IVF - feeling overwhelmed

[hannah294]

Hi everyone. My OH and I have been TTC for 2 years + now. We've just been told that he has low sperm count and motility so we will likely be referred for IVF in December following my HSG test in November. I feel completely overwhelmed with the idea of waiting for an NHS referral as I'm already 32 and we've been trying for 2 years. My question is if you would recommend paying for private IVF or if we should wait it out - we're lucky that our area offers 3 rounds on the nhs.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

I would wait it out if I were you -it sounds like you could get started in a few months? If you get three free goes -make the most of them. I w time drags and every month feels long but the docs will tell you time and again you are very young in the world of infertility. Good luck.

Hi OP, I am in a similar situation: TTC 2+ years and 32 (33 just before the end of the year) and seems to be MFI (morphology/motility).

Unfortunately we are in one of the few counties that don't offer any NHS funding so have had to look at private options - it still all takes time though. We've actually now managed to find a private clinic that is part funded by NHS so is (thankfully!) over half the price of pure-private clinics. It's still a huge financial burden though.

Various clinics/dr's have however told me that I am still "young" in fertility years...but the nearly 3 year wait is taking its toll!

I start "down-regging" on Thursday, and I am nervous!!

All the best x

Hi OP, please do wait as its very costly and 3 full cycles, includes all your FET for each cycle.

I know its stressful but it will be worth it, when I did my application to NHS England, they took just over a week to confirm the funding and then I started my first cycle a few weeks after that. So not long at all!

If you do go private, you may still need to have the tests done if they are for yourself, a lot are cycle dependant.

Please be aware that IVF can take a lot longer than you expect and each step has its own waiting period.

Good luck!

Hi @hannah294

I agree with the others - wait it out. You will be surprised at how quickly you can get going once you have the funding approved. (I could have started on the following cycle if I wanted!) I think most people have at least 2 years of trying before they can be considered for IVF. Also, from someone who was so stressed / upset with just the 1 funded round, please take them. 32 is absolutely fine for fertility treatment.

Hi @hannah294, like PP I would definitely wait it out and take full advantage of free cycles because you could be lucky first time or you might be unlucky and need more than 3 cycles.

I was really worried about my age though everybody kept reassuring me that I was still young in IVF terms. We started ttc when I was 33, two years later we were referred for IVF and it worked first time.

Thank you everyone for taking the time to comment. That was a unanimous response haha! You've made me feel a bit calmer about the situation, so thank you xxx