IVF - location advice please

[newtoivf]

Hi everyone

(Sorry - this is long!)

Bit of background - I'm almost 36 and been TTC#2 for 18 months. I was getting quite anxious so paid for a private clinic to run some tests on us both which has shown everything is ok and no reason why we can't conceive normally. However I was warned that my AFC was borderline along with my FSH.

DH and I are desperate for a sibling for our DC and are conscious that the age gap is getting bigger every month that goes by. Along with my test results and my age we've decided to go ahead with IVF.

I had my tests with ABC in London (part of Create) and have been really impressed with their approach. I like the people, their ethos ('mild' IVF) and felt comfortable in the environment of the clinic. They've got good success rates. It's also considerably cheaper than many other clinics (this isn't a huge factor but it helps!) I'd be happy to go ahead this month but can't until September due to trips abroad at crucial times in the next couple of months.

HOWEVER I'm moving to Leeds in August to be closer to family.....

We really don't want to start the whole process of tests etc again, we just want to get going! So am I totally crazy to consider still doing IVF in London when I live in Leeds and have a young child and a full time job to juggle.....? I can get there and back in a day via train and I've spoken to my boss hypothetically about it and she's agreed to be flexible with annual leave.

So - what are your thoughts? Should I just wait a few months and do it at Leeds (more expensive, and slightly less good results) or just get on and do it in London? If it doesn't work I guess we'd rethink things and maybe go for Leeds at that point.

If you've read this far well done!

Anyone?

Hi! There are some ladies who travel abroad to have their IVF so it is theoretically possible to go between London and Leeds. But if you end up needing more frequent scans/ blood test for example or get called at short notice for egg collection (which can happen) then it may be a bit of a struggle? I ended up going in almost every day for one week during my stimulation which was a bit hard to juggle and I was only 30 mins away from my clinic. This was without factoring in looking after a young child. Plus you’d at least need to stay 1/2 night around egg collection added with trains back and forth may end up adding up quite a bit cost wise? X

Hi @newtoivf personally I think I would have a look in Leeds. I appreciate that there is a lot you like about this particular clinic but there may be others that you would like there if you'd have a look. IVF is quite intensive however you swing it and having to travel such a long way wouldn't be my personal choice.

Leeds is a big city so should have plenty of options. Plus chances are you can take most of your results with you...although having said that many clinics want some of the tests to have been done within 3 months so you may be cutting it fine whichever clinic you choose

Good luck with it all. IVF is hard in a way, but a massive privilege and it really can work!

I would go for somewhere locally. Whilst it's probably feasible to do it, you are probably going to be horribly shattered. Lots of ad hoc trips. There'll be a good clinic locally too - heard the one in Sheffield is good? Someone mentioned on here recently!

We are at a private clinic that is super easy to get to from home/work for both of us. Short tube journey away. It makes things so much more bearable.

I think private clinics generally are pretty quick at getting started so hopefully wouldn't be much of a delay.

I've just done IVF at Leeds currently in my 2WW and it's a 2 hour drive away from us as we live in the sticks, which was hard enough when you think about all the backwards and forwards you have to do for scan, collection, transfer etc. I'd personally be inclined to stick to somewhere closer to home.

We live rurally and the clinic is 2 hours away from us - when I was having to go to the clinic every other day for scans prior to EC it was a real pain and it would've been great to have one closer. Unless there's a massive difference in success rates I'd go for Leeds.

Thanks for all your responses. We've got a lot to think about.

My head definitely says wait and go to Leeds but my heart is screaming 'noooooo, I want to do it NOW!' Like a massive brat!

How did you find Leeds @TheArtfulScreamer? Was it Genesis you went to? I've got my fingers crossed for a positive result for you x

I do travel some distance to my clinic, but one reason I didn't go for a London clinic was the cost of short-notice travel. A last-minute train ticket to London can run into hundreds of pounds, and while it's still a drop in the IVF ocean it would add up pretty quickly, especially if you have to go several times in quick succession. Something to factor in!