Center for life

[bingbangbing]

I've been referred to this clinic for female infertility.

Has anybody had any experiences of it? What can I expect?

Terrified, tbh

My cousin is being treated there.
They are very negative about your chances of success so be warned.......
maybe negative is the wrong word..... but that’s how my cousin was made to feel.
I was going to go there for a second opinion but it took them 4 weeks to reply to one email.

Fine line between negative and realistic I'd imagine

Yes I think you are correct. A very fine line.
I feel that we are very limited in the NE as to our choices.
Have you considered anywhere else?
I really hope it works for you.

Having been on the opposite side, my clinic didn't tell me how shit they were expecting my response to be, and didn't tell me I was on the maximum drugs until after our failed cycle. I'd much rather have a clinic who where realistic with me! My treatment isn't at c4L but our sperm was frozen there and I dealt with them quite a bit to recover it to our current clinic (we moved area). They where always very prompt at replying and the embryologist that I dealt with was very lovely and bent over backwards to help us out. I obviously haven't had any treatment there. I think the QE has a good reputation too

Hi, I’m at the QE and they’ve been great so far

I chose QEH over center for life and they are lovely, it's so personal they know my name as soon as I come in.

Hey,
Me and my DH are going through ICSI treatment at the CfL and everyone I've met there has been amazing so far. So lovely and really friendly!
My first cycle was cancelled as I didn't respond well to down reg, totally not the clinics fault and thankfully it didn't count as one of our funded rounds. Just started our second round and I have only positive things to say about so far! I hope it helps and good luck! x

I just wanted to say hi to anyone having IVF at the centre for life in Jan 2020...due to start my injections for first cycle on 7.1.19 and I feel so alone...not helped by the fact that one of my close friends just announced yesterday that she is pregnant! Although I saw it coming this news has really floored me and made me feel even more awful than I already did...I’ve literally been crying for two days and haven’t moved off the sofa.

I would be really grateful to hear from anyone in a similar situation...might make things a little easier. I feel like my circle of friends is just getting smaller and smaller as I just cannot face being around anyone who is pregnant which somehow everyone around me is.

Anyway, would be really grateful for anyone who wants to chat!

Rhiannon xx

Hi @Abcd6789 it is a really difficult time. At first I was ok but the longer it goes on jealousy consumes you, even though you’re really happy for the person. I think it’s just a natural part of this journey, my partner doesn’t really understand. I don’t like how it makes me feel as I’m not that type or person but it is really frustrating. You’re defo not alone!

Hi Nmvasey,

Thank you for replying! My husband doesn’t get it either which I think is making me feel worse.

I think he feels that although he wants to have children if we didn’t have any we could still have a happy life. It’s probably a much better way of thinking but I just can’t help feeling like a life without children is just not worthwhile to me.

This is going to make me sound awful but if I’m completely honest sometimes when I’ve heard of someone e.g. having a MC I almost feel ‘relieved’ because at least I’m not the only one struggling but then I immediately feel awful for wishing pain on someone else when I know exactly what it’s like! This whole experience is eating me up and turning me into an awful person...and then I can’t help feeling that I’ll never have a baby because why should someone do mean deserved to be lucky?!

Maybe I’ll feel better once IVF starts and I have something to focus on. Glad to hear I’m not alone in some of the things I’m feeling!

Rxx

I haven't even had our first appointment yet!

What do they do? Do they do any actual investigations to find out why you're infertile? A scan maybe?

Or do they go straight to IVF?

Hi bingbangbing,

I think the specifics obviously depend on individual circumstances but please don’t worry...everyone has been lovely and kind and explained everything really well.

For me I asked to be referred after I had a termination for a baby with a severe abnormality in Jan 2018 (natural conception) and then failed to conceive again thereafter. I saw my GP after about a year of trying again and they did a whole load of blood tests including screening for PCOS and checking for ovulation which were all normal.

Basically when I was then seen they did a few more tests including an Ultrasound Scan and a hysterosalpingogram to check my uterus and tubes were ok but again everything was normal. They also did semen analysis for my husband and AMH levels and again normal. So we have ‘unexplained infertility’ which is the case for quite a lot of couples.

Because there is technically no identifiable cause for our problems they basically said it was our choice what to do next. We could try for a little longer if we wanted to or we could opt for IVF. Because it is now 2 years trying to conceive for us we decided to proceed with IVF because I felt that it has a better chance of working the younger you are and do to give it the best chance I wanted to start this now. It took about 10 months from being seen to starting IVF next week but I think it would have been a little faster if we had wanted to opt for IVF sooner.

It might be worth noting that IVF isn’t always the best treatment for everyone depending on their specific cause of infertility so they certainly don’t go to IVG straight away as it wouldn’t be the right treatment for everyone.

I’m not sure if this answers your questions but I think what should expect is a few more tests to find out why you’re having problems and then they will discuss what your options are :).

Please don’t worry though...everyone is lovely at the clinic!

Rhiannonx