Fertility clinic appointment September

[Scotgirl1]

Hi everyone

After TTC for a year I went to my GP and asked for a referral. Appointment has came through for September. Found out recently that Husband has low sperm count and motility issues. Suspect this is due to a varicocele. We haven’t told anyone and it’s so lonely :( most of my friends are mums or mums to be and busy with their own lives. Would love to chat to others in the same boat! Xx

It’s pretty normal for most CCGs to only now offer 1 cycle (some don’t offer any 😔)

What I didn’t realise before starting this process is that “1 cycle” includes the transfer of all embryos created during that one cycle. We had egg collection earlier in the week and have 12 developing eggs....... so hopefully may have 4 or 5 left by day 5.

I think the other thing to consider is there are always lots of cancellations in the world of fertility - lucky people getting pregnant! We were referred August last year and since then have managed 6 cycles of ovulatory induction and are awaiting embryo transfer for our 1st round. This however has required being pretty proactive and phoning for cancellations etc. Nothing to lose. Good luck!

Hi @anaesthetist83 I didn't realise that one cycle includes transfer of all embryos either, so thanks for that. Lots of luck for your embryo transfer x

@nextweek

You may have to check your own ccg’s policy but that is what it is in many

@Anaesthetist83 I'll definitely check, we're still waiting for our first appointment, but I've started a list of questions so will make sure to add that :-)

Where is your GP practice?

We're in Scotland. It's a shame things vary so much from area to area, guess it's a postcode lottery situation.

@nextweek - depends on where abouts in Scotland you are. I know for certain in some parts they are much more supportive of IVF and many places up there offer 3 cycles (my SIL is a GP in Dumfries)

So We have decided to go private and have our 1st appointment on 18th September ... this day 4 weeks!
I'm so happy to get the ball rolling!
I Know we have to pay but my mind is more at ease now and already my biological clock seems to have slowed down a bit 😂

Anyone else has their 1st appt yet? If so - what to expect??

@Broodyaf great news! I have mine in a couple of weeks - will let you know how it goes

Do surely @Scotgirl1
If it's nhs or private? I'm sure they're all much the same

@Broodyaf it’s NHS. I would assume they are similar. It’s such a weight off the mind having it booked. Just have to take it step by step 😊

So the NHS rang me this afternoon with a cancellation consultation appt this wed afternoon! Can't believe it!

Now I know the whole waiting times after eg if I need ivf are still ridiculous but still, I'm delighted! I'll see what they have to say and if they'll do any more tests and what the craic is but I'd imagine I'll still go to the private appt on 18th Sept

She said the appt would last abt 30mins so I assume it will be collecting our medical history, TTC history etc and no scans or bloods?? Or maybe just the AMH (which I got done yday at my GP)
Anyone else any update on what their 1at consultation involved?

@Broodyaf that's great that you've got an appointment date in the diary, must be a weight off your mind and hopefully they can give you info and timescales for treatment. Hope it all goes well :-)

Hello everyone ☺️

We’re starting IVF in September - appointment is next week, so I’m really glad to have found you all.

Very mixed feelings when we reached the top of the waiting list, as we hoped it would have happened for us by then.

I’m 39 so age is a factor. I’ve had a lot of investigations (ultrasound, laparoscopy, hysteroscopy, FSH, AMH, thyroid, 21 day and some more!).

My thyroid levels were low but within the normal range, so they’re trying to get that to within the optimal range. Apart from that everything seems okay, so fingers crossed!

Happy to answer any questions about the process so far, if anyone hasn’t got to this point yet.

Good luck everyone 😘

Hey @AlwaysSunshine1
I have my 1st appt at fertility clinic tomoro and I'm v nervous

What all did they do at ur 1st appt?

And why did they decide IVF for u?

I had an HSG (forgot about that one!) where they put dye through your Fallopian tubes. The dye didn’t go through, but the laparoscope and the hysteroscopy didn’t show any issues. Rather than keep investigating they said they would just refer me for IVF, as the result of any investigation would have the same outcome.

So our first appointment was with an NHS Fertility Consultant at a local hospital. We did blood tests and swabs and ran through all the criteria and any previous health issues. She then requested the HSG. Once the results came through from that, she referred me for IVF.

We then had our first appointment at the IVF clinic. Two weeks before that I’d had blood tests for my AMH levels, so we discussed the results for that (normal for my age, but at my age they are not great anyway!) and then did a lot of the same questions that happened at the previous appointment.

We met all the criteria and she then put us on the IVF waiting list, but it was backdated to when the consultant made the initial referral.

That was the start of July and we’ve got an appointment on Tuesday to do more tests. There is then an appointment two weeks after that where they decide whatnot protocol I will go on.

Good luck with your appointment today xx

Hi @AlwaysSunshine1 thank you for sharing that information. That's great that you're getting started soon. I understand the mixed feelings. I've been referred and waiting for our first appointment, which is likely to be October, maybe in to November. My tests so far have been normal but my husbands have been a bit out of the normal range. Wishing you lots of luck!

Hey ladies

Thanks for sharing your initial consultation breakdowns...

So my appointment breakdown:

In & general health Qs to me & OH
Plus how long TTC bla bla bla

Took me for transvaginal scan of uterus womb & ovaries
No cysts
15-17 follicles on each ovary
Slightly thin lining of uterus for my stage in cycle but doesn't think that would be the reason I'm not pregnant yet

No abnormalities with bloods
I'm ovulating

Took bloods for AMH & thyroid
I had tests for gonorrhoea & chlamydia in March but apparently has to be every 3 months so done that again

OH is registered in ROI - he had his SA done one 29/07 in Dublin (which he had to pay for) - all normal
Doctor said that was fine - then changed her mind ....
They have requested one from N.Ireland to which he'll be invoiced! Ridiculous!!!

Results of STD will be posted out it up to 4 weeks s once I receive those, providing they're negative I can then make an appt to get HSG... waiting list up to 3 months.

Then called back for update with doctor who will then put me on waiting list for IVF, which is currently 9-12 months

I asked her about IVF success rates and she said they measure them generally
Under 38 higher success
Over 38 lower success

So the long and the short of it is apart from checking my tubes, no point wasting time trying medicated cycles etc, it's straight for IVF, but nothing will be happening for at least another 12months.... to which then I'm over 38 and into the lower success rate bracket!

So as much as I'm glad I've loads of follicles for egg collection, it's still off to private consultation in Dublin on 18th Sept and get this ball rolling

What do you all make of that??

@Broodyaf great to hear how your appointment went, thanks so much for sharing. They covered a good bit at your first appointment which is great to hear. Also good news on the follicle front too.

I always thought you were back dated on the waiting list to when your GP made the referral? That would make the wait that bit shorter.

Totally understand you going private with the wait involved. Different if it was 6 months.

Welcome @AlwaysSunshine1 nice to have someone on the thread just about to start who can keep us all in the loop. Best of luck to you 😊

@Broodyaf that’s a lot for you to take in today!

That’s great news from your scan, that must be reassuring. Rubbish news about your OH’s tests thought, how annoying!

Could you ask about getting the HSG done privately and see if that could speed up your referral?

We thought about trying to do a private round while we were waiting on the NHS, but I was told that all the eggs from the Private round would need to be used before we wools be considered by the NHS and by then I would probably be too old for the NHS criteria.

It’s so hard knowing what to do!

I hope you get your appointment through soon @nextweek

@Scotgirl1 everything is different depending on where you live

Over here in N.Ireland the waiting lists for everything are shocking... and we only get 1 free go at IVF ... she never mentioned backdating the waiting list. I asked her does my age or any other factor allow me to push up the list or what and she said nope, the waiting list is the waiting list! 🙈

Defo looking forward to private appt in 18th Sept.
I see the private place offers and SIS - is this along the same lines as the HSG does anyone know?
I think it is but not sure - on their list of treatments etc there is no mention of a HSG

@Broodyaf thanks for the info from your appointment. The waiting list issue is so frustrating, especially when age becomes a factor. It'll be interesting to here if you get any more/different info from your private appointment.
For those of you further along in the process, have you been given any advice about eating or drinking other than to generally keep to a healthy diet? Just wondered if there's any food they advise eating more or less of?

I’m due to start stims any day and all they have said is healthy diet, no smoking,alcohol and to be on folic acid. This is my 1st round and as far as we know our issue is only male factor, but regardless if there was a list of recommended foods I’m sure they would have said!
Oh and BMI 30 or below
X

Hi all, hope it it's ok if a join you all? @Scotgirl1 my husband also has a varicocele and we had a private SA done yesterday and his numbers were absolutely terrible. Only 0.8mil per ml (normal is 40-300mil). The sample was so small they couldn't test for morphology.
I have done so much research and my husband is going to have either microsurgery or embolisation of the vein and we are going to hope that helps (we have private health insurance and going to get a referral from the GP next weds for a urologist. Will have to lie and say he wants the op for pain as they wouldn't cover it for fertility and even the NHS won't do the op for fertility.)
I'm going to get tested in the mean time while we wait for his op and recovery (can take a year for any improvements to show). Likeliness is we will need ICSI though which we will have to self fund as my area doesn't offer any free cycles.

@probablyPertunia
Isn’t it scary how different the rules are for everyone. My husband has Azoospermia (zero sperm in sample) was referred to urologist who put us in contact with a surgeon who would perform micro TESE. We had a date for the op and follow up at fertility clinic in the middle of July and now we are starting ivf this month all on the NHS. I don’t feel like we have had any wait times. Is it just a post code lottery or luck. We are south. Hope everyone gets started as soon as possible!!! Xx