First appointment at fertility clinic

[worriedmum100]

Hello

We just got our referral through to the fertility clinic after ttc DC2 for nearly a year. They've said the appointment will be approx 2 hours.

I just wondered if anyone could tell me what to expect? Bloods? An internal scan?

Also - we have a 22 month old who we are probably going to have to take with us. I'm a bit worried about this being an insensitive thing to do because there might be people there who are struggling to have any children at all and I don't want to upset anyone. I only ask this because when I had a mc I had to wait for an internal scan in the same room where lots of expectant mothers were looking very pregnant/happy after thier 20 week scans etc and I remember feeling very upset.

Any advice would be great, thanks.

Hiya worried, if your appointment is anything like mine they will run through the results of any blood tests you had taken, do a scan, then spend the best part of an hour talking you through the entire IVF process and showing you the stages of embryo development up to the point of transfer. They'll also go through the drug regime with you, timeframes, talk about your cycles, and hopefully give you an indication of how soon you can start. You'll probably meet with just the nurse and an embryologist this time, as the consultants usually see you separately.

good luck

Hi worried, I don't recall our first appointment lasting for 2 hours but it was certainy a good hour (our clinic runs mandatory patient info evenings where they cover the detail of the general processes before your first appointment).

You'll go over your situation and tests already done (likely to be the basis of your referral) and you'll feel like you're having the same conversation with your consultant that you've had with your GP / each other / any family or friends for the MILLIONTH time!

They may also want to re-run some of your tests. Expect an internal scan, bloods (depending on what stage of your cycle you're at).

You'll also get info on the specific type of treatment you're having, e.g. long/short protocol, approximate timings of the stages etc.

I found it really helpful to take a small notebook with a list of questions we had - we've now done 2 rounds of icsi and are about to start our second go at FET and I still find I take notes at each appointment, it's the only way I can recall and focus on the key points. I also take a diary/calendar to keep track of the stages, appointments and what's coming up. I'm anal like that though!

I think it's very thoughtful that you're aware of your DC1 and other patients - if I were you I'd try to make arrangements for someone to look after him as it can generally be an emotionally charged place. When I've been in our clinic there have been some couples with small children and it's a painful reminder of what we're struggling to achieve and/or what I've sat there losing (I've sat in the waiting room having a mc). Plus there will be a lot of information for you to take in, so it may be better if you can focus entirely on the conversation with your doctor.

Where are you having treatment? Good luck with it all!

Thanks for the replies.

My mum and dad have said they will come and stay to look after DS so that is a bit of a relief. All I know about the appointment is that I have to bring a urine sample so the extra info you've given me here is really helpful - thanks.

The bloods I've had at the GP suggest I'm ovulating so I'm not sure what they will be able to do as I think clomid is only prescribed when you're not ovulating? I guess they could check for cysts, tube blockage etc. DP is being tested a week before our appointment so hopefully they will have his results by then. We won't be eligible for IVF where we live (Herts) as we already have DS (and that's completely fair enough) but hopefully the NHS may be able to get us as far as a diagnosis and then we'll just have to see what we do next.

Many thanks again.

If you're ovulating then I doubt they'll give you clomid. It could be something else entirely that's getting in the way of conception. In our case it was DH (low count, morphology and motility, so a triple-whammy!), which was like a bolt out of the blue, as we both assumed it would be me! Either way, expect both of you to have a battery of tests (clinics generally like to run their own ime).

Indeed the NHS will take you as far as a diagnosis (if there is one, sometimes it's all just unexplained). Good luck, hope you have a good appointment and get a positive outcome.