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?

Hi Ladies,

Not sure if anyone still looking at this thread but just thought i would give you all an update on my situation in case some of you are eagerly waiting on news from clinics.

We were due to start out first round of IVF at Ninewells in April but obviously it was cancelled which like many others turned my world upside down.

Anyway, i came home to a letter last night from the clinic asking me to phone them and i have been given a provisional start date of Sept :)

That's good news about the provisional start date, Jennifer - not long to go!

Things seem very variable across the country (sometimes even within the same service!). So any good news should be celebrated!

Great news @JenniferRo28! Good luck for it. I had a cycle cancelled in April and started stims this week at GRI, it hasn’t been fun and I’m very anxious about it not working but the relief to no longer just be waiting and waiting is huge. I’ve heard that they’re going to start moving on to those at the top of the waiting list who didn’t have a cycle cancelled so hopefully that’s true and things will keep moving- then those further down on the waiting list or further back in the process will get some hope of starting in the near future too.

@Scirocco - thanks, its very exciting, hoping its a quick month :)

@kikisparks - thats great youve started :) Its been a long few months, ive not been the easiest person to live with haha. I hope everything is going well so far? Can i ask if your partner is allowed to attend appointments with you? My letter from Ninewells said i should attend appointments alone which is a bit of a bummer.

@JenniferRo28 it’s all going fine thank you, I’m not enjoying the injections but just focusing on the end result! I’m only 4 days into stims, get a blood test tomorrow and first scan on Sunday to check how the follicles are growing.

My husband got to attend the first appointment as he had to get a blood test too but he’s not allowed to attend any others, he does get to come in on egg retrieval day to give his sample but then has to leave again. It does make me a bit sad, especially as he can’t come in for embryo transfer if we get that far, but I understand why they do it and at the end of the day I think if we finally get to become parents it will be worth it all.

He is still driving me to appointments and waiting in the car outside so I can tell him straight away what happened at the appointment which helps.

So happy to see so many of you getting to start with things again. What a crazy year huh.

I'm at Aberdeen and with it going into lockdown again tonight I was worried about the clinic having to stop things again and put my wait even longer. I'm estimating it will be at least March next year before I get my 'top of the list' appointment. Been three months already!

@JenniferRo28 that's great that you've got a start date, not long to wait now!
@willithappen I'm Aberdeen to and they've said the new local lockdown isn't affecting appointments/treatment. I'm just about to start my first cycle

@nextweek thanks! How are things there currently? If you don't mind me asking, where you due to start with them before the first lockdown and the pandemic started?

I'm getting pretty emotional with the whole wait and not really knowing when things are going to happen

@willithappen We were just about to start our cycle when lockdown happened and the clinic closed. We then didn't hear anything directly until about a month ago when they sent us new forms to sign, and scheduled a video appointment where they discussed our treatment and start date. They have said that when I attend the clinic I have to wait outside to be called in and partners aren't allowed to accompany you at the moment. I was really worried when I heard about the local lockdown but they updated their website and I spoke with them today to schedule my scan for tomorrow and all seems to be business as usual.

@nextweek that's good news!

How long were you in the waiting list before your first initial appointment before Covid?

@willithappen it feels like so long ago I can barely remember haha, but I'm pretty sure we got added to the waiting list in November/December 2019 and then at the time of lockdown I was just waiting for my next AF to arrive, which was a week or so away, so that they could book me in for my first cycle. We originally got told the wait list was approx 6 months so were pleasantly surprised when we got the call after 3/4 months. When did you get added to the list?

@nextweek that's good that it was a bit sooner! I think they tell you 6 months as worst case scenario tbh

I was put on the list 18th May I believe it was. So not been on long at all really but it really does feel ages. No idea what to be doing during this time either!

@willithappen Hopefully it won't be too much longer until you hear something, the clinic seem to be really efficient. I haven't been doing anything special to get ready for our cycle, I don't smoke, rarely drink and have a reasonably healthy diet, only have the occasional coffee and exercise a few times a week. Trying to stay relaxed is the most difficult part!

Hey there. Sorry for hijacking this thread but I was hoping one of you lovely ladies could help me as I'm feeling a bit clueless.
Some background - I'm 39 and have been ttc for over a year.
After having initial consultation with the Edinburgh RI cancelled because of Covid, I managed to get my appointment rescheduled a few weeks ago. The doctor was lovely but she advised that realistically I'd be better off going down the private route rather than NHS given my age, recently diagnosed low AMH, and it could be a year before I'd start IVF treatment through the NHS.
My question is - if I'm Edinburgh based, is the only option for going via a private clinic, GCRM in Glasgow?

@Cagee some of the NHS clinics do self funding.
I'm with Aberdeen and I know they offer self funding - so will get you seen to faster. We're sticking out the (very long) waiting list. Looks to be around March next year we will be called up.

@cagee - you can definitely self fund at efrec. Having had both a privately funded round at gcrm and nhs at efrec I slightly preferred efrec. (Not just because it was funded). In fairness much of the preliminary stuff at GCRM is done in Edinburgh (or it was)- they have a clinic just off St Andrew's Square.
I have a good pal who has self funded in both clinics and she also preferred efrec. But it is very personal I guess.
I felt GCRM were very quick to go to suggesting donor and some tests/add ons that were maybe not wholly necessary or evidence based which was not the case ime at EFREC.

@willithappen thanks! I think the waiting list for the NHS clinic in Edinburgh is pretty long too ..I was told I'd have to get a HSG done first before I got on the list..and the list for the HSG is about 6 months :-(

@megasaur5keeper my preference would definitely be to get it done through efrec as well but I think the waiting times, even through self funding, are pretty long now..and I don't feel I have that time to waste unfortunately. I thought maybe there was another private clinic in Edinburgh..it just seems a bit odd that its either self fund at efrec or else you need to go to Glasgow :-(

Nope . I think spire used to but haven't for a while. That's some wait for a hsg. When I was at GCRM the consent appts and early investigation bit, embryo transfer and egg collecting all happened in Glasgow and all else Edinburgh.

Yeah ..long wait! I could try to get the HSG done privately and then get on the IVF waiting list but even then I think the waiting list is at least 6 months long. I'm Edinburgh based so heading to Glasgow will be a pain but I don't think I have an option if I don't want to waste time.

So I have been struggling with having really light and short periods lately (going on for months now - I did mention this at initial consultation but was told as they were regular it's fine).
However the more it happens the more I worry. I can feel that something isn't right with the periods I am having an I'm certain it's the reason why we can't conceive.
We're currently 'unexplained' (partner has 1% morphology but all other things above average so isn't a concern apparently). We were put on IVF waiting list in May and looking like March next year before we are called up.

I emailed my clinic to discuss the periods and see if anything could be done and was told I would need to go back to my GP for referral to them again?! Surely not if I'm already a patient with them and currently on the waiting list? Has this happened to anyone else or does this make sense?

I kind of feel like I have just been lumped off to the side, decided IVF is the only way and left until it's time to be called up. Because I'm 28 they'll say age isn't a risk right now but I really really feel like my periods being like this is a bad thing and adds further to the ticking time clock. :(

Hello everyone!
Firstly I hope you are all well & starting to hear some good news with regard to your respective treatments starting back up.

I've joined this thread as me and my partner have recently been referred to the Glasgow Royal Infirmary for IVF treatments following investigations at monklands hospital and I am just looking for some more information about your experiences/waiting times and also for the support from others experiencing similar feelings. The only issue that has been raised is my partner has reduced quality and mobility of the sperm - luckily we both meet the NHS ivf criteria so we trying our best to remain calm & positive.

Looking forward to connecting with you all xx

@Laurenx92x
Hey! I'm not at Glasgow so can't give specific experience to them, I'm Aberdeen.

Have you had your first appointment with them or are you still waiting after referral? I'm currently on the waiting list at Aberdeen (NHS). Was put on the list in May and it's looking like March before we get top of the list. I know a lot have gone private because of the long wait.
We're currently 'unexplained' although partner did show up 1% morphology and I am starting to question my period lengths also on whether that's an issue currently.

Which tests have you had?

@*willithappen thanks for reaching out -hope your journey is going okay at Aberdeen I read your last post did you get anything back from the clinic re. your lighter than usual periods?

We have not had our first appointment at the royal yet. At monklands I had an internal scan and two sets of bloods and everything looked fine. My partner has had 2 sperm analysis, 2nd was better than the first count wise but the movement wasnt great. As we have been ttc for 2 years we have been referred for IVF and think they are to get in touch about an ultrasound for my boyfriend What about you?

Slightly overwhelmed with all the abbreviations and stages from reading others posts but trying to stay positive and continue trying as I think with lockdown we could be waiting quite a while to get to the top of the list.

@willithappen just wondering why you say it's looking like March? I'm also Aberdeen and went on the list in June. Been trying to get an idea so can maybe stop thinking about it quite so much for a while. ( Wishful thinking 🤦)