Private Fertility Clinic in London (South London)

[Sonny25]

Hi Guys,
My fiance and myself are looking for some recommendations regarding the best fertility clinic to go to in London. We have read some horror stories about ARGC so reluctant to use them despite the high success rate. I am 36 years old and have irregular shaped womb as a result of a fibroid removal 7 years ago and my fiance has 1% morphology of sperm though not sure what the impact of all these could be. The NHS waiting period is just too long so we have decided to scrap together all our savings and go private. Any advice would really be appreciated as we are eager to get the ball rolling so we do not waste any more time.

[JoJoSM2]

We live in south London (zone 5). At first, we looked for somewhere pretty local not to faff about with travel times. However, didn't seem that impressed with anywhere so decided on Zita West which is in central London. Both of us have problems too (DH's morphology came out at 0%). We're getting IVF/ICSI next month. The clinic has excellent success rates and a holistic approach so might suit if you're that way inclined.

[Sonny25]

Thank you very much for your message - just checking on several options now. Good luck and please let us know how it goes. I am sure you'll be successful

[Sonny25]

Hello Ladies,
We decided to see Lister and ARGC and both of them looked sensible to start the treatment with. ARGC sent me to 3 D ultrasound scan and I would need to have a historioscopy/laparoscopy as in my left tube I got some liquid (I was a huge fibroid removed 8 years ago) plus there are several scars in my uterus. I will arrange this historioscopy/laparoscopy with NHS or my private insurance (whatever is quicker) but I am not sure which clinic we should proceed with. Any thought would be much appreciated. The last semen results came as normal, so the issue is on my side now.

[LapinR0se]

WE went with Jaya Parikh at the Lister.
I have endometriosis and my husband had low morphology and low motility.
Successful first cycle and have a 3 year old, now pregnant from a frozen embryo transfer from that original cycle.
Highly recommend

[LapinR0se]

Any questions at all let me know

[AgainPlease]

We were at The Lister. Incidentally also the closest to us as we're only 10-15 minutes away by car.

No problems or horror stories to report from there.

[Sonny25]

The only story which made me doubted is this case about a lady who went for the egg collection www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/531412-are-there-any-really-good-ivf-expert-doctors-that-anyone about dr Jaya Parikh.
Of course our case is different and if I had a hysteroscopy, it would be with someone else.The hospital seems nicer and they are less intense with all the tests than ARGC.

[EarlGreyT]

She was my consultant and she was lovely. I had 4 cycles with her, so got to know her quite well.

The description in that story doesn't bear any resemblance to how she was when she treated me. I felt I was in good hands and that she listened and took my opinion into account.

She definitely didn't seem out to make as much money from me as possible and when she recommended additional tests/treatments there was always a well thought out reason and they were only suggested after the first failed cycle with them and not as an immediate recommendation.

She didn't do any of my egg collections so I can't comment on that, but of the 6 embryo transfers I've had, the one she did was the least uncomfortable.

Ultimately we weren't successful there, but that is to do with the quality of my eggs (which are crap) rather than anything else so I'd still recommend the hospital.

[LapinR0se]

Yes I don't recognise anything about dr Parikh from that post either.

[Sonny25]

EarlGreyT, thank you very much. That's encouraging. How many times did you have to go for your blood tests during a cycle? Do you know if they are open early morning? I work in Central London from 9.30 till 17.30 and possibly would like to stay away from taking a day off during the stimulation.

[LapinR0se]

This is what I did:
Blood tests etc before cycle
Day 1 of period phone clinic
Baseline scan around day 3 (booked time off work for appointment)
Start injections
Scan every 2nd day (worked from home)
Trigger shot
Egg collection (under General so booked day off plus following day)
Wait to see how embryos develop
Transfer of embryo - then I took 3 days off to lie at home and have my mum look after me
Anxious wait during which I developed mild OHSS and had 2 days off work sick
Pee on a stick

[LapinR0se]

PS there can be long wait times so even if you get an early morning appointment you may be late in to work.

[EarlGreyT]

I was a poor responder so was on stims for ages each cycle (17-21 days). This is a rough outline of my treatment cycles which were the long microdose protocol:

Day 1 of period call the clinic and start oral contraceptive.
After approximately 2 weeks on the pill went for a pill scan to make sure ovaries were quiet.
If all ok at the above, then started suprecur injections for a week
After a week on the supracur, started stims and suprecur dose reduced (this is something the Lister does to prevent over suppression of the ovaries)
After a week on stims have scans and a blood test.
These are then generally done every other day until your follicles are ready for egg collection, so usually about 4 scans.
By cycle 4 when I was a regular, I rebelled and asked to go in less frequently for scans and bloods as was already on maximum dose of stims and they knew roughly how long it'd take for me to be ready for EC. I think they only allowed me to this as they already knew how I'd respond.
Then trigger shot etc as above.

[Sonny25]

Thank you for describing the whole procedure. I need to ger the historioscopy done first (with the laparoscopy and the tubes being potentially removed). The NHS gynaecologist clinic at Hammersmith Hospital just discharged me today and asked my gp to refer me to a fertility clinic to proceed with the procedure. I am now worrying how much time it would take. I got BUPA insurance, so will ask the gp for the open referal, so maybe they can do it quicker before NHS. Do you have any experience with them? I know that they don't refound the fertility treatment