A 5 year wait for IVF

[Bumblebumble123]

A family member has been trying for a baby for over a year with her partner. They are in their 30's and have been to their GP and are going to be having some fertility investigations. My family member was telling me that the issue is, it'll be a 5 year wait for them for IVF so they are considering not proceeding with it as his partner already has a child from a previous relationship (his step child) and it may be less heartache/stress to just be happy with what they've got.

I am so shocked to hear that it's such a long wait for IVF and wondered if this is standard in the UK/ on the NHS?

I really hope you don't mind me posting here. I'm just saddened for them that they are being put at the bottom of such a long waiting list. I know they are going through a lot right now so I didn't want to ask them these questions directly. Thank you.

I’ve never heard of a 5 year waiting list for IVF but I’ve also never heard of it being funded on the NHS if either partner already has a child.

Oh really? That's what they've told us they are very close relatives but it's not really my business i suppose. I just felt frustrated for them at the time scales they'd been given by the GP.

Wait lists vary by ccg. My ccg has 'no' waiting list (but many hoops in terms of testing and waiting). The longest wait list I've heard of is a year somewhere in London.

I have heard of one ccg (bury) that will fund if one partner has a previous child. They can google the criteria for each ccg.

They may want to consider private treatment.

It's not his biological child though, it's his ex partners so he is only a step parent is how I read it

Ah, I’ve just re-read the OP. I didn’t realise it was his step-child.

Five years does seem like a long time to wait! Have they had any treatment/are they already on the waiting list? We had to have been trying for 2 years before they would do any tests (I think it was 1 year if the woman was over 35). A year of tests and Clomid cycles and then an IVF referral. From start to finish, I think it was around 4 years. We started ttc in 2011 and our eldest DC was born (via IVF) in 2015.

Sorry, I've not explained that well at all. It's her biological child but his step child.

Could the 5 year wait be how long it would take for them to save up to begin treatment as they wouldn't be able to get any funding.

Taylor22 they aren't short on money. I'm not sure how much IVF costs but I'd imagine they'd have a spare £5k at least in a savings account.

What initial treatment have they been offered? It’s rare for anyone to automatically be refered for ivf immediately, we had tests, then Clomid for a few cycles, then eventually ivf, I guess from start to finish maybe 3 years but nobody gave us the overall time frame at the start because for all they knew the Clomid could’ve worked

If they've only just gone to their GP then it's going to be a lot of tests, and other treatment before commencing IVF so I'm not really sure where they would be getting that idea from?

If she already has a child then they won't be entitled to any IVF, waiting list or not unfortunately.

So are they entitled to other treatments? Just not the IVF? I'm confused by what they've told us now but I appreciate that they may not be telling us the whole truth and may have their own reasons for not wanting to tell us the exact truth.

I know it's off topic but iv recently been researching ivf in France, where I live, and ivf is funded 100% for anyone experiencing fertility troubles. Even those with children.

I think you can still be entitled to Clomid (although I believe it can vary by area) if you already have a child but as far as I’m aware, there would be no IVF funding if she already has a child.

I don't think you can get nhs funding in some areas of one parent already has a child, and I've never known a 5 year waiting list to happen.

I would ask your friend to double check her CCG and find out more information on what is on offer.

We did ivf 13 years ago and the waiting list in our area was 4 years for one cycle only with both parents not having a child. Pretty much a waste of time as if you moved you would be off the list and fertility decreases with age. So we stayed in NHS hospital and self funded, thankfully our doctor went against NHS rules and paid for meds so cycle cost £1,900 and have a 12 year old from it. With meds it would have been a further £1,700 so the £5k may well only fund the one cycle via NHS.

I would be surprised if the NHS would fund anything if she already has a child but it does vary area to area. The 5 year wait wouldn't surprise me in the current climate and ours was 4 years.

It sounds as though it does vary massively from one area to the next so quite possibly they are telling the truth. It sounds counter productive to me (although my knowledge on this is extremely limited) as I'd have thought your chances of success would possibly lessen as the years pass?

There was a two year wait when my brother went through IVF, so with the two years they were trying (and all the investigations) before the referral that was 4 years. However my SIL in a different area started her first cycle almost immediately after referral. After several unsuccessful attempts, she paid for private treatment which I'm sure cost a lot more than £5k. Just depends what particular drugs/interventions you require I guess.