HSG on NHS?

[lizziet1978]

Hi there!
I have decided that as a single gay woman I will be going for IUI to have a baby. Had the scan done, quit smoking, preparing my body for it. Everything has the all clear except having an HSG test (checking if my fallopian tubes aren't blocked). Clinic said the NHS will be able to do it.

So went to go see the dr & straight from the beginning it was a case of a definite NO.
He said if i was trying to conceive in a heterosexual relationship then the NHS would do it. But they don't do it for single woman. I was in shock! Single women don't get the same treatment?!? He said he can give me a referral though for private treatment & I could pick the letter up during the week.

A few days later I made an appointment with another dr for a 2nd opinion. She kept on looking at the notes on the screen from the previous dr & said yes, he is right. I am a single women & NHS won't do it for me & I have to go privately.

Now I am not someone who takes things personally or care for the way people tend to come across with the tone they speak to me BUT dr #1 was not the nicest man in the 1st place. Speaking to me like he had better things to do. Very abrupt. To the point. Not helpful AT ALL and.... when I went to collect the referral letter - it was nowhere to be found. Receptionist made a note to chase him and a couple of days later dr #2 leaves voicemail message on behalf of dr #1 asking what was the referral for?!?
Like come on?!?!? Really?
I am going in circles here. Why are single women who want to be parents (and gay I have to add) are made to feel like outcasts?
Spending thousands of £ to made it happen but lets just add all the tests that go with it on top of it. 🧐
What are my options? I feel so disheartened about this.

That sounds very frustrating. I had mine on the NHS without any issues. I suspect it varies according to area and possibly individual - doctor #1 sounds like a dick. Is he your GP? Could you switch GP practice?

It's because the NHS pay for couples having fertility issues - it's not a routine cost for all couples. As a single woman, I couldn't prove that I'd been ttc for 2 years unsuccessfully because I hadn't.

If you were single but struggling to conceive naturally, the NHS would pay.

Resources are very very stretched and lots of things aren't covered.

Yep, it is frustrating. The NHS paid for mine, though I'm in a lesbian relationship, because I have a history of recurrent miscarriage. But even there, the GP wasn't at all sure it'd be funded and in some areas I believe it wouldn't.

I would say get used to medics dropping the ball with fertility treatments and get very used to chasing stuff up. That sounds pessimistic, but my experience is that it's necessary. And it does sting when you get the impression they're being extra shit because you're gay.

Unfortunately it very much depends on what your local ccg (clinical commissioning group) decide they are going to fund and for a lot of areas it's only offered it you've had fertility issues for 2years or actively trying
I'm a single female and went private for my treatment -31wks pregnant tomorrow - all in all spent about £6k but was very lucky It worked on 2nd go
Good luck with your journey