Barts Fertility Clinic

[pinacollama]

Hi everyone,

Just wondering if anyone has any experience of the fertility clinic at Barts hospital? Our GP referred us in Feb and we’ve just got an appointment through for mid May. I’m 32, husband 36, and we’ve been trying since January last year. Before the GP made the referral, I had 21 day bloods which were normal, and an ultrasound which revealed multifollicular ovaries.

I’ve become really nervous all of a sudden!

Hi! My very first appointment is tomorrow at Barts. Have they sent you paperwork to fill out?
I'll keep you posted!

Thanks for replying! I hope it goes well, how do you feel? We got our paperwork at the weekend, it made me feel even more nervous. I think it’s because I don’t really know what the procedure is. The info in the pack seems to focus on IVF, but I thought there was more to it before it came to that. Please do let me know how you get on - good luck.

Hi!

Well, our appointment was at 3:20pm but asked us to be there by 2:50pm.

Once we got there, there were around 10 more couples waiting as well.

Went in, gave all the paperwork and ID, they photocopied and returned it. Waited a little and called me to weigh me and take my height. (Here they get you BMI that should be between 19 and 30 to be a candidate for IVF).

Waited again until 4pm and got called. Went in and Dr. asked me a series of questions, explained me what treatments does the NHS funds and sent me some blood tests and sperm test to see the results and go from
there and see what’s best for us.

They need a letter from your GP stating that you are a non smoker and have to bring it with you (if you don’t have it by the day of your appointment you can bring it with you next time).

Maybe I’m forgetting something but let me know if you have any questions and I’m happy to help!

Thank you so much. It seems quite straight forward. Did you make your next appointment there and then or will you be sent one once your results come in? Do they do another pelvic ultrasound? Do you live in Tower Hamlets too? Sorry...so many questions! We were surprised that the leaflet mentions 3 cycles of IVF but we thought (if it came to it) that we would just get the 1. Thanks for the heads up about the non-smoker letter, I’m seeing my GP in a couple of weeks so will ask for that then.

I'm not sure how it works with people that have had blood test already with their GP, in my case I didn't have any so on the day of my appointment they sent me a blood test to be taken on the first 3 days of my period, another on the 21st day of my period and 2 appointments for sperm for hubby and scan for me.
The next appointment (to see results) was set the same day and is for mid June so basically I have to take all tests before appointment, once mid June comes then we go and see what the outcome is.

Dr said that depending on results we will discuss what treatment we should be given.

There are many reasons on why a couple can't get pregnant so it takes time for them to decide wether IVF is the way to go or not.

She also said that although IVF is the most invasive treatment it is the more rate successful but again they have to wait for results.

Re. Number of cycles: women under 40 that meet the criteria for IVF funding do get 3 cycles so since you are 32 I would assume it applies to you as well.

Keep me posted on your journey!

Hi ladies, just wondered how your experience was with Barts? What was the waiting time and hope you had a positive outcome?

Hello, I have no advice to offer but following as have my initial appointment at st. Barts on 8 February so interested to hear roughly how long the IVF waiting list is

Hello everyone,

Just wondering if anyone has any experiences they could share? I've been referred for IVF at St Barts from Whipps Cross Hospital and not sure what to expect?

Following also as have just been referred to Barts and waiting for an initial appointment date. Any idea of treatment wait times post initial appointment??

@Everythingcrossed89 Hey hun, so I had my appointment on 13th Jan 2022. My OH was told to have repeat SA on 7th Feb, we had a consultation on 10th Feb and as that was my CD1 started then. Had bloods done and was told to start down regulation injections on 28th Feb which will hopefully end tomorrow. The scan tomorrow will confirm if I can start the next set of injections.

Thanks so much for getting back to me! Was your appointment on 13th Jan an initial? How long did you wait for that one?

Seems like a fairly good turn around from initial appointment to starting treatment! Only a couple of months?

Wishing you all the best with your treatment!

@Everythingcrossed89 you're more than welcome. I think it was about 12 weeks at the most from bing referred to getting the I initial consultation. Yes I've been so surprised how quick it's been. When we had our appointment in Jan I'd told myself I'll follow up in 8 weeks (as that was what I was told by Whipps) but I got a text on 25th Jan to start doing the consent forms online and confirming my appointments for February.

Yeah that’s brilliant! However I think they are inundated with new referrals at the mo as Homerton has shut down their clinic due to staff shortages so people like me are relocating to Barts as it’s in my CCG. I feel like I’m back to square one as I had already had a consultation with Homerton and was on the list to start treatment in August but no idea now when I will start now which is quite anxiety inducing!

@Everythingcrossed89 I'm in the same boat, its so stressful isn't it! I just found out that our IVF due end of May at Homerton is delayed. We've already been delayed once because of the clinic shutting in the first lockdown. Have now asked for a referral from my GP to Barts but not sure how long it's going to take. Infertility is just one massive long test of patience isn't it! Have you managed to get all your records and tests etc from Homerton to send to Barts?

@Everythingcrossed89 meant to add that I emailed Barts and they said there is no waiting list for IVF at the moment, so if you're ready to start after initial appointment then you can. I don't know when the initial appointment will be - she suggested about 3 months - but the email sounded promising (that was only last week)

Hi @LaurBC. Thanks for your message. So sorry you're in this mess too. It's so so stressful, but glad that your GP is able to refer you to Barts. I was referred 5 weeks this Friday (not counting down the days or anything!!) and haven't got an appointment letter through yet, but I've been told different things depending on what admin person I have spoken to - anywhere between 6-18 weeks. Given they are having to absorb Homerton patients, I'm not that hopeful for 6 weeks!!

My GP attached all my reports/scans/notes that they had on their system to Barts. Homerton have not done anything, GP has to do it all.

That's amazing what they said about there being no waiting list. When I have asked about possible waiting times once in the system, I haven't been given an answer before. But it all feels a lot more smooth running than Homerton has been - so feeling a tiny bit more hopeful when I'm properly in their system.

Wishing you all the best! Happy to stay in touch along the way. Xxx

After a long wait for our Homerton appointment we have been advised to be referred to Bart’s due to the long treatment times, so it’s been really helpful reading this post!
It was quite a hectic appointment at Homerton so it’s nice to read it’s a bit more smooth at Bart’s.

I’m based in Haringey though so I don’t know if it’s within the CCG group.

Does anyone know if I’ll be kicked out of the Homerton system if the referral goes through? Just thinking that my partner has a ultrasound coming up and wouldn’t want that to be delayed.

Hi @Everythingcrossed89 and @Albylolo yes I was so pleased to find this thread! I have been freaking out about it on my own, only found out 2 weeks ago by accident, reading the website and seeing the giant orange box saying all treatment is delayed... argh! Assumed there must be plenty of other Homerton patients feeling the same way. So hard to assess whether to try and go private if possible to get seen quicker, if the wait ends up being months more (I've had a very long process of even getting to this point, nearly 4 years...) but the cost is terrifying!

I haven't had any reply to any emails from Homerton about it, so yes, so far Barts seems a bit more responsive, fingers crossed!

Sorry I'm afraid I don't know about how it works in terms of being kicked out of one system into another, but I would hope your partner would still have their ultrasound appointment.

Would love to stay in touch, it can be a lonely and frustrating path and these kind of set backs do not help, right?! xx

I haven’t said to Homerton that I’ve been referred to Barts yet. I won’t believe it until I’ve got that appointment date from the post! I would try and keep any appointments you already have with Homerton while you’re still in their system.

My GP referred me to Barts as it’s in my CCG. Maybe worth checking what other hospitals are in your CCG as you’re in harringey which I’m pretty sure is a different set of hospitals? Might be wrong. Fertility UK website has a list of CCGs and hospitals.

@LaurBC Im so sorry your journey is still ongoing. I really am hopeful for the care we should receive with Barts. We will get there! X

@Albylolo I am in Newham CCG, I just asked my GP for a list of hospitals/ clinics where I could be seen because my freak out googling revealed you can choose to move clinics, entitlement to NHS IVF is based on postcode - I thought maybe it was Homerton or nothing. I was told Newham, Whipps Cross or Barts. So maybe speak to your GP if you haven't to see where falls inside Haringey CCG?

I know if I had known all this I would have got the GP to refer me straight to barts!! Whipps and Newham I don’t think off the full range of assisted fertility options?

I’m really hopeful after your email from Barts to say there isn’t a waiting list for treatment! That seems mad! We were thinking of funding some rounds of stimulated IUI in the meantime. Hard to know like you say what to do when you don’t know the new time frames

Yes I didn't realise when I first got referred that there was a choice. Not that I really knew much about Homerton at the time. I've been having treatment there for a while - ovulation stimulation and cycle tracking, and all the doctors and nurses seem really nice but guess NHS is just under pressure during covid so the communication not always great.

Not sure about what Whipps and Newham offer, I just messaged Barts because I see an endocrinologist there so seemed a logical place to try and its website is really helpful.

Fingers crossed we all get seen quickly. I'll let you know as soon as I hear anything. Would love to hear when you find out when your first appointment is. Let's hope the no waiting list thing really is the case. Really surprised!

I'll let you all know as soon as I receive an appointment letter so that people can get an idea of wait times.

Interesting you see an endocrinologist. All these fertility tests highlighted that I have subclinical hypothyroidism so I was put on levothyroxine in the summer, and my TSH was finally in a good range around Christmas time, but still hasn't helped things so can't be the main reason it's not happening for us (yet!)

Thanks so much.

Yes, so similarly, I found out I have what they think is probably Hashimoto's disease (or possibility thyroiditis) through my blood tests too. I went hyperthyroid, and then crashed and am now I think, depressingly, permanently hypothyroid, so am on levothyroxine too and now with an endocrinologist to monitor it.
I take 75mg x 3 times a week, 100g x 4 times a week, finally also seem to be stable blood test wise but still don't feel great. I think it can take a while for your body to adjust.

Sorry to hear you're having this issue too. Hopefully if it is subclinical you're not feeling the impact of it too badly. It has affected me loads, sooo tired and brain foggy.
But it's not clear if the thyroid issue is the main reason (or even any reason, though find it hard to believe it doesn't contribute!) why I have been struggling to get pregnant.
I also have recently been diagnosed with PCOS - can't believe it's not been picked up sooner. I have long cycles so they think that's probably more likely to be the reason (I'm on letrozole for 6 months to try and stimulate ovulation. Has been working apart from this month where I got covid and seems to have totally disrupted my cycle. FFS!).

Lots going on with my hormones, clearly.

Also, like you only got my thyroid levels stable a few months ago so not really had long enough to see if it's made a difference to anything. Was hoping it might be a magic cure !