private IVF @ ARGC or Hammersmith or Harley street

[Hyland]

confused by the success rates, one site contradicts another

age 36 i thought success rate was
68.3% for ARGC AND their site sez Hammersmith is only 31.1%.

However at the open evening for Hammersmith Hospital clinic, they told me that success rate for age group is 39.8%

hi hyland,

im 32 and decided to go with ARGC - due to their success stories. i havent yet started my cycle with them but alot of people say ARGC is very good and 'intense'. different clinics use different approach... it all depends on what you feel comfortable with as nothing on this journey is 100% guarantee.

a lot of people refer ARGC to 'bootcamp' as they are very intense yet thorough and cover all aspects. saying that, i am sorry but dont know anything about hammersmith hospital clinic so wont be able to compare.

let me know if you have any questions regarding ARGC as ive done alot of reading lol

btw i think waiting list for ARGC is approx. 6 weeks for initial consultation. after which, depending on your tests... everything is ok to start immediately xxx

hi aussie, how long have you been trying? and would i be right in assuming that this would be your first ivf cycle!

Waiting times sound like the same as for the Hammersmith. What can you tell me about ARGC Prices and just what makes them so good?

Are you expecting that it will take more than one run at ivf ?

We have been trying for 3 years and 7 months. Havent begun ivf as of yet due to still seeking out the beat option.

Sperm mobility is normal and scan for me was normal for everythng, bloodtest all ok, so no known problems, just unexplained.

Hi Hyland, we have been trying for a few years but no success. i went with NHS last year. they said no problem except partner sperm lightly on boarder line. got to egg collection but only 1 egg and my hormone levels were too high so had to hold off egg transfer and wait. embryo was frozen. i then decided to go private as i wasnt confident with NHS.

At private... they did tests and said NOTHING wrong with partner sperm and its 'unexplained fertility'.

Monitoring cycle - Prior to starting your cycle with IVF they undergo a 'monitoring' cycle where they check your normal cycle (blood tests and scans). i've done my monitoring cycle with ARGC.

Immune testing - they offer immune testing mainly for women who have had re-occurrence miscarriages. as this was my first cycle, i had the option to opt in or out (this test is expensive as the blood tests go Chicago for testing). After my immune testing... they said my NK cells were too high so needed to take a course of hymeria which i have now finished. providing my levels have now dropped (waiting for call from dr anyday)... i can start my cycle next month (fingers crossed). xxx

as far as i know... ARGC do extensive amounts of bloot tests and scans. your last week prior to EC you are expected to go everyday for 2 blood tests... one in the morning 7.30am ish and one mid-day. such tests can accumulate in price but to be honest i rather pay slightly more on my first cycle then have a failed cycle and pay for another one. i just pray to god my first cycle works as finanacially and mentally this whole process is very demanding xxx

i hope i have answered any questions you may have. there are loads of post on this site and on google regarding ARGC if you wish to get other peoples point of view before you make a decision. i would have probably helped you if i have a success story to share x

ps. feel free to ask me anything else xxx

Hi Hyland and Aussie82

Hope you don't mind me joining your threat Hyland, but I'm interested in hearing more about ARGC as am thinking of having our first IVF cycle there.

Aussie82, what is the general vibe like and are the people nice? I've heard its very much a 'bootcamp' and very intense which doesn't bother me so long as the consultants/nurses are nice and personable and give you proper time.

I'm also concerned about the drug regime when it comes to IVF in general, mostly because I wasn't that great on the Pill and just not a drugs person in general. Am thinking that the amount of close monitoring they do when you're in that phase would mean that if something was going a bit squiffy and you were having a bad reaction, it would be picked up on and dealt with quickly? Chatting to my best friend yesterday who's recently given birth to twins courtesy of the LWC said in her opinion the rigorous monitoring can only be a good thing (and she had nothing but praise for the 24-7 365 opening hours too and said that could make all the difference).

Unfortunately our GP isn't prepared to do any of the tests they insist on for your consultation, apart from the basic one I've already had, which is a bummer. So thinking the consultation plus all the tests is going to set us back about £800 - is that right? (feels sick)

I've read so many people raving about ARGC on here and their success rates are so impressive. Haven't heard anything negative apart from the bedside manner isn't all that warm.

For what its worth we're considering private treatment because NHS waiting list is LONG. I'm 34 DH is 39. Everything fine with me so far but morphology issues with DH so NHS gynae has advised that ICSI will be our only option unless things improve on their own (unlikely!)

Would love to go to an ARGC open evening but doesn't seem like they do any or am I missing something?

Thanks and hope to hear from you soon

Argc don't do open evenings as they don't need the sales pitch... They r No1 for a reason!
Good luck x

hi laura,

argc is intense and definatly a 'bootcamp' but your def. in safe hands. ive found the staff to be very pleasent and ive also made really good friends in the waiting rooms lol

everyones treatment will vary depending on personal circumstances which i personally think its a good thing. the waiting times can be long sometimes but like babymum1 says 'they are no1 for a reason'!

they dont do open evenings but you can have a initial consultation with them which i think costs around £150.00 (if you have semen analysis same time then its cheaper combined... think its £200.00).

alot of people praise argc. if you go to fertility friends, theres a forum just on argc which will give you alot of infor

hope ive answered all your questions... feel free to ask any more if you have any xxx

Hey there - I'm also going with ARGC - Aussie helped to persuade me but also their 'live birth rates' are double that of my local fertility clinic. To check out these rates you need to check on the HFEA website, they are 56% per cycle for my age.

I've had 2 appointments there now. The place is bonkers and comes across more as an Australian youth hostel! The whole place is run by young Aussie girls (who are lovely and very efficient). It's always super busy - my scan room was in what looked like a bedroom that was being redecorated, the waiting room was full to bursting so I sat in the hallway but there's no contest with their success rates.

I was told there was a waiting list of 10 weeks but thy squeezed me ino a a cancellation within 10 days.

Good luck with choosing!

Re success rates, you also have to look at the number of patients each clinic treats. So for example, a clinic with a success rate of 50% but they only treated 50 patients is nowhere near as impressive as a clinic of 45% but they've treated 500 patients as the second clinic can replicate the results more.

Argc is very busy, it's madness sometimes and their patients have often failed elsewhere and they STILL have outstanding results.

We had 2 cycles, and had a singleton and a set of twins, all of whom are bloody pests tonight! I was 38 and 39 when they were born.

Good luck x

Just read your OP again - the most expensive cycle is one that doesn't work so if you're being quoted a nearly 70% chance then that means it's not the financial shot in the dark that ivf can appear to be. For me there's no contest. Argc all the way.

Lovely to hear rugby

Hi Hyland - can't add much more than the other lovely ladies on this thread. I was trying for my 2nd child for 4 years, I had around 7 cycles of ICSI at Hammersmith privately and then 1 at ARGC and because of the immune testing/treatment at ARGC fell pregnant, and have a little boy. I cannot recommend ARGC highly enough. Please feel free to Pm me or ask any specific questions about either clinic and I will be happy to answer them. All the best of luck xx