Best IVF clinics and where to avoid in the uk

[closephine85]

Hi everyone

Just starting to explore the ivf route - unfortunately we live offshore and where we live has no IVF facilities which means we will have to travel wherever we decide to go.

I'm basically looking for some recommendations - preferably south up to London possibly a bit further. But being a complete newbie to this I would really appreciate others experiences, some suggestions of clinics and perhaps even where to avoid. It also looks like we will need icsi too.

Money is tight but I am wary of choosing what looks like the 'best deal' over best success rates.

Any advice would be much appreciated!

Many thanks

[chutneyqueen]

Hi, We started our journey via the NHS and were referred to Oxford Fertility Centre (we live in Swindon). The staff there were very nice and the building is modern and clean, not at all hospital like. Unfortunately, due to me having a high BMI, we didn't qualify for NHS funding.
We looked into private funding and found the Access Fertility Plan. This is brilliant, no fuss and if you choose the multi cycle option, no qualifying criteria. They also offer a refund package, with this, you get 3 fresh rounds of IVF/ICSI and any frozen transfers. If you don't give birth to a live baby after these attempts, you get 70% of your money back. The multi-cycle option (which we opted for) is for two fresh rounds of IVF/ICSI and any frozen transferred. You have to pay for drugs on top of both of these but it does shave several thousand off the price.
This is offered through Bath Fertility Centre which is where we ended up. It is quite an unassuming building in a small business park to the south of Bath. The reception has comfy sofas and free tea and coffee. The nursing staff here are fantastic. Very friendly and reassuring. From our 1st cycle, we had two embryos reach day 5, one transferred and one frozen. The fresh was a BFN but the frozen resulted in a BFP. Sadly I had an early miscarriage a week later. We went for our second cycle and got 4 embryos to blastocyst stage. I am currently on my 2ww with one of these and the other 3 are on ice for the future. If I have any niggles or paranoia, I call the nurses line and although they don't answer, they always call back the same day and listen to my ramblings and offer support. The clinic also offer free counselling sessions.
I can't fault the service we've received one bit.
Good luck on your journey xx

[miamiaMo]

Total cost is- 2.825 EUR (ivf treatment)+ 1 000 Euro (travelling, accomodation, food): visits, Infectious tests (female and male), anesthetic consultation, laboratory tests, councelling, eggs collection with ultrasound, ICSI, blastocyst culture, embryo glue, embryos freezing and one year storage, implantation supervision, if negative- follow up medical consultation. If meds unlimited- program is 3.750 Euro. My initial calculations of treatment in Invicta (based on clinic official price list)

[Honeybee79]

I am due to start my first cycle of mild IVF at CREATE (St. Paul's). They have been great so far and would recommend.

[ReturnfromtheStars]

Hi would you consider abroad if your budget is tight? Most people are scared of the thought first but they try later if their journey so far has been unsuccessful. And are usually pleasantly surprised.

Our story is a bit different, we had 1 funded and 2 self-funded cycles in the UK, and are lucky parents of 2 lovely children. We then decided to have another go with the little money we had and went abroad. Unfortunately that 4th cycle didn't work, but it was no fault of the clinic, a blastocyst was transferred (sorry not sure how familiar you are yet with IVF vocabulary, blastocyst is basically the best embryo you can have).

It did not work, but that is the luck of draw. Were we to try again in the same clinic I am sure we would have eventually succeeded but that's where we drew the line (something I am still coming to terms with).

The care was second to none and amazingly cheaper. Happy to pm details.

[mona8899]

Hi everyone
Can you help me about fertility clinic near Reading.

[EarlGreyT]

Of course you would clara because you’re a troll here to advertise their services. They’re as unethical as hell and should be avoided like the plague.

[TammySwanson]

Of for fucks sake clara237, neither this username nor the Luna568 one is fooling anyone. You are a shitty spammer for the morally and ethically corrupt BioTexCom. Fuck off with your shitty spam for your even shitter Ukrainian clinic.

[Bam99]

Over 40’s ladies trying to conceive. Hello, im researching for my sister who is 44. Can anyone recommended a clinic or share their ivf experience ? Thank you so much. She has some scarring on her tubes. 😔

[Persipan]

Her tubes aren't really relevant to IVF (unless she has fluid in them, which could cause problems). I'm afraid she would have a very, very low chance of success at any clinic with her own eggs, though, due to her age. Was she thinking of using her own eggs or donor eggs?

[Bam99]

Her own eggs 🤢.

[Bam99]

Thank you. 😊

[physicskate]

Hfea says success rates at her age with her own eggs is 3-4%.
www.hfea.gov.uk/treatments/explore-all-treatments/in-vitro-fertilisation-ivf/

[AliceAbsolum]

I had a bad experience with Nuffield. The stats on the website look good, but they do it thier way and that's that, if you don't fit thier agenda then there's no leeway.
They didn't use an ultrasound during transfer and the consultant pressed the catheter into my womb - which lowers implantation rates. Avoid if you can. Oh it also looks like a 1980s community center, all dark wood and green plastic.

[Tamster14]

@Bam99 -Hi Bam99

Do you mind me asking if your sister choose a particular clinic in the end or consider donor eggs?

I am in a similar age (43) never had children or tried but got pregnant at 42 with my now partner when we first met - this resulted in a miscarriage at 8 weeks but we decided to try for a family which resulted in another pregnancy and subsequent miscarriage at 6 weeks. We have tried since but only had a chemical in the last year. I have an amh of 1.3, afc around 7 and all bloods / fsh levels are satisfactory. We know the chances are successful outcome are infinitesimal but feel this is our last chance and don’t have to think - what if.

[RenegadeMrs]

We went with Nuffield Health Woking. Male factor issues so had ICSI. It worked first time and we have embryos in the freezer so we are very happy with them. The staff were all lovely. However, I would echo a bit what @AliceAbsolum said in that they seem to be quite strict and not open to too many 'extras' or new ideas, so if you are a complex case might not be the best for you.

Good luck!

[RenegadeMrs]

Oh, Nuffield Woking are moving to new, purpose built premises at the end of Dec so persumably the 'community centre' feel will be gone!

[Tamster14]

Thank you

[fool11]

Hi @tamster14..I had my ivf last month, two weeks before my 45th bday, last chance to try, first ivf, we are with ACU Guys hospital in London, very happy with them...Tested positive 2w ago.

[Tamster14]

Congratulations fool14! Do you know if ACU guys do low amc (1.3). Do you mind me asking if it was with OE? I have an appt at Zita west but am having anxiety over whether I’m making the right decision and whether somewhere else is better. I will check out ACU!

[fool11]

Thank you Tamster14. I don't know if i'm honest. Not sure what OE means..own eggs? if so, yes.

[Tamster14]

Yup - own eggs. Had no idea until a day ago about OE ans DE (donor eggs!). Your success gives me hope. Thank you

[Tamster14]

Thank you @RenegadeMrs. They sound great - unfortunately Woking is quite far for us in Kent but I will look into it!

[Erin11]

We went to the lister as overseas patients as we live in jersey. All scans, drug protocol etc done in jersey with consultation between my consultant here and those at the lister.
We have two boys who are now 5 and 8 thanks to the lister and I couldn’t fault them. After each appointment I always left feeling more positive than when I went in, despite it not always being plain sailing.
Wishing you all the luck x