ok, hypothetically speaking, if I wanted to go through ivf or similar what do I have to do?

[wannaBe]

Do I have to go to gp and be referred? Or can I approach clinic of my choosing and say "I'll have one cycle of ivf please?" we'll be paying anyway as we already have one child and therefore would not be entitled to treatment on the nhs.

Speak to your GP - criteria can vary from area to area and in any case any private consultant will need all your history and they would expect to get that from the GP. If the GP can do some of your blood tests etc it will save you money because the amount private healthcare charges for bloods etc is obscene!

our local health authority don't fund any ivf treatment at all - not even if you don't have any children.

Am presuming then that all tests will have to be done - blood etc plus sperm count for dh with repeat sperm count after three months before we can even be referred?

If you are paying yourself then you call up the fertility clinic and book an initial consultation. Simple as that.

You might want to speak to the GP first to see if they can do any tests for you on the NHS so that you don't end up paying for them. The clinic I go to will do all of the tests you need if you haven't had them but as Nothernlurker says they do get expensive. Sperm analysis is the first thing that needs to be done, and they may want to do bloods to check you are ovulating and possibly an HSG to check your tubes before they will recommend a course of treatment. Many clinics may try to get you to try something less invasive before resorting to IVF if your test results look ok.

Thank you.

My dh had a low sperm result 2.5 years ago, so based on that alone I am fairly sure that ivf would be our only choice.

My day 21 bloods did come back normal three years ago but obviously that is not a certainty of anything. I do have regular periods though and I have a 6 yo ds, so obviously it is possible for me to conceive.

Have had thyroid checked recently which was normal (had overactive thyroid several years ago)

I had IVF in the US, but I started at our Family Practitioner (GP equivalent) and he recommended which specialist to see.

Don't be surprised if they want to repeat the sperm count. If the sample has been sent quite a distance away for testing or hasn't been tested quickly enough, it is possible to get a false low reading. I would advise getting it rechecked before you start a lot of invasive tests on you.

Some fertility centers in CA were advertising success or you don't pay kind of deals. I don't know if anywhere in the UK are doing an offer like that if money is a concern. My specialist also advised me where the cheapest pharmacies were to buy the fertility drugs. It was worth calling around because the savings were significant.

just ring up a cliic and make an appt it is what i did the hefa have a good guide to clinics and you can see their stats here

Wannabe they will want to repeat the SA and will want to do some blood tests as well.

The sperm test is the very first thing they do - at the clinic I go to (ACU at UCH) they do an SA at the first appointment unless you have a result from within the past few months. They just need to be sure they are advising the right course of action.

If you're near London, UCH is worth a look. They had great results last year and while it is pretty busy I so think they know what they are doing.

wannabe- is it safe to presume that you will be taking steps towards having a second child?

I remember when you got to the point of giving up and my heart just broke for you. I hope you and DH are ok and are moving positively in the right direction.

I wish you lots of luck

m2o it's something we've been talking about (although admittedly I've been doing most of the talking and dh has been forced to listen ).

I can't say that I'm 100% positive this is what I want to do, but I know that recently I've been thinking more and more how much I want another baby, despite having essentially given up years ago, and a part of me feels that if I don't at least try then I will regret it.

I think a huge part of my thinking has been brought on by the fact that so many of my friends are currently pg, also that SIL is going to have to go through IVF and it has got me thinking.

Am going to make gp apt for next week and then take it from there.

I'm a great believer in things happening for a reason, and if it is meant to be then it will be. If not, then I have my beautiful ds to be thankful for.

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thank you pruners. Am so sorry for your loss - I remember reading the threads about your mc but had no idea that you'd lost twins .

I would want to opt for single embrio transfer and iirc this is something that is recommended now to avoid multiple pregnancies?

I will have a look at the clinics tomorrow, but I take on board what you say about clinics that promise the earth etc. I watched the panorama programme about the one consultant in particular and it all seemed highly dodgy.

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