Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Infertility

Our Infertility Support forum is a space to connect with others in the same position, discuss causes, treatment and IVF, and share infertility stories of hope and success.

Original poster

Fertility clinic appointment September

161 replies

Scotgirl1 · 05/08/2019 20:22

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

OP posts:
nextweek · 29/08/2019 15:07

Thanks @Honey1989 I think I'm just getting desperate to try anything in the hopes we have success naturally before going down the IVF route! I've been taking folic acid since we started ttc. My husband and I both have pretty healthy diets and my BMI is in the healthy range. So far our tests show male factor issues to, my tests have been ok so far.

Hi @ProbablyPertunia hope everything goes well with your husband's procedure and your tests in the meantime.

Broodyaf · 29/08/2019 15:08

Welcome @ProbablyPertunia

I am constantly amazed by the difference in what is offered on NHS depending on where you live.

So I can kinda get my head around the varied waiting lists, cos that depends on no of doctors v no of patients etc

But surely as we are all part of UK we should be offered exactly the same level of care on NHS?!?
This really infuriates me!
I done loads of research leading up to this and when u go onto UK NHS fertility website they give you all the requirements u have to meet for IVF - and they tell u THREE free goes ... so very very unfair!!

Honey1989 · 29/08/2019 15:18

@nextweek I think mYbe it’s been mDe mentally easier for me knowing there is zero chance of it happening naturally. So I don’t have to wonder. But I do YouTube all the old wives tales of food and drink that people say have helped. However I am trying to positively come to terms with it being luck (as long as I’m doing all the things medically listed)
Just stay healthy and positive and keep going through the stages xx

nextweek · 29/08/2019 15:38

@Honey1989 our GP didn't give us the scores/percentages etc of my husband's analysis, just said the results for the quantity and morphology are out side the 'normal range'. They said the test didn't indicate that we CANT get pregnant naturally, but didn't give more details and said the fertility clinic will be better placed to advise us. We're still trying naturally but I've no idea what our chances are so it is really soul destroying each month waiting to see if it's worked. I sometimes wonder if we're wasting our time (and energy!) ttc naturally. I understand what you mean when you say it's easier mentally knowing there's no chance.

Original poster
Scotgirl1 · 29/08/2019 19:22

@ProbablyPertunia the private thing is a nightmare isn’t it but needs must. I don’t know why the NHS don’t do it when they say there’s a 50% chance of it working. Especially when it’s a large one that’s easily felt. I’ve read that improvements can be seen within 3 months. We have our appointment next week with fertility clinic and I just wonder if they will say to wait until 3-6 months after operation. Keen to be on a waiting list just incase it doesn’t work.

OP posts:
ProbablyPertunia · 29/08/2019 20:28

Thank you for the welcome everyone :)
@Scotgirl1 has your DH already has the surgery? Did he go for the embolisation or microsurgery? Do you remember his numbers when he first got tested?
I'm really hoping I get referred quickly for tests, would like to get the ball rolling while we wait for DH to have his varicocele treated!

Original poster
Scotgirl1 · 29/08/2019 21:22

@ProbablyPertunia not had it yet - got private appointment next week to discuss it and hopefully they move quickly and do the op. Less than 2 million was initial number. How about your hubby? My GP was good at organising bloods and a scan for me but I’m sure there will be more tests at clinic. It’s so hard to be patient, especially after all the time spent trying! Hope yours all go well 😊

OP posts:
ProbablyPertunia · 29/08/2019 21:37

@Scotgirl1 ah ok I see! Where are you based? I'm London so luckily have lots of options for private but not sure who to go with yet! The waiting it killlllling me. I'm such a type A and plan absolutely everything so not having any control over this is tough!
My DH SA was 2.8mil total and 0.8mil per ml which is crazy low!

Original poster
Scotgirl1 · 30/08/2019 21:25

@ProbablyPertunia I’m up in the north of Scotland. I’m so impatient so that’s what I’m struggling with! At least next week we will have a definite plan... I hope!

OP posts:
duckling3 · 30/08/2019 22:23

Thanks for all the updates from those further ahead. Very interesting to hear all the different experiences. I hadn't realised how bad the postcode lottery was until this.

Our first appointment is just over a week away and I am so done with waiting already.

For those who have had first appointment with specialist .. was the first appointment just questions or did they do any scans/ procedures? I guess it probably varies depending on the place.

duckling3 · 30/08/2019 22:24

@ProbablyPertunia I'm totally wth you on the control thing!

nextweek · 02/09/2019 12:28

Hi all. We've finally got our first appointment in, it's not until the middle of October, but at least we know now!

duckling3 · 02/09/2019 20:22

@nextweek that's positive.

Just over a week til our first appointment with the specialist, which sounds really soon but these past few weeks of waiting for it have seriously DRAGGED.

Original poster
Scotgirl1 · 02/09/2019 20:48

@duckling3 don’t know about you but I’m getting a bit nervous and apprehensive as to what they will say 😕

OP posts:
nextweek · 03/09/2019 10:22

@duckling3 I can already feel the time dragging and my appointment is still weeks away, will need to find myself a distraction or I'll go mad!

@Scotgirl1 It's understandable to feel that way. I'm worried that when we get seen and they do more tests that they find out there's more wrong than just my husband's SA results, it's so overwhelming.

LaurenN23 · 03/09/2019 10:54

Sorry to jump on but I've found this thread very useful!

I've got my very first appt at the hospital tomorrow, supposedly with a consultant.

I've got PCOS, long and irregular anovulatory cycles but my husbands sperm is okay! So I think my first treatment will be clomid from what I gather.

I'm dreading yet another long wait for some further checks (even though we've already had bloods, scans etc!!) I just desperately want to start something. 😞

AlwaysSunshine1 · 03/09/2019 11:15

Hiya! This might sound strange but my consultant told me it can actually be better if they find something.

She told us that you want them to find something quickly that means they can refer you, as if it’s ‘unexplained’ then you have to keep trying for longer.

Hope that’s reassuring for anyone that is worried about test results

nextweek · 03/09/2019 11:43

@AlwaysSunshine1 that makes sense, I would have found it hard if they said everything was fine and just keep trying...trying is clearly not working so far haha!

Hi @LaurenN23 welcome. Hopefully you wont have to wait too much longer if they've done lots of tests already. Wishing you lots of luck for your appointment tomorrow, it would be great to hear how you get on if you're comfortable sharing.

LaurenN23 · 03/09/2019 11:56

@nextweek thank you and yes ofcourse I'll share, hopefully it can help others!

Original poster
Scotgirl1 · 03/09/2019 19:01

@nextweek I’m nervous about that too. One problem is enough!

@LaurenN23 my appointment is tomorrow too. Hopefully they get moving with you tomorrow. I think if you had unexplained fertility then it would be a case of continuing to try as @AlwaysSunshine1 says.

OP posts:
nextweek · 04/09/2019 08:34

Lots of luck @Scotgirl1 and @LaurenN23 for your appointments today! x

Broodyaf · 04/09/2019 09:55

Good luck @Scotgirl1 & @LaurenN23 !

The wheels are in motion for you now.

I should have all my test results by the end of next week for a Reprofit and hopefully they'll come up with a treatment plan not too long after that! Sooo exciting!

ProbablyPertunia · 04/09/2019 13:06

Good luck @Scotgirl1 & @LaurenN23 on your appointments! I've got my very first appointment with the GP on Friday and my husband has his appointment with the private urologist for his varicocele next Friday.

I've been researching IVF clinics just in case it comes to that and I think I have picked one. Typically it's one of the more expensive options but they specialise in MFI and provide screening for DNA fragmentation which is meant to decrease the change of miscarriage.

Broodyaf · 04/09/2019 13:14

@ProbablyPertunia where have you picked?
Have you looked up Reprofit Brno?

LaurenN23 · 04/09/2019 16:20

Just got back from my first appt!

I was seen by a GP who went through both mine and my husbands medical and ttc history, weight and height etc.

She did a check of my cervix and did swabs, then she checked through all my results so far on the system (SA, blood tests etc)

She sent me for a prolactin check again which was done immediately after my appt. She did a pregnancy test and gave me a number to call tomorrow to book in a HSG (because I'm not having regular periods she said just to call immediately to save waiting for a bleed) I am then to wait 2 weeks after the HSG, call for my results and if all okay I can start Provera and Clomid. She actually gave me the prescription for both to save me having to wait for another follow up appt!!

I was absolutely thrilled, I never thought it would be like this, I thought I'd be waiting another few months. I think she could see how desperate we were.

Hope everyone else's appts go well too xx