I fall pregnant again before the appointment? I seem to have no problem falling pregnant it’s the staying pregnant that’s the issue.

Sorry I thought this was recurrent miscarriages clinic apologies about my last post.

@jenk91 Thanks for your reply. Do you mind sharing which tests you decided to have done privately whilst you were waiting?

@tryingoncemore No worries 😊I am sorry to hear about your recurrent miscarriages x

For me it took around 6 weeks from being referred to the first appointment with fertility nurse. After that further bloods & hycosy done within 6 weeks as had to be timed to cycle. Follow up appointment to see consultant after this was a 6 week wait. So from initial referral to seeing consultant & medication just over 4 months. I guess it all depends on wether female or male factor fertility & history. For me it was all related to ovulation (pcos) and one fallopian tube. Best of luck 😊

@Magicstar2025 That is quite reassuring thank you, I’m hoping for similiar. I am debating whether or not to pay for some tests privately if the waiting list is long. I just wish I knew how long it was! I guess from looking at everyone’s replies so far, everyone is having a different experience. Guess it depends where you live!

9 months, ironically

Referred in December, first appointment February, treatment April and tested positive beginning of May.
Good luck!

@sunshinecitrus1 i think I had all the usual blood tests to check AMH, hormones etc. Transvaginal ultrasound, hycosy and then husband had semen analysis. I am pretty sure that was everything.

@jenk91 Thanks! I have had progestone bloods, transvaginal ultrasound and OH has had semen analysis already. I am wondering if to look into the AMH / HyCosy etc. privately. We already have a son, we are not going to get funded treatment via NHS so not sure if going privately at this stage is the best way forward anyway. Not sure what to do at the moment!

The GP ran all the initial basic ones (LH, progesterone, prolactin etc) and husband did sperm sample. Once I was referred they tested my AMH & progesterone day 21 and 28 to see if I ovulated but I wasn't offered any other bloods. From reading posts online I think NHS ones are very basic. If you do go private for any tests check that the NHS will accept those results and visa versa. It can be so overwhelming x

My experience was pre and during covid, so not recent, but 'might' be helpful. Took 4yrs TTC but sadly MC and GP absolutely useless. In those 4yrs, all they did was a D21 blood test and because it was normal- no gynae referral made! Pregnant a year later and another MC. DH and I were living/working abroad for several months of each year, so we had our fertility work up there.

We/I had:
-The consultant asked about general medical history, our jobs, any previous pregnanies together or with previous partners, any history of STI's, any steroid use, if I had any gynae history such as PCOS, fibroids, menstrual issues etc. These tests weren't all done on site that day, but some were booked in for elsewhere:
-Hycosy to check uterine shape and tube patency. This uses ultrasound but some places still use HSG which is an Xray!
-DH had semen analysis
-We both had STI screening, from memory just via urine samples/blood tests
-Blood tests for thyroid function and general bloods. Also AMH for me to check my egg count which I think was done in combination with an ultrasound.

When I returned to the UK, they accepted all my tests and I was referred to the IVF clinic- which still took at least 6mths from memory. Note that if you are anywhere near the upper BMI limit, wear light clothes and ensure you take your shoes off! Before seeing the consultant, an assistant called me for height/weight, but seemed so rushed, she wouldn't let me get my heavy winter coat off, shoes nor remove a metal knee brace I was wearing at the time!

IF you are considering paying for fertility tests yourself, compare prices with NHS hospitals rather than just private places. I went to guys London and although my 1st round of IVF was NHS, the rest were self funded, but they also offered a full range of fertility testings, hycosy etc and 'might' be better value than say a Harley st equivalent.guysandstthomasspecialistcare.co.uk/services/fertility-prices-and-packages/#investigations

Sorry, I realise this isn't exactly what you wanted to know but hopefully something is useful.

@Magicstar2025 Yes good advice thank you! I will definitely do a bit more research.

@7238SM Thanks for your detailed reply and sharing your experience. Lots of advice in there thank you and good point on researching NHS hospitals also as I hadn’t considered that if we were to go private.

Oh just seen you already have a child. Since you won’t get the treatment on the NHS I wouldn’t bother with the NHS just go straight to a private clinic since you’ll end up there anyway. Although I didn’t need IVF in the end for my eldest I definitely needed it after having her as I lost both tubes to ectopics. I went to Create fertility and could have started on my next cycle

This. It’s the most efficient way to do it

@usererror99 @SweatySpider321 Thank you both, this is my thinking also.

Hi OP
We are currently going through secondary infertility, and the referral took several months, had all the tests and then had to wait for extra few months to get another appointment.
I wish I didnt bother and proceeded privately.

@Enn1234 Hi, thanks for your reply and sharing your experience. Are you continuing via NHS still or still considering private route?

We've had all the tests we can on the NHS. At our last appointment the doc diagnosed us with unexplained secondary infertility and advised to try private IVF. I just wish I went private from the first day but I was unfortunately hopeful that maybe, just maybe we'll get pregnant whilst we wait for the next thing. If we do proceed with private IVF, we will probably have the redo all the tests anyway. So I advise you may as well get your tests privately. Also, I did feel that NHS dont prioritise secondary infertility as they would primary.

I don't think you'll be eligible for NHS funding if you already have a child. It was one of the first things they asked me at my appointment. But depending on your circumstances they may cover certain tests.

My experience was pretty quick:

I was referred in Aug 2024
First appointment Oct 2024
No one told me you had to wait 3 years if you're diagnosed with unexplained infertility 🙄 I had already told them all my dates and couldn't really backtrack, so approx 6 month wait to hit the 3 year mark, that took me to May 2025.
All testing completed in June 2025
Funding was approved within days!! Everyone was shocked by this, they had predicted an 8 week wait
IVF cycle started the next month

Good luck on your journey and whichever path you choose.

TBH the cost of the tests privately (a few hundred - you’ll only really need AMH and a sperm test for IVF) are a drop in the ocean of how much IVF can cost so I would just take the obligation off the NHS at this point and get the ball rolling with a private clinic (go to a few open evenings before choosing)

Just to update that we had our initial telephone consultation today with the fertility clinic via NHS. It took only 2.5 weeks from when I last spoke to my GP who referred us which I thought was very good. We spoke through medical history, periods, previous pregnancy, previous test results we have already completed etc. and they have now referred me for a rubella blood test, AMH blood test and a HyCosy. I have already had Day 1-5 & 21 bloods, transvaginal ultrasound and OH has had semen analysis. At this stage I am not sure how long those referrals will take for me but my plan is to have these tests completed via NHS while we continue to try (…and save a little more!) and then once results are back, will decide what is next. Likely that we will then go private and hope to take my results with me x