No funding for clomid

[VixxFace]

I have just had my ivf appointment where they discuss results and the outcome was that I am not ovulating due to pcos but my dps sperm is fine (previous tests showed it was low).

Our names are down for ivf in September but they have given me a months worth of clomid and a scan during that time. The other months of clomid I will have to pay 250 a month for.

An appointment was arranged for June where they will discuss with me if I want insemination which will cost 700 a cycle.

Apparently they have just stopped funding for clomid.

Not sure if I should go for the clomid which he said only 7/10 women ovulate and 2 out of those 7 will get pregnant. Or the insemination?

The dr actually said it sounds like I am trying to take your money but I am not.

We are entitled to nhs ivf treatment and our borough offers three goes.

Any advice please?

Anyone?

Hi Vixx, I don't have any clomid experience but did a fresh cycle of IVF 3 years ago (resulting in 2 year old DD) and am partway through a frozen cycle (embryo transfer this afternoon!).

If I were you and funds allowed I would do the clomid whilst waiting for IVF in September. From what you say it's a 20% chance of pregnancy each month, which is presumably higher than your current chances? For me that would be enough of a chance to try a few cycles. That said, if age is on your side and funds are tight then waiting until September to start IVF is not so far away. If you are mid-30s or older then I would be trying alternatives until at the front of the IVF queue...

I'm sure some clomid experts will be here soon with better insights than me!

Thank you for replying and congratulations on your dd . Makes me smile to hear positive stories!

I am 29. You are right 20 per cent is better then the 0 per cent I seem to be having.

Have you shopped around to see if you can get a better deal on the Clomid? My DH took it to raise his testosterone levels and it was nowhere near that expensive. Might have been a lower dose of course. Have you tried Asda and the ones who deliver (is it Healthcare at Home)?

It sounds like Clomid might give you a much better chance than you have currently. Will the clinic scan you to see what happens to your ovaries or do 21 day bloods to see if you ovulate? That should give you an idea of whether it's worth continuing with the Clomid in later months.

Best of luck to you!

Oh yes, on drugs definitely shop around - I have been buying mine from Sainsburys as a friend recommended them - she saved nearly £1,000 on drugs for an IVF fresh cycle rather than using a high street pharmacist!

I would try and get the clomid in the meantime if you can. I'm surprised by his attitude because it costs the nhs peanuts. I conceived first cycle on it and know of the same happening to other ladies with pcos.

I didn't know you could buy clomid from asda! I will have a look now.

The doctor said they would give the clomid and then do a scan on day 9 to see if it has made any impact. He was really pushing the insemination though.

Does anyone know if you need to have a prescription to buy it?

Hi Vixxface, yes you do need a prescription for Clomid in the UK.

I conceived first month on clomid. I was prescribed it privately and don't think it cost anywhere near that. Check how much a private consultation would be, got to be cheaper than that.
Soy isoflavone is something else that made me ovulate in much the same way as clomid.

My Clomid baby is hogging my bed. I have pcos.

I conceived third month on clomid. Got it on the NHS from my GP. It can work!

Aw love hearing about the clomid babies. congratulations to all of you .

If I do the first free month with the nhs will I have to pay for all tests such as hcg, bloods, sperm samples etc again?

I think I will definitely stick with the clomid and hopefully it will work and I wont have to go for ivf come September!
I am taking soy isoflavones this month.

Asda have a policy of supplying fertility drugs at cost, so are often cheapest. Definitely worth phoning to ask.

IUI has a lower success rate than IVF, but about double that of trying naturally. It's considerably cheaper and less invasive than IVF too. It worked for me at 40!

Keeping fingers crossed for you.

Thank you
So I could ask the hospital for a prescription and then take it else where?
Sorry if these are silly questions.

I had clomid - its not the drug that is expensive its the scan(s) that accompany it.

I had 3 months of clomid with no scans. The first month was agony cos I had PCOS, and I think (from googling) that it made all my half matured eggs that had not released in previous months, swell up and burst. It didn't work.

Then I got to the fertility clinic and they did follicular scanning alongside the clomid (the wand shaped scanner with a condom thingy on it) I had to start taking the clomid on a particular day and they booked me a scan for a certain day of my cycle. I then would need 1 or 2 scans depending on what the first scan showed.

I only needed 1 scan and it worked first time. The scan showed that I had 2 potential eggs on one ovary and 3 potential on the other, but they needed another 3-5 days or so to fully ripen. The doctor recommended getting very busy during a particular 48hr window. We did and it worked. DS is 2 now :)

I highly recommend it.

Also IVF is a very long-winded and incredibly invasive method of conception. If it were me, I'd do the Clomid for at least 1 round and see if it does anything. The scan will show if your eggs are developing correctly or not.

Also, hospital prescriptions usually only work in that hospital. Ask your fertility doctor if their service will be cheaper if you have a private prescription (or GP prescription) for the clomid. It might not be!

And, my clomid was labelled 'clomifene citrate' on the packet. Its the generic name for the drug, and its cheap. No different to 'Clomid', but your doctor might be planning to prescribe the brand name 'Clomid' which will cost a LOT more money than the generic drug.

I just had a quick look at a fertility clinic near me. I think the NHS are seriously overcharging you!!!

Cherish Fertility Clinic

Follicle Tracking Scans Package
This will include 3 follicle tracking scans on alternate days for £200, any further fertility scans within the same cycle will be charged at £50 each.

Private Prescription £35

Cost of drugs - ask Asda!

You might be able to take one month free on the NHS and then do it yourself MUCH cheaper at a fertility clinic. I suspect you could do a month for less than £300 privately.

I have PCOS.

My clomid baby starts school this September .

I ordered mine online - possibly from the US or Canada. It wasn't expensive.

I have PCOS and am looking in to clomid. Where I live (Dubai) you can buy it over the counter for £5 a course. How on earth can UK doctors say it would be £250?!? Perhaps that includes all the checks they need to do on you when you're on it? Still, ridiculous.

I hope you manage to find a way around it, or that you get your BFP after one course!

Thank you for the advice ladies
Hope the clomid does it's job! !