Anyone else awaiting fertility referral?

[MallonMary]

Hi all,

Been ttc (unsuccessfully!) for over a year and just found out there's a problem with DH sperm (low mobility and zero normal forms), so awaiting referral to fertility clinic to seek further help/advice.

Just wondered if there's anyone else in a similar situation about to embark on this journey too?

Also similar success stories welcome :) x

@jolly86

Did the referral get put through on your DH's side?
I was the one to chase the referral our side so it's all in my name although appointments are generally for both of us
Telephone appointment/video appointment right now would be appropriate as they are trying to limit going in. They will likely talk you through stuff and then see what further tests you may need from there.

@willithappen Thanks very much for your reply.

Indeed the referral letter was for both of us, but this letter with appointment came on his name only. I guess this is an initial meeting as you said, and hopefully they suggest more tests to be done.

At my first appointment they went over loads of stuff with us/discussed our background.
They did give me an internal vaginal scan at the appointment and then did some smoking tests and took weight/height etc for us both
They have probably adapted this so it doesn't need to be done at initial appointment now and I assume they will make one for you both to go in and get them. Is it NHS you are with?

Good news is they are able to put people on the waiting list now. We were officially put on the waiting list mid May.

@willithappen

At my first appointment they went over loads of stuff with us/discussed our background. They did give me an internal vaginal scan at the appointment and then did some smoking tests and took weight/height etc for us both They have probably adapted this so it doesn't need to be done at initial appointment now and I assume they will make one for you both to go in and get them. Is it NHS you are with?

Good news is they are able to put people on the waiting list now. We were officially put on the waiting list mid May.

What do you mean exactly by waiting list? Is it for this first appointment or the further tests that you need to be on a list? The GP referred us around 3 weeks ago and now we got this phone appointment as yet. It is NHS coventry.

@jolly86 both my 1st and 2nd appointments have been over the phone due to covid. Quite annoying as I think normally they will examine you but I haven't had this and even though she has sent me for scans I can't get them done as radiology still aren't doing routine scans due to covid! She basically asked us lots of questions about lifestyle, my period, how often we have sex etc then sent me for more tests.
I assume @willithappen means the waiting list for IVF. Though not all areas have waiting lists, mine doesn't, and some are longer than others. It's positive you have your appointment through though 🙂

@jolly86
Yeah by waiting list I mean for IVF. So we got referred to fertility clinic, did further tests with them - I had day 21 bloods done and partner had SA prior to our referral.
At our initial appointment with the fertility clinic we had the tests I mentioned and then I was referred for a HyCoSY
I was meant to be put on waiting list after that but because my partner said he was a social smoker we had to wait a further two months so he had stopped smoking for three months

May 18th we had a video appointment with clinic to officially put us on IVF waiting list. The clinic may not put you for IVF they may try you with IUI or other ways first. We had been trying 5+ years so automatically put for IVF due to that and because we are 'unexplained' infertility (even though partner has morphology of 1%)

Waiting list here is usually 6 months (I'm in Scotland) and I was told to add a further 4 months on to that due to the backlog of Covid so I'm at a roughly 10 month wait from 18th May :(

Hi ladies,

How you all doing? Where are you on your cycles and any new plans?

I'm still in shock. Still testing everyday and so far all is good. Sickness has startedto ramp up so taking that as a good sign. We have scan tomorrow so hope that goes ok. It might be too early for heartbeat. Terrified of multiples though! I don't know how anyone can cope with that. My sister in law has 11 kids with 3 sets of twins(crazy).x

@Narwhal88 and @willithappen We just had our phone appointment yesterday, Same as you, lots of questions about lifestyle health history...
I got appointment for a vaginal ultrasound in 2 weeks and my DH will get a third sperm analysis (as he had a bad 1st one with all values lower than needed, and an improved 2nd one, doc said he wants to confirm there is a permanent improvement in his sperm. ) We have drastically changed our diet, and exercise routine in between and taking supplements. Can vaginal ultrasound pick up cysts and endometriosis? I don't have symptoms but there's endometriosis in family.

@Jolly86 Ultrasound can pick up cysts but not endometriosis. I was told a laparoscopy was only definite way to see endo.x

oh wow that means unless you have clear symptoms its extremely difficult to diagnose it, as laparoscopy is literally an operation and too invasive to do as a check up .. :(

Hi all,

Just thought I would jump in. We have taken the self funded route but via the NHS, which is slightly cheaper than the private clinics. We had had all the blood tests etc done before COVID but had to do it again, and now we have done them again as well as my ultrasound.

For the lady who was asking about cysts, unfortunately the scan did pick up some 'chocolate cysts' for me, which sounds like a cute name for something that isn't! But they said I would still be fine to go through with IVF as they are small, they'll just need to monitor me regularly.

I don't know much about waiting lists for NHS funded clinics, but this one they have started treatments again, and am due to start injections on the 3rd August. This is St Helier in Surrey. Hope this helps!

@Frenchie86 sorry about the cysts but I heard most people do have cysts and are not aware. I guess it is how big they are that's important. So maybe the scan can pick up some sort of cysts, depending on where they are located. All the best for your treatment!

@jolly86 thank you! They hadn't picked them up on the dye test (can't remember what that one was called) so they think they're quite new. They suspect endometriosis but can't be sure unless they do the other test.

Good luck with yours too!

@Chochaw glad to hear it's going well, good luck for your scan tomorrow! Oh wow 11 kids! Now that's a bit much! Though I've always loved the idea of twins. I wanted to be a twin when I was a kid! Considering how difficult this journey has been I'd quite like buy 1 get 1 free now!

@jolly86 I've got my vaginal ultrasound on 4th August, quite nervous about it! I'm not entirely sure what they are looking for with it tbh but I guess anything that looks abnormal. Did they send you for a HSG as well?

So it looks like my radiology department may have finally started up routine appointments as I got a letter yesterday to say I have my ultrasound appointment on 4th August. I'm going to ring towards the end of next week to check if they are doing HSGs. Fingers crossed they are and I can book in as next AF is due 2nd August. 🤞🏼

@jolly86 yes my doctor said they normally give diagnosis of endo if symptoms are there and only do laparoscopy if severe. Have you been booked in for HSG?

@Narwhal88 definitely phone and chase up your appointment!

So yesterday I had US. Tried normal one and she said I had too much bowel gas to see anything so I emptied my bladder and had vaginal US. She still struggled to see and find my uterus. She said I had a tilted uterus. Eventually she found a sac, then poked about for ages, she said she thinks there is a yolk but no baby. So it could be too early as they base dates on last period rather than ovulation and I ovulate later in cycle and because I didn't do OPKs I am not sure when it happened this month. Or it could be a blighted ovum which is a pregancy that is not developing properly. I was devastated and the sonographer was awful. She gave the lady before me scan pictures with my name on them as she mixed us up. When she was giving me this news she kept yapping at me and saying that I wasn't saying much. Well what did she want me to say? I was in shock and disappointed. So it is a waiting game for me again. Got to wait 2 weeka and rescan if I don't MC before then. I'm praying it is just a bit early as I am still getting other symptoms. Going to ask for bloods tomorrow to confirm if HCG levels are multiplying x

@Chochaw Oh god that sounds like an awful experience! Was this a private scan? Can't believe they behaved in that way, how unprofessional and uncaring. Hopefully it is just a bit too early to see anything yet 🤞🏼🤞🏼
I saw you got a 3 weeks+ so that's encouraging.

Hi all this post still active.

Just hoping I can talk to someone about using clomid for the first time. I have started my first week on them. And I have heard the side effects can be difficult to deal with.

Hi @l0095,

I think most of us on this thread have moved over to instagram now. I did 2 rounds of clomid and found the side affects not too bad. Really it was hot flushes that I suffered with. I took a month off clomid before starting IUI and got a BFP. Now im 16 weeks pregnant. I think the clomid kick started my ovulation more. Let me know if I can help.x

That's great news glad it helped you. what do you mean moved to Instagram?