IVF Clinics in London - Should I Switch or Stay with My Current Clinic?

[extremelychocolateymilkroll]

Just wondering if anyone has any ideas as to whether it's a good idea to change clinics after a couple of cycles? After a naturally conceived miscarriage in December 05 I've had 2 cycles at the ACU at Chelsea and Westminster. Had dd from first cycle, 2nd cycle failed but was able to freeze some eggs and became pregnant from that cycle but miscarried 3 weeks ago at 9 weeks. I'm 42 in July so realise that age is obviously affecting the quality of my eggs. In a way the clinics are not really doing that much with IVF. Once the correct drug dosage is achieved and providing they can take out and return the eggs okay there's not much more involved. On the failed cycle had a different doctor put them back - don't know if that made a difference. The Lister obviously has a good reputation, deals with many more women and has a better success rate for my age group - 23% compared to 16% for Chelsea and Westminster. Then of course there's ARGC which seems to achieve better results by monitoring women more closely.

Have an appointment booked at the Lister for end April and waiting to hear back from ARGC just to hear what they say - but of course they will want to sell their clinics. Anyone have any advice? TIA

[extremelychocolateymilkroll]

I know what you mean but DH thinks as I've just finished bleeding from the m/c waiting til end April is probably a good timescale for us -but then he is much more patient than I am. I'm hoping that ARGC will have a cancellation. Fertility Friends is a great website - loads of detailed info from people there who have been to either or both the Lister or ARGC and other clinics. ARGC seems to provide support after a positive pregnancy test - increasing progesterone, IVIG - whatever that is - if your HcG levels aren't doubling as they should. This made me a bit suspicious as our clinic was quite clear that if things didn't look good and a m/c was threatened there was nothing that could be done to stop it. 2 days after I stopped the progesterone I started to bleed. I wonder if such interventions by the ARGC have ever prevented a m/c.

[extremelychocolateymilkroll]

Bump

[LadyMuck]

I was at the Lister and ended up taking progesterone until my nuchal scans. Sorry it was quite a while ago now so I can't remember the details, though I have memory that this was longer than norm, though they were adopting a better safe than sorry approach.

FF was more American based in those days (my youngest is 6), but I was on a UK yahoo group, and we're still in contact some years later. I think that it does help knowing that others are going through the same though. It gave me an outlet to be able to discuss it all without freaking out RL friends.

[extremelychocolateymilkroll]

Thanks LadyMuck. With my dd I took the progesterone until I was 12 weeks and had the nuchal scan.

It's great on FF that people have so much information about the clinics I am interested in and are so generous to post such detailed responses - a bit like MN really.

[extremelychocolateymilkroll]

Bump.

[extremelychocolateymilkroll]

Talking Tots is great. Don't know if they have classes near you but it's 30 minutes of dancing, being read stories, "throwing" ball to one another. dd is 19 months and loves it. It's great for encouraging listening, taking turns and general communication skills. Classes are £7 per class in London - they last for about 30 minutes and there are a maximum of 12 in a group.

[extremelychocolateymilkroll]

Oops - wrong thread. Sorry.

[soosy]

Sorry i didn't get back earlier life has been very busy, in the middle of IVF cycle and rushing back and forward to London. You can contact me but I don't know how you go about it! I am hoping not to have the consultant we were talking about and am thinking of mentioning it!

[sammiee2009]

HI

I would happily recommend "Harley street Fertility centre " in london. The consultants and nurses were fantastic.

My huband and i tried actively for a baby for 2 1/2 years but it just didn't happen so we were referred to Harley street centre for a course of IUI.Unfortunately we had 3 failed IUI attempts so thought we would give IVF a try.

And hey presto it worked! we just couldn't belive it.Are little miracle is 20 weeks old now and we are trying for baby number two you just never know it may happen.

I would recommend acupuncture and pregnancy vitamins as i had 21 eggs on collection day .

So keep going ladies and all the best

sam

[faulty2015]

Not what was expected. I went to Lister hospital for egg freezing. I had Dr Jaya Parikh who performed the surgery. On the cycle I was due to start, my follicles were low compared to the previous cycle. I was concerned but Dr Parikh seemed very commercial and money driven and persuaded me that l never know if the next cycle is going to be good cycle in terms of higher number of follicles. So l went ahead. She also said there was a polyp in my uterus that needs to be removed. In fact l never had a polyp and Dr Parikh proliferated and the dialator went through my uterus and l had to do an emergency laporoscopy to check for internal bleeding. I also only had 2 eggs retrieved. Very disappointing. I went to private thinking that I will get better service but please be cautious. I was otherwise healthy now l have scars from laporoscopy and a damaged uterus. Be warned of Dr Parikh, she is not good doctor, and she became very defensive, no apology at all from her. My social life I want to write this, so that other patients do not go through what l did. I also asked for refund and they refused to give me back the £5.8k I spent on the egg freezing. My social life is taken a bad turn as a result.