IVF - wait or self fund?

[Questionsbutnoanswers]

I have been TTC for 4 years and have been having Letrozole, Tamoxifen and Clomid on the NHS for approx 2.5 years. Also had some surgery for PCOS. I got pregnant last Dec but miscarried and as a result can't be referred for IVF until next December. I am 32 and DH is 34. No problems with egg reserve.

My options are to persevere with ovulation induction as listed above but feel like I'm flogging a dead horse now. I am finally at the stage where I want IVF after being terrified of it previously because it felt like the end of the line and my dreams of becoming a mother if it failed (The success rates aren't anywhere near as good as people would have you believe).

OR I could self fund IVF. We don't struggle but can't just whip thousands out of our arses. It would come out of savings put aside for a house move which would need to go on hold, but that's life.

WWYD? Self fund or wait for free cycle? I don't know exactly what I'm most scared of - but I think it's the fear of it failing most of all.

Many ccg will allow you up to the max of three allowed cycles privately and still keep the remainder nhs cycles, eg: my ccg funds one, but I can still get it if I privately find two cycles first.

Check your ccg requirements first.

Thanks. That's what they've said actually. In that case, I should just go for it and self fund right?

I probably would. But obviously it's such an individual thing. Only you can decide.

My plan is nhs for first go, then self fund 2 and 3, but that's just my plan.

Zzzz, would it be terribly rude to ask the outcome? I know this is a sensitive q

Thanks Kate.

We self funded. Means you can pick your clinic and to an extent the dates of your treatment. It’s expensive though and beware of added extras. Our one (successful) cycle cost almost 10k (we did need a few extra things like ICSI and ended up paying about a grand more on drugs than we’d been told due to needing higher doses).

If you can afford to self fund I would recommend it. Much faster. It might be worthwhile looking into access fertility. We have went with them as it was offered at our clinic. We took 3 rounds of treatment, paid almost £14,000, but 100% money back if not successful. I believe their are other options available.

*there

Worthwhile mentioning cost does not include meds - which you pay for separately.

Thanks welsh and windy - really useful info which I'll look into further! Windy - supposing you pay for 3 cycles and are successful first time (trying to be optimistic!) do they refund the other two cycles' worth?

Zzzzz that's fantastic! My situation pretty much mirrors yours. I did think ovarian drilling was good however. It's definitely worn off now though.

No. It’s a gamble because if you are successful first time or any other time for that matter you do not get refund. We weighed up the pros and cons. Main pro - if we don’t deliver a baby after 3 full rounds including fets then we get the bulk of our money back. Main con - it’s successful first time and we’ve over paid. It’s looking like it’s been a good choice for us, as midway through first attempt, the road has been bumpy and I’m not confident. At least at this stage I know that I have two more attempts to go.

Thanks. I see, makes sense. Sending you lots of luck for your next attempt. This is such a difficult road.

If you have to wait til next December - will you still meet your CCGs requirement for free treatment? In my area they won’t fund if you haven’t started treatment by 34.

We waited because our GPS told us we need to TTC for 2 years, we listened and by the time we got to two years, I was past my 34th birthday and the waiting list was long and ended up seeing them when it was too late.

We are now self funding, looked at an eye watering number of clinics, lots of consultations, but we have chosen one we are completely comfortable with, IVF with ICSI and Micro-Tese with all drugs working out to be just under 5k.

No waiting times either thankfully so we could choose when to start our treatment.

Thank you for both posts and for taking the time to write.

I've been following a low carb diet for about two years now since being in treatment as I know the about sugar working against you with PCOS (I LOVE shit food! 😂) The fact that I've never looked better is the only silver lining in all this!

I'd wait. It's a huge chunk of cash and you're only 32 so it's not like it's going to be too late if you wait till December.