First Appointment - what to ask/expect?

[makingdoo]

We have been told that ICSI is our best option of conceiving due to male factor infertility.

We have our first appointment at the clinic tomorrow and have no idea what to expect. Communication has been so poor this far. I really don't even know what to expect tomorrow!

Anyone advise? We are in NI

TIA

Hiya! We had our first IVF consultation today and I found this link this morning which was really useful
www.fertilityfriends.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=66631.0
Most of the questions were answered as our consultant went through the process, but it was useful to cover a few others that were particularly important to us.
The thing I found particularly useful was talking about success rates for other couples like us. It was higher than we anticipated so we're feeling pretty optimistic and happy right now (first time in a while!!)

Hi Moggle
Thanks for your reply. My internet went down last night so couldnt reply. Thanks for the link - it answers alot of questions.

e got on ok today - didnt learn anything new but I know Im really impatient! Very frustrating that DHs results hadnt been passed on and it will now be about 3 months before we are recalled to see the consultant to agree a treatment plan and then get put on the 12 month waiting list.

I asked about success rates and he said about 30% which is about average. Im just worried that Ive just turned 34 and want to get it done before I turn 35 - but as I say Im very impatient!

So whats next for you?

We'll be doing long protocol ivf, probably starting down regulation at the end of January. I have low AMH but FSH is normal and follicle count good so the consultant was optimistic. No male issues for us, which I'm very thankful for. Most interesting thing was he said that the best estimate of chance of conception each month is only 8% at age 30. So even someone with zero obvious problems is still going to take 9-12m on average to get pregnant at that age. Other good thing is he said with my results we were doing the right thing by having a go now (at 2 yrs) and not waiting another year. We were worried we were being a bit, I don't know, 'spoiled' or premature by having 1 private go at this time.

Oh thats good, sounds very optimistic for you. I need to read up more on all the technical terms!

The only good thing in our favour is that I dont have any issue but DH has 98% abnormal sperm (thats not the way he said it but what he explained it to mean - my heads fried trying to remember the wording).
Private just isnt an option for us unfortunately as its so expensive. I cant help thinking that the odds are against us with this 'one' chance. But then he was optimistic so I should be too

It's hard trying to balance being optimistic and positive while also trying to be realistic. I guess you just have to take each step of the process as it comes. Don't know if it will give you hope, but I've just been staying with my friends for a few days- we have shared TTC struggles, her DH has a very low sperm count and they've been TTC about the same length of time as we have. They were having their ivf/icsi consultation later this month, but she is now 8wks pregnant! She was so nervous of telling me but I'm over the moon for them! I don't think she can really believe they managed to beat the odds.