NHS IVF Funding - if no embryo transfer - is it a full IVF cycle

[indemnity]

Hi all! I have seen messages on this forum suggesting that in some areas even though NHS offers just one IVF cycle, in circumstances where eggs were retrieved but no fertilisation has taken place (and hence no ET took place) a new cycle is offered on NHS. I have a feeling that this was an exception rather than the rule. Could you please let me know if you came across this?

Yes from what I've seen if you go through with egg collection but get nothing to transfer it is classed as a full cycle

However if you cancel prior to egg collection you should still be entitled to another cycle - it doesn't use up your entitlement HOWVER clinic may take in to account lack of response in offering future treatment if it happened again

Most of the cost involved in IVF is in the collection and fertilisation part which is why they are so strict now that funding is so much tighter

For my ccg if you get to egg collection that counts as your funded cycle even if there is nothing to transfer. Like most things it depends on your ccg so you're best checking with your clinic.

Thank you all for responses!

My CCG (Trafford) only funds one cycle and I had an egg collection in November 18 but no eggs were retrieved. I made an IFR and they agreed I could have another cycle. So it might be worthwhile trying.

My CCG (Portsmouth) funds one cycle and we were advised this week that unfortunately getting to egg collection counts as the funded cycle regardless of whether there is anything to transfer or not

Hi there
Sorry to hijack this thread but I read it with interest - I have just had egg collection on Monday 24th February (this week) unfortunately my husband’s sample he produced was lacking any viable sperm so the embryologist recommended freezing my eggs (17 they collected - which are now safely frozen) and husband to try again with another sample in 2 months and try ICSI - obviously we are disappointed, especially as his last sample he did during initial investigations was good and showed really good swimmers

It sounds awful but part of me feels a bit relieved as following egg collection I have suffered really bad bloating and pain - not sure if it is mild OHSS the nurses have been keeping in touch with me though

I think where we having been trying for so long (5 yrs this year) and had various delays and one miracle pregnancy followed by miscarriage at 7 weeks it feels like it may never happen :-/ we are both 34 this year and I just can’t help but worry about the “what if”

And where someone else said they were from Portsmouth CCG - that is really local to me (I'm not sure which is my CCG but I live in PO15) so now I am worried that they will count our attempt at being a full cycle, when we have had to postpone treatment :-/

@Thisgirlcanrun sorry to hear about what you have been through this week. We are really near to you I think, we are PO12. We had a sort of similar situation, apart from my husband had micro tese to obtain his sperm due to azoospermia, they then froze the samples, we then went through egg collection however when they defrosted the sperm none were viable so they froze my eggs. Hopefully as they suggested to you about trying again with a different sample in 2 months they will count that still under your first round, I would check that out with them though.

@BellaBellini
Thank you for your reply, I'm sorry to hear about your experience
hopefully we will be able to get more information when we next see consultant
Sending you hugs xx