Infertility investigations/IVF in Scotland

[justbeingelle]

Just thought I'd start a thread for those who are undergoing infertility investigations/IVF in Scotland because it seems as though it can vary from the rest of the UK.

DH and I have been TTC since June 2018. Started investigations around July 2019. I have a large ovarian cyst which will be removed, hopefully after Christmas. Getting a laparoscopy and dye to check tubes too. I have very regular periods and I am ovulating. DH has a low sperm count, but the ones he has are good quality. Still awaiting results from ultrasounds, genetic tests etc so still feel like we're at the beginning of our journey. This is our first time TTC and we've not had a hint of a BFP.

Anyone else?

[Tofu35]

We live in Glasgow, but I went to Dundee for the hycosy (they could fit us in during the optimum time!). I had it done December, so we took November off. Totally understand what you mean @kitekat81 but for me, I told myself it was worth a month off if we could get answers for why it's not happened for us yet.

Maybe different clinics offer different instructions though, worth looking around.

[willithappen]

@Kitekat81 that's strange, not sure why it would need to be the month before too? I was just told from my period up until I had the HyCoSy done to abstain. Mine was actually done around the day I was due to ovulate as well so I hoped I was able to get it done then have sex that night and try catch it haha

[Kitekat81]

@Pumpkinspice77 ah ok. I hope that letter drops through your door soon! 🤞🤞🤞 I haven't had my AMH done yet, might try and get it at the same time as the HyCoSy. I'm guessing as my FSH was borderline (10.7) and my AFC was low (6) then my AMH isn't going to be good news.

@Tofu35 where did you get your HyCoSy done? I don't know if I can abstain for a month and let a cycle go past without trying, maybe that would be the one cycle where I manage to get a decent quality egg. At the same time I really want the HyCoSy, because all our efforts will be a waste if it turns out my tubes are blocked!

[Tofu35]

I had to abstain the month before my hyscosy, but husband and I jokingly refered to it as our "month off" because we were definitely starting to feel like sex was becoming a timetabled chore. Did feel a bit worried during that month when I had loads of ewcm and couldn't act on it, because it would mean delaying the tests another month.

[Pumpkinspice77]

@Kitekat81 I think it’s because you have to wait for someone to finish treatment before you get to the top, so I think it’s always just approximate. I just need to wait for a letter to drop through the door!

The uncertainty is awful around infertility. I understand your pain with feeling downcast. We’ve had a few stumbling blocks too. I’m only 30 but low AMH so I’m likely to be a “poor responder.” The counsellor told me to reframe my thoughts instead of “it might not work, or probably won’t” to “We’re not sure if it will work but we hope it will”. Because I want to be positive and hopeful but also be prepared.

[Kitekat81]

@Pumpkinspice77 thanks, that's really reassuring! I'd really like my next appointment to be a positive experience - at our first appointment at EFREC they were all really kind but I left feeling quite downcast about our chances of succeeding in this journey.

I'm really sorry about the delay on your IVF starting 😔 Is that a Covid delay, or something else?x

[Pumpkinspice77]

@Kitekat81 yes definitely give them a call. The doctor who did mine was amazing and really put me at ease. She allowed my husband to come in too, which was an experience for him! But it was nice to have him there.

We’re due to start IVF in the next few months. I was told Feb before Christmas but it’s now going to be March/April so feeling a bit down about that!

[Kitekat81]

@Pumpkinspice77 oops I didn't see your second post ☺️ That's great, I might give them a call tomorrow and check availability! Would be amazing if they could squeeze me in this week so I can do it this cycle 🤞 (I'm on cd3 today). GCRM said they have a 2-week wait so I would need to wait until next cycle if I do it with them.

[Kitekat81]

@willithappen it's a bit annoying as when I was googling HyCoSy at other providers around the UK they usually say to abstain from the start of the cycle within which you get the HyCoSy, but GCRM have said to abstain for a month before, which would effectively mean not trying for a cycle.

@pixelflower thank you for the welcome 😊 Where are you in your journey?x

@Pumpkinspice77 thank you that's incredibly helpful! I can stop trawling the internet trying to find other fertility clinics now 😊 Yes EFREC said they usually offer self-funded as well as NHS treatment, but they've stopped doing it because of Covid 😔 Which is such a shame as I am only 15 minutes from the hospital! But if GCRM is the only option then so be it. That's a great tip about Dundee Fertility Associates, thanks! Looks like the HyCoSy is a bit cheaper with them than GCRM (£450 instead of £500), although it's a bit further to travel for me. Did you have to abstain from intercourse for a month before, or just from the start of your cycle? Where are you in your journey now?x

[Pumpkinspice77]

Oh and re the timing of the hycosy - I just had to contact them when I had started my period and they scheduled me in for around a week after. So no need to abstain but they knew I wasn’t pregnant as I’d had my period and it was before ovulation. I guess it may be different on NHS because they can’t be so flexible with appointments!

[Pumpkinspice77]

Hi @Kitekat81

Look in to Dundee Fertility Associates, they are a private company but it’s staff from the NHS clinic in Dundee that run it. DFA only does the fertility tests, not any treatment. I thought this was great as it’s something that there is a gap for!!

So that’s where I got my hycosy. They can then refer you to your local NHS clinic or to GCRM for treatment. You are right in thinking GCRM is the only private clinic in Scotland. NHS clinics do self funding as well, not sure if it’s happening because of covid though.

Hope this helps 😊

[pixelflower]

Hi @Kitekat81
No need to feel bad about joining the conversation 😊 Afraid I don't really have any advice. We were referred for IVF without.much testing due to how long we'd been trying, and I assume, my age as I was 35 at the time. Also Aberdeen so no choice of clinic here and don't know about ones near you.

[willithappen]

@Kitekat81 yeah I was told no intercourse beforehand. They give you a pregnancy test right before because it can be harmful if you get it done and you are pregnant. I read something about getting a fine if you are tested and pregnant right before as it's kind of like wasting time for them :/ not sure if all do it though

[Kitekat81]

@willithappen thank you so much for your reply 😊 No I haven't had AMH done yet, they said they don't do that on the NHS so would need to be done privately. I guess I should probably get that done as well? My FSH was 10.7, which is borderline ok but not brilliant.

Glad to hear you got on ok with the HyCoSy. Did you have to abstain from intercourse the cycle before you had it? That troubles me a little bit as we would have to give up a month of trying naturally, and we still haven't given up hope of conceiving that way 😔

Yes I'm going to try and get the HSG / HyCoSy done privately, and then start looking into private ivf options for April onwards, as that will be 1 year of us trying naturally with no result. I'd like to have given it a year, although the NHS fertility doctor seemed to think we should be looking into private options as soon as possible. The appointment was a bit of a wake up call really that time is most definitely not on our side 😔

[willithappen]

Hey lovely!
Sorry I can't give too much advice as I'm also at Aberdeen and I think our clinics differ a bit

For your AFC I wouldn't worry too much as I think once you go down IVF route you'll get more. Did you get your AMH? I still haven't been told my levels of that or if they have tested actually!

A HyCoSy can tell if your tubes are blocked. I don't know the difference with that and HSG but I had the HyCoSy and it wasn't as intense as made out (not for me anyway!)
Depending on how quick you want to get through it, might be good to get some done by private clinic. I know Aberdeen have a shorter waiting time now though than they did previously.

[Kitekat81]

Hello ladies! I feel bad as I am jumping on this forum without reading all the previous posts, it will take me a while to read 984 posts 🙈 Therefore I'm really sorry if I ask questions that loads of people have asked before!

We had our first appointment at EFREC this week, but the timescales / waiting lists on the NHS are just not going to be realistic for us. I'm trying to find private fertility clinics but the only one near Ed I can find is GCRM - is this the only option?

I'm 39 and this week my antral follicle count was 6. I didn't know anything about it before the appointment, but from the reading I've done since this doesn't look good. Does anyone have any advice on how much I should be worried about this?

EFREC said I need an HSG but it's a 4 month wait on the NHS, so I'm looking into doing this privately. GCRM said they can do a HyCoSy instead - is that ok or should I keep looking for an HSG? Is one better than the other?

Sorry for all the questions, and sorry again for butting into the forum so rudely. Anyway I just wanted to say hi 👋 and I will try and catch up on the recent conversations 😄

[LabradorMum]

Morning All,

@Eiremogra that’s brilliant news 😄 so I am AFC so don’t know about Ninewells, we were told 6 months waiting list then covid happened they are now down to 3/4 month waiting list, it usually tells you on their website.

@jonrik that’s good news not too much in the way of side affects, maybe up your water in take might help with the sore heads. I bought arnica cream for the injection sight so hopefully don’t like a pin cushion 😂

[jonrik]

Morning, ladies.

So, day 2 of Menopur. So far, so good. It burns a bit for half an hour after administering but very manageable. I have had a stinking headache pretty much nonstop since yesterday. Wonder whether that's been caused by it or whether I'm just feeling under the weather.

All in all, it's been going well.

[Eiremogra]

Hi ladies, we just had our ‘checklist’ appointment today and have been referred to Ninewells - phew!! In general how long was your wait from referral date until hearing from Ninewells? Do you think it’ll be several months?xx

[willithappen]

Yeah I'm going to do the same, have asked my partner to book 26th off work at the moment since that's the only one he needs to attend for.
Definitely good to have dates in the book now!
2.5 weeks and counting haha

[pixelflower]

@willithappen yeah, glad we get the two days notice. I'm going to keep the 24th in mind but not worry about it too much. Quite exciting have actual appointments again.

[willithappen]

Ah that makes totally sense @pixelflower
So think it's just the egg collection date which could end up changing then really isn't it? I know I was told 26th but the letter today says they can't say exactly when EC will be but we'll be given at least two days notice so that's good at least!

[pixelflower]

@willithappen Mine are 11 and 9:30. I usually get home from work by 7:30am and was a little worried about appointments being too early, but 9:30 would give me time to shower and get through.
From what I've read it just needs to be when things are "quiet", although when I googled there was a result saying it could be at any point in your cycle. This is me making assumptions but I think it would only be an issue if you had really short cycles and could be close to ovulation already.

[willithappen]

@pixelflower mine are 11am and one is 9am. I'm working from home though so can work round it I'm sure!

Still a bit curious about the baseline scan and if it's meant to happen CD1 or if it's just that date regardless. I'm in 12th Feb for baseline scan though.

[pixelflower]

@jonrik will be sending fat thoughts your way then 😂
@LabradorMum must be disconcerting reading that
@willithappen I just received my email too. Glad to know appointment times, takes a bit of pressure off work wise as none are so early I couldn't make it in time if I'm working the night before.