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?

I'm not sure if she maybe got muddled under the pressure of failed technology and running behind. So glad I took notes so could check my dates 😁
Yeah, I had to have a wee Google. Knew that normally it was from the first day of your last period but thought surely that doesn't count when it's a delayed bleed. Now want to Google stuff about accuracy of due dates in IVF and natural pregnancies.

Hey ladies, got my letter today, nurse appointment on 22 December, will remember to take notes and record the call too just in case. Does your other half have to be present for this appointment?

@pixelflower haha I did a Google and tried out a few different dates and stuff! If it's a straight transfer then towards end of Nov as a due date?

@LabradorMum yay knew a letter would come soon! Your partner does not need to be present no. I actually think your partner won't get to be present at all now until egg collection day when he has to give his sample too. They are not having partners at any of the appointments. So strange to think huh!

My mum's kinda lonely on the birthday front as everyone else is spring time so a November grandchild would be a nice birthday present 🤣🤦
Be weird going in and he's just going about his day at work. Probably better for him, I'm so stressy 🤣
Thought you'd get a letter in soon @LabradorMum . Good that it's before Christmas, can look forward to starting in the new year with us ☺️

I know I have said it before but how fantastic to be able to speak to other people at the same clinic and same timing as yourself!

I'm impatient and want it to be now we are starting though haha

@pixelflower sorry about your issues with technology but that's fab you have dates to go on! Something to work towards! It's hard being in the position of being on the waiting list but not sure when it'll ever happen, feels like forever. Sorry about the issues with your cycle, I had similar during the summer. I had a 14 day cycle then 49 day cycle which has never happened! I think it was work stress/pressure. After those 2, I went back to my normal cycles so hopefully you'll be the same. It is worrying though and your mind just runs away from you.

@Scirocco I'm Glasgow too, waiting list seems like forever.

@willithappen good idea to record, I'll need to remember that! That's good your appointment went well, hopefully the time will go in quick with Christmas coming up 😁

@LabradorMum sorry you have been through so much, that sounds so rough. So glad you have a date now though, long overdue by the sounds of things!

@willithappen Same! I keep updating husband with whats happening with us all. Feel like us Aberdeen crew have taken over here after there being no one 😮
I'm currently feeling sad but optimistic at work as period has finally shown up 6 days late. Topic of kids and IVF came up then trip to the loo and BAM! Optimistic cause hopefully this is the last time it hits me this hard as next month there'll be the excitement of something new.

@pixelflower aw I know. I did consider making a new thread for us but figured since there are so little clinics in Scotland it might be helpful for others if we continue chatting here so that others can learn from us too. I wish I could read this type of stuff when I was back at the beginning.

Are any of you going on a specific diet in the run up? Starting now or taking it after Christmas?

@itsmschanandlerbong So sorry, I missed your message completely last night. Wow, 14 to 49 is nuts, I'd be going mad. How are things with you?
So much waiting in all of this.
@willithappen that's very true! I don't know how many times I must have searched Aberdeen here.
I'm going to do a kinda slimfast/calorie counting thing and get out for more walks and just try to be a bit healthier, physically and mentally.
I've been listening to a podcast I saw recommended here called Big Fat Negative. Finding it informative, funny and heartbreaking at different points and think it's helping me work through some things.

Morning ladies!

Strange even being excited at this but my period arrived today, so a day earlier than it's expected which hopefully puts me a day earlier on my one! Strange to think the next one after this is when it all starts!

Morning all, hope everyone is well 😄

@itsmschanandlerbong thank you that so sweet of you 🤗

@willithappen we are so close together I started late Thursday/Friday. I totally get what you mean I was in Boots a few weeks ago and bought loads of sanitary products as they were on offer here’s hoping I don’t need them for a while 🤣 I am trying to watch my intake of food and up exercise as you can’t do a lot during the process. I struggle with my weight a little specially after breaking my 🍑 as I couldn’t exercise for nearly a year, so it was very hard to get back on track. The doctor said we get weighed again before starting treatment so I want to make sure I am as under the requirement as I can be and continue to be healthy during the whole process. Did say to the dog though that being weighed on your period doesn’t make much send as I can put on up to about 7 pounds in water retention then loose it again 🤷🏼‍♀️

Not the dog 🐶 🤣🤣🤣 don’t think he’d care the doc 🤭🤭

@pixelflower @LabradorMum the weight thing is a bit of an issue for me, currently 5lb over but hoping to lose another 7lb on top of that just so I'm comfortable so if I am bloated on the day I get weighed then it won't be much of an issue. I would just feel physically and emotionally better with that off too.

@LabradorMum haha, funny with your username too 😂

@itsmschanandlerbong I'm a few pounds over too. Taking it half a stone at a time but would like to get about 2 stone off. Know my weights not our issue at least as most of the time we've been trying I was the fittest I've been in my life and mostly been the past year I put weight back on.

Hi ladies, I love this little Scottish group! I’ve been reading through all the comments and love how supportive you all are. Me and my OH had our first fertility clinic appointment yesterday,it was a really positive experience tbh - I had heard such horror stories so was dreading it!! We’ve been TTC for over a year. I’m 40 so of course worried we left it too late :( I’m booked in for X-ray of Fallopian tubes end of January and then hopefully getting referred to Ninewells. Does anyone’s OH smoke? I’m worried this will go against us..he doesn’t smoke much and is super healthy otherwise but it bothers me. I was going to buy him a ‘smoker test’ breathalyser for his Xmas..a not so gentle hint!!! Has anyone bought these or know where I can get one? The fertility nurse yesterday said that we will both be breath tested at our next appointment. Xx

@Eiremogra
Hey! Welcome to the Scots Girl Gang haha

My OH used to be a 'social smoker' so he had a few if he had been out drinking. When we had our first fertility clinic appointment they gave us a smokers test then and he has said he had a smoke if he drank. Because of this the doctor wouldn't put us on the waiting list until it had been three months of him stopping smoking. So our appointment was in January, had HyCoSy in Feb and should have been put on waiting list then but was told we had to wait until April (for it to be three months of partner not smoking) and then go back. The April appointment was cancelled due to Covid and got a new one for mid May where they finally put us on the list.

From my experience even the smallest bit of smoking they won't refer you unless you have been three months smoke free.

@willithappen thank you! Really like this little group! I agree with you re: the smoking! I’ve spoken to OH this morning again, telling him I’m super stressed so he’s bought a carbon monoxide meter this morning! #progress

Hi @Eiremogra, welcome to the gang 😊 We were also delayed going on the list by 3 months due to my husband smoking. He's tried to stop unsuccessfully in the past and smoked a lot some days. I'd mentioned before about his smoking being an issue but think it took being in the clinic and being given the time limit to motivate him. He basically left that appointment and quit.

@pixelflower Thankyou that.. bet he was really proud of his breath test after giving up!!

@Eiremogra typically due to Covid we've not actually had another appointment in person since then. I was also curious about how it would affect his repeat SA but that was CC ( Covid Cancelled 😂🤦)

@pixelflower we are the same and not been in clinic since then either!

@Eiremogra for what it's worth my partner and I both had the exact same result on the smoke test (I have never touched a cigarette in my life). So I presume my partner has passed it. However, when they asked him he mentioned being a social smoker so that was that and we needed to wait three months.

This group is fantastic yeah! Hoping for lots of positives in here!

I picked up my norethisterone today so it's all here ready for taking at the end of Jan!

@willithappen Exciting!

@willithappen oh wow that is so exciting, how are you feeling about it?

I'm still about a month and a half away from being able to take them so I have put them in the cupboard and trying not to get excited by it haha

That's us into tier 3 now too. I know it doesn't affect the clinics but hard not to get worried!

Hello and welcome @Eiremogra! Agree with what's been said, they won't add you to the waiting list if he's still smoking. Hopefully that will give him the kick up the bum he needs to stop, although I know from experience it's not easy!

@willithappen that's fantastic! It must feel good to know something is happening 😁