Ivf Birmingham Women’s Hospital

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Hi, me and my husband have had all our tests done and have been referred for IVF on NHS funding, we have been told that there should be no reason why we shouldn’t get funding but I am wondering what the time frames are on when we will receive our letter to state we have the funding to when when we will get the next appointment and timescales on treatment, we have always knew what the fertility issue was but we have had to have all tests going to rule out anything else before referring us and this has taken nearly 1 and a half years so am unsure on how long the next bit will take, any info from anyone would be greatly appreciated x

We've got our group session in early March, starting to feel very real. However, I've had 2 mmcs and a chemical in the time since we've been under the fertility clinic (May last year) so we want to do some more tests to see what the issues might be. Feels like time is running away from us, but seems like a waste to use our one funded cycle without knowing why I keep miscarrying.

Anyone else having the group session soon?

@Littlebb2020 thank you for your answer. I have received a letter for my appoitment at Womens Hospital, it is due in May. How did your round go? How many embrios did they transfer? I am new to this. I heard one round completed when they tried transferring all the good embrios?

Just stay strong...it does feel that way and makes sense to find out...you have gone this far now, so no turning back.
What does actually mean 'one cycle' would they try all the good eggs or just one? I heard they would try for all good embrios and if unsuccesful, then cycle is completed

My letter says that they cover one fresh cycle, but will pay for storage for 12 months of any other embryos and we have to have completed our cycle within 6 months @Jezie000 I've got the group session next week, so can share anything further after that.

@Jezie000 Thankyou for asking they transfer just the one for under 35 year olds. I got a bfp 6 days past my transfer and my official test date was Saturday and still got a bfp so have been booked for a 7 week scan in March. I can’t really fault the care at Birmingham, not just because of the bfp ( I odvs have a long way to go yet) even if it didn’t work I’d still say they were a very good clinic. Also yes one round with one transfer is classed as your one funded round, any embryos left over that are good enough are frozen for future use, you get one year storage of embryos then have to pay and you also have to pay for any frozen embryo transfers, good luck on your journey! X

Congratulations on your bfp @Littlebb2020 :) all the best for your scan and beyond! X

Hi everyone.
Is it normal that I have to do so many different tests and scans etc but my oh barely anything. From the day 1 we knew where the problem was, he only ejaculated 1 time in 3 years. Yet I need to do all the very unpleasant scans. Is this normal at all? Should they start with checking my oh? All he needs to do is a semen analysis

Yeah it's fairly normal. Our parts are a lot more complicated and they need to check that all elements are functioning correctly. Obviously if you are undergoing IVF, the functioning of your 'parts' is more important.

My DH had one sperm analysis and that was it. There isn't a lot more biologically that men can contribute beyond that. I think that's why so many men find the IVF process quite difficult and alienating.

Hi, just wondering if this thread is still active for anyone undergoing ivf at BWC since COVID19?
We've been messed around a bit after being under Dr Howland @goodhope and BWC lost some of our files and it's delayed things.
I turn 40 in Oct and have called a few times to chase, eventually spoke to Dr Chu today who said we should hopefully have our consent/treatment planning appt in 4ish weeks but it will be done via phone. Unsure how we can sign consent forms and shown how to inject via the phone?
I also need to ask/beg if they will sedate me for transfer due to vaginismus and panic, can't bear the idea of transfer without sedation so really hoping they grant this. I'm even willing to pay!

@Kiza I was sedated during transfer at my own request (at BWH). They didn't even question it and happily put me under for it

@Pinktruffle oh really? That's great news, I've been gearing myself up for having to put a good case across. You've put my mind at rest for sure. I'm excited now to think after 2 years of TTC and every test under the sun (and retests) and mc we are now so close to ivf. I know it's no Guarantee but still excited at the prospect ☺️

@Pinktruffle where abouts are you in the process? Are you currently in the TWW?

I mentioned it to the nurse when we did our consent signing, she made a note of it on my forms and then it was just done!

I actually had my transfer just before lockdown, I'm currently 24+5 pregnant with my little miracle baby.

@Kiza I should have mentioned, consent signing and injection teach are two different appointments. They have to do a safeguarding check after the consent signing (like a DBS) and you are invited in for your injection teach - you call them on the first day of your period and they will tell you when to come in and give you your first injection. This was on day 5 of my period if I remember correctly

@Pinktruffle congratulations on your miracle baby! ☺️ Sounds like you had a positive experience from the staff there and I've heard good things about this IVF clinic too. DP wants to request 2 embryos rather than 1 but our consultant @ goodhope said the nhs never transfer 2...

@Kiza as far as I'm aware, they will only transfer 2 if you are over 35 (which I am). I requested 2 but they said they would only do 2 if the embryos were poor quality, I had 4 top grade embryos so they said they would only do one.

I'm successfully in my 2nd trimester after years of trying to get pregnant so I obviously feel I had a good experience. I will say communication can be lacking at times, I have 3 frozen embryos and no one has discussed how this works with me but that could be due to lockdown. Aside from that, on the whole it was positive.

The nurses in particular were all just wonderful and will be getting a thank you card and a box of chocolates once baby is here.

@Pinktruffle thanks so much for replying to me on this thread, I really appreciate you taking the time.
I'm nearly 40 so will have the discussion but I'm apprehensive about 2 as I really feel twins would be a handful!
From what I've read they freeze for 12 months for free then you have to contact them to either discuss if you're happy for them to be destroyed or you pay to continue to have them stored there. Or you could opt to pay to have them transferred to a private clinic (which of course is much more expensive to store.
I've heard many stories of McDonald's fries after transfer along with pineapple core, walnuts and Pom juice 😆 knowing me I'll do them all just in case!
How has your pregnancy been so far? Are you getting on ok?

Hi everyone, hope you don't mind me jumping in on this post.. wondered if anyone else is still waiting to hear back from BWH's fertility clinic?
We were due to have our consent signing session in March but everything got cancelled due to COVID. We've been advised that they've re-opened and prioritising urgent cases but I've not heard anything back, since over a month ago. I think I will chase up again today. Comms have been limited from BWH, I've had to do all the chasing. We are paying for our Treatment so expected it to be a little quicker than what we are experiencing.. I feel like I'm running out of time as my age is against me :(

@5under I've had to do a lot of chasing too and have been told different things by different people each time I call. I was told that they are prioritising oncology patients, then ladies who were already half way through treatment, then ladies who have turned or about to turn 40 (such as myself as my birthday is in a couple of months) as the CCG funding supposedly stops at 40 but they have requested an extension and awaiting a response.

I've been told I will hopefully have consent signing in about a month in the hope to at least start treatment just before or just after my 40th.
I'd suggest calling today to enquire but I know they are backlogged unfortunately.

Hi @Kiza thank you for your reply.
Sounds like I'll have to wait a couple more months then. I will call to see if they have any idea of timescales for me.
I'm not sure if it's this thread or another, I've read somewhere that some patients have been referred to Create fertility from BWH. Maybe this is to support the backlog?
I've seen on Create's website that they're taking on NHS funded patients and there's no waiting time.

Hopefully you're seen to very soon, good luck x

@Kiza I didn't do anything special after my transfer as far as food and drink. Just carried on my normal pattern. I took 2 weeks off work though and put my feet up (my job is quite stressful) and would recommend that if it's possible, I also had acupuncture the day after my transfer but that was mainly because I enjoy it and find it relaxing.

My first trimester was quite difficult, I had awful morning sickness and was having intermittent bleeding but everything seems to have settled down now. Just my own anxiety to deal with but baby seems to be developing well! Good luck with your treatment!

@5under on the other BWH thread, two women have transferred to Create. If you are paying, they are likely to be a fair amount more expensive. For those that are NHS funded, you need to contact the person in charge of funding at your CCG to get the funding moved - there are some details in the other thread.

@Pinktruffle I didn't know there was another thread? If it's currently active is there some way if pasting the link here for me to look at it please? I've tried searching ivf Birmingham and nothing current seems to come up other than this thread?

@Kiza -this is the thread

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/infertility/3897591-Birmingham-Womens-Hospital?pg=5

It is 'active'. Currently mainly 2 users who have both recently transferred to Create, one has had initial appointments, the other is waiting