Referred for IVF - how long does it all take? I feel totally lost

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I've finally been referred for IVF after a long frustrating battle with misdiagnosis, laparoscopy and severe endometriosis.

I am coming to terms with the idea that I may never conceive with out medical help . My way of coping with things is to try and learn as much as possible.

So I'm feeling totally lost - what happens next? Once the hospital get my referral, will I have to wait months for an initial consultation?

My case is complicated by the fact that I have an ovarian cyst that will need removing. I think I'll probably need it removed before starting IVF, so I'm terrified that I'll wait months to get a consultation, only to be put straight onto another long waiting list for surgery.

Can anyone tell me roughly how long it all takes?

Thank you minx you have prompted me to call the clinic - currently on hold with them!

Your treatment sounds pretty quick - Jan-July. It's horrible being in this limbo stage isn't it.

Good luck to you, hope your treatment has been / will be a success.

Thank you - I spoke to the clinic. They were SO lovely.

He told me that they have an 18 week pathway from referral to completion of investigations (I guess prior to commencing treatment). He reassured me that I won't be left in limbo, and the 2 year waiting lists of years gone by are a thing of the past.

I feel hugely reassured and a little bit tearful - that was my first contact with the IVF clinic, it feels a bit real all of a sudden.

Hello :) I've not long started my first IVF cycle, just started slimming, I don't know how long your waiting list is but from sending in the paperwork I was told it was an 8 month waiting list (I wasn't expecting to have even started yet) I got an appointment thru less than 4 months later! Once you start on the Ivf road it feels like everything moves fairly quickly I have found so far, as your either injecting/sniffing or at the hospital having scans :) Wishing you the best of luck with your IVF journey :)

Thank you everyone. It all feels so overwhelming at the start.

I can't believe it could actually start within a year. I'll have to wait to have my cyst removed (again), then wait a few months after that, and then all systems go I suppose.

How's it going so far enocar?

Stimming I meant...I'm definitely not slimming atm lol!! It's going okay, I didn't have any issues with down regging, bit warm on occasions and slightly fuzzy headed but nothing major, was worried I was injecting wrong! But scan yesterday said I had 6 follicles on one side and 8 on the other :) I'm on day 2 of Menopur, I read somewhere that if you warm the liquid up first it doesn't hurt, so hubby held it in his hand for 20 mins yesterday, and honestly I felt absolutely nothing, in fact I was trying to push the plunger down and thought it was stuck, but it had got to the end and the liquid had already been injected! The needle is a little bigger but thinner so again it's not painful at atall (I'm not a fan of needles) I find the suprecur needle hurts a bit more tbh, but is still bearable, I find doing some calming breathing before the injection helps me concentrate on that and before I know it the injection is in :) Just had my 2nd Menopur injection and again didn't feel anything, maybe a very slight tickle once the liquid was injected :)

Sounds good, your DH is a sweetheart warming it up for you!

I'm petrified of needles, the thought of injecting myself makes me feel sick. I guess I'll become an old pro at it!