ABC Infertility

[Bubblegum89]

Looking at potential IVF options and to stay with our current fertility clinic, we’re looking in the region of about £6k for IVF including medication. I have come across ABC in London a few times and I’ve also seen women on ttc/infertility fb groups talking about having their IVF done there.

I understand it’s known as “shoebox” IVF which is why it only costs £2500 including meds, scans etc. Which is amazing to be honest when you don’t have thousands and thousands to spare like we don’t. I was just wondering if anyone on here was considering going, is currently or has been through IVF with them and if they’re worth it? I feel like it may be a “too good to be true” situation but if it’s not, it would really be a step in the right direction for us money-wise

Omg, a huge congratulations @jojobean84 !!! Thanks for sharing. That must have come as such a surprise at your scan.

I'm currently doing my first cycle with Abc and due to my pregnancy blood test on Monday. It's been a long wait.
Can you remember if you had any symptoms? Or did you 'feel' pregnant before your test?

I just turned 38, I started my stimms injections when I was still 37.

Hi ouryear19

Good luck... Let us know the outcome!!!! I hope it is positive.

We we're naughty and did a HPT before the blood test because I couldn't stand to wait.

I would say I had some symptoms. I did have implantation bleeding. In fact I thought it was my period coming, so got quite upset.

I had sore breasts and nausea, but often had that before my period.
I think I'd spent 3 years symptom spotting so tried not to think about it too much!

The abc team are really lovely. I only really saw Alison, but another lady rung with the pg results. I had blood test in the am ,but they didn't ring until about 4pm!

Good luck... Stay in touch

Jo

@jojobean84 - huge congratulations on your twins! How exciting.
This made me really happy I am currently doing my ivf cycle with ABC on day 4 of stims. What injections were you on the first round that didn’t work and the second round that did- and did u Stim for the same amount of days each time? Sorry for all the question I’m just really anxious and praying all goes well for me too! Xx

@Ouryear19 good luck with you blood test results you are great will power I would of caved in and tested it home haha xx

I was on bemfola and cetrotide.
But during my first cycle I started on tamoxifem (think that's what they were called) tablets.
Which is a bit like clomid.
I then was on a low dose bemfola.
This was not enough to stimulate my ovaries and I was really disheartened when I would go in and be told they are not growing big enough.

Second time round I was put on a high dose bemfola from the start.
I remember feeling more like I was ovulating the second time round because I had the EWCM

Both times I only got 7-9 eggs but it seems they we're of stronger quality the second time around.

Having failed fertilsation was hard, because it felt like that was it!

I was very much prepared to have a third cycle if it was needed.
They were also worried as they found a polyp during my second cycle which could have effected implantation.

It's such a stressful process, but the abc team and create team work to support.

If you're unexplained abc is definitely a good place to start with the all in one package price
I messed up a couple of cetrotides (mixing it)
They would always give me an extra one without charge.

I really hope to hear some positive outcomes as the website only has a few posted and I think some may be from create because abc only opened Oct 2017. First ABC babies would be July 2018 at the earliest!

Thanks so much for your reply it’s really reassuring!
I am on 125 bemfola at the moment- what was your dose both times? I go for my first scan tomorrow.
Mine is unexplained. Me and my partner are both healthy and I am 23 with a normal BMI and he is 33. I really hope it works for me and I can share a success story soon! X

I genuinely can't remember what dose I was on.
All I remember was that they increased it a fair bit during my second cycle as the dose was not doing anything first time round. I was stimulating for nearly two weeks with very little follicle growth.

Good luck with the scan .. hope you have lots of follicles growing!

The staff are really lovely...
The two I mainly interacted with were konstantina and Alison.
Tell them I said hi... I'm Jo, the twin lady. They should remember me.

Stay calm and I hope it works out. I'm sure it will. You guys seem well suited for the IVF they perform.

All the best

Thanks so much. Just back from my scan all is good and now I just started Cetrotide and it stings! I only saw this post after my appointment, it was with Alison who is wonderful- i will definitely mention you next time I go and tell them you said hi!

I think my egg collection will be on next week Monday most likely. Something I am dreading as I have never been sedated or gone under before so don’t know what to expect.

Glad all is going well!
Don't worry about the egg collection.
You genuinely won't remember a thing.
Once they put the meds in you just zone out.
I personally closed my eyes both times.
Both times the next thing I remember was being back in the room with my husband.
They then pop in and tell you how many they collected which is exciting.

My advice would be to try and enjoy it... It's all part of getting pregnant.
Celebrate whatever is collected.
The next days are in the hands of the embryologist.
They will ring daily to update you!!

Monday... How exciting!!! Just think in a month's time you could be pregnant!!!
Positive vibes!!

Ouryear19 hope all went well today with the blood test!! Xx

Oh right yeah everywhere I’ve read everyone seems to say the egg collection was fine, Are u sedated but somewhat awake?

Oberall I am trying to stay positive whatever the outcome shall be - really looking forward to being PUPO and hopefully officially pregnant! what day transfer did u have?
Xx

I got a BFN today unfortunately. Very disappointing. The nurse phoned me at 4pm.

The only symptoms I had were cramps, but this is from the hormone pessaries.

@ouryeagr19

Hi,

Stay positive, there still time. It will happen when it’s meant to happen. Lots of hugs and kisses xxx

@Ouryear19
Oh no, I’m really sorry to hear about the BFN. Stay strong don’t lose hope. Try again when your body feels ready.
It will happen for you. Baby dust x

@ouryear19 stay positive... I waited 4 months before trying cycle 2. My body needed to recover.
But you got to embryo transfer which means you were able to create embryos. I hope you get to have another cycle and be successful.
They should offer you a consultation to disxy next steps.

@tryingforourainbow I did a day 5 transfer-blastocyst
By day 5 we had 5 blastocysts.
We transferred one and froze two.
Two did not survive to day 6.

The egg collection you are sedated, I didn't feel any thing or remember anything so I guess it's like being under general anesthesia but you are not on any breathing apparatus.
It's really ok... You just have some mild cramping afterwards but they give you pain killers.
After about an hour they let you go if you feel up to it.

All the best and fingers crossed

Hi guys,

How long does the actual treatment last from the first injection... until embryo transfer?

Does abc take people with irregular periods for the shoebox ivf?

@solAllii
The process is around two weeks.
You take the injections anywhere between 7-10 days.
Egg collection and embryo transfer is 3-5 days later.
Because it's ivf lite you don't need to down regulate.
You start the medication about day 3 of your period (I think)

As for irregular periods, I don't know.
You get the medication sent in advance. Some is kept in the fridge.
You just let them know when your period starts. They tell you when to take the first set of drugs and get you in for the scans. These are every other day and in the morning between 8-11.

You often don't see other patients, but I quite liked that because it's such a person experience, you may not want to discuss face to face with others in the waiting room.

Also when I sent for my pregnancy scan it was in the afternoon. It's kind of like they keep women apart! Maybe this wasn't the the case, but felt like it! (Sorry...rambling on). Lol

Hi
Yes I think Jo has pretty much said it all- I don’t think being irregular would make them not accept you. You simple start your injection on day 2 whenever that may be as they will ask you for a rough estimate you’ll already have the medication delivered to you before.

I actually have started to notice more people there since starting treatment which made me happy and reassured! On my first consultation I saw another lady in the waiting room and just on Monday on my first scan there was a couple sat with the receptionist And another lady came out of the scan room. I feel as though more people are hearing about it.
@jojobean84 if you don’t mind me asking what was your reason for IVF, was it unexplained? Xx

Hi how are you all?
My egg collection has been booked for Sunday! However got some bad news that they think I am at risk of OHSS so therefore need to to a freeze all and have a frozen transfer after my period which will cost us another £750!!!! And it doesn’t include scans and blood test - what the heck! I am very annoyed as my dose of medication remained 125 of bemdola and I am wondering why it wasn’t lowered. Surely my blood test and scans would of indicated the risk and my age (23)! How is it our fault if this has happened and why should we have to pay for it!!! I am so disappointed and upsets. Anyone have any advise? 😣

Sorry to hear that!

That's odd that they didn't detect it. How do you feel in yourself? I thought it has distinct symptoms.
However focus on positives. You wouldn't want to waste perfectly good eggs/embryos.
I'm assuming they will fertilise them before freezing.
At least by Monday you should have some embryos which is really exciting!

It's bad you have to pay though... I was never warned about the possibility of this. What scans and blood tests do you need to pay for

I had to pay £950 to freeze our extra embryos for two years!

We're the clinic apologetic?

125 is a low dose, maybe because you're young you responded really well.
On another plus it will probably mean lots of eggs on collection.

Thanks for your reply.
I feel very normal nothing out the ordinary which is why I am confused. I feel a little bloated and that’s all! I think they said I am ‘at risk’ so to avoid it they want a frozen

They will fertilise and freeze them and wait one period and then do a frozen transfer.

I am annoyed that surely it would of been detected on my blood tests- the results from my Wednesday blood test Alison said they are high but normal with how many follicles I have and my age but now I am thinking why wasn’t my dose lowered to avoid this!
She said my level came back at 10000 today!! Which seems awfully high

Not so apologetic more so just sorry it’s an unfortunate event but I am so sure it could have been avoided and now thinking maybe they just wanted me to do a frozen- I also don’t remember ever being informed about having to pay £750 if this was the case. Surely it should be free of charge as it isn’t my fault.
And roughly £995 to freeze embryos for two years.

I would of rather had few good quality eggs and have a fresh transfer but I guess now nothing can be done so hopefully the FET is successful!

I think it's bad that you have to pay when it is there fault for not picking up on it!
How did you react when she said about £750!

I forgot to factor in the freezing. We have two frozen. But you have to freeze before knowing the outcome. So in essence you need to add that to the IVF cost because you don't want to waste good embryos.

Ivf is such a stressful and expensive process.
But let's hope that you get some good quality embryos and it will all be worth it.

When mine failed first time I remember thinking what a waste.
We never got to embryo transfer as nothing fertilised.

FETs are just as good as fresh. Infact more effective apparently.
Good luck for Sunday. What time you booked in?

Jo

I was very surprised when she told me, and when I told my husband he was very annoyed and said he is not willing to pay that when it’s their fault for letting it happen in some way!

Well we will be having the frozen end up April and will go for a consultation so we will raise the concern then and hopefully they will knock it off as I’m sure other clinic do not charge for a frozen for OHSS.
As of right now I just want to forget about that and remain positive and deal with it in April as you said this process is stressful enough without having to hear that and extra costs which you are not prepared for nor been informed about.

My appointment is booked in for 13:15 have to be there by 12.45... hopefully all goes smoothly xx

We were informed about the FET cost and freezing cost beforehand. I had OHSS on my first cycle on the NHS and disappointingly had to wait three months for transfer. I had weight gain and bloating. OHSS can be very dangerous.