Coronavirus and fertility clinics #2

[JeNeBaguetteRien]

I hope you don't mind @mabel92 but the last thread you started is almost full, and this has been so useful for lots of us.

If I can get in there before it fills I'll link to this thread!

Link to the first thread here
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/infertility/3845880-Coronavirus-and-fertility-clinics

It's been so difficult having coronavirus impact an already fraught journey so thank you all for the support here, hope we can continue.

Thanks @JeNeBaguetteRien how are you getting on?

Yes thank you @JeNeBaguetteRien
I find this forum a great support and learn lots of information from the lovely ladies in here so thank you for continuing with a new thread.

@mabel9 good news that your treatment is starting soon.
I don't know if separately you could have a blood test to check rubella immunity.
In Spain they did a blood test to check my immunity to chicken pox as they vaccinate against it there.

I'm hoping to travel to Spain for treatment later in the summer. The borders open to tourists on 1st July but with where I am in my cycle I won't be on the first flight out there! Waiting to see how things go, most things will need to be arranged at fairly short notice. Will need an apartment rather than a hotel so I can stay in most of the time and cook my own food.
I also need to have coronavirus antibody test done here and then a test for live virus before egg collection.

@PositiveThinkerAlways glad you find the infertility boards useful, I've been around here a long time and there is a lot of support.

Thanks for link to the new thread

I hope everyone is ok. Very sad to see so many are still in limbo with clinics starting again and having appointments cancelled. I’m disgusted to see some are being charged extra out of the blue for embryo freezing and other procedures.
We have been so lucky our clinic has not charged anything extra for me to recommence this Frozen round and kept any payment we had made previously so I’ve not had to pay for drugs again. We were lucky that any bloods were still valid too.

I’m a week into suprecur (again), some lovely flushes and headaches. Just waiting for AF so I can book in for first scan and then I’ll be given the plan for remainder of treatment cycle. I’m hope for FET towards end of July.

Really hope everyone else gets some answers very soon! Xxx

Thanks for the new thread!

Hope everyone is coping. I am very up and down at the moment!

I have an appointment on zoom for consent forms etc on Tuesday. Fully expecting them to tell me my bloods are no longer valid and make me pay for that too!

On a seperate note - on Instagram I've seen a lot of mums crying with their kids about how hard it is, it's bugging me!
Wish I had kids to cry about 😭

Yes I’m feeling similar to many of us currently either starting treatment or in limbo waiting to start - very up and down!

It also breaks my heart when I hear of parents feeling frustrated with their children (which I know is totally normal as a parent) but I fear I will never ever feel that, which is upsetting.

I’m just trying to use this time to detox a bit, get my nutrition right (I’m actually trying to increase my BMI) and optimise my thyroid and vitamin d levels, which is costing me a fortune through private home blood tests. But I’m hoping I will be in the best position in my health to get the most out of my final round of IVF.....when it finally goes ahead.

Best wishes to you all, I know the journey is hard and we all have individual challenges to overcome on top of the physical and emotional turmoil of IVF. I am hoping we are all due a bit of luck and karma will sprinkle some baby dust on all of us xx

Hi, can I join? We had our first IVF/ICSI in Dec/Jan which was unfortunately a BFN.
Same as everyone, everything was closed and put on hold. I have heard from my clinic yesterday to be put on the waiting list to restart which could be anything from a month up.
I have 2 questions the first is we previously did long protocol and because they are limiting the amount of appointments are now only offering the short. Does this mean that I will make less eggs? They were going to increase my meds to try and get more previously.

And secondly we didn't have anything good enough to freeze so will need to go through collection again. Due to covid their new policy is 2 weeks prior to egg collection my husband and me need to self isolate with a negative covid test prior to collection. Has anyone else experienced this yet? How did you work it out with work? And partners work? I know that we are entitled to time off for fertility appointments but 2 whole extra weeks feels like pushing it and thats a lot of annual leave. Especially if we have to go a third time!
Thank you

Hi Unicorn. Welcome .

Our clinic hasn't specifically said to self isolate but will covid test at start of the process and before egg collection.

They advise to self isolate but you can go out if sensible etc. You have to sign a code of conduct at our clinic.

This is something that concerns me to be honest.

Hey all I'm with Create and had to sign a form every time I went in to say I had been complying with social distancing. To be honest I think it's completely unreasonable to expect you to both self isolate at home. And who is going to tell them anyway?? I'd continue on as normal taking all the necessary precautions like face masks and hand sanitizer and no unnecessary trips to wander the local shopping centres.

I did 2 cycles of short protocol last year and got the same number of eggs and blastocysts as my friends on long protocol. This year I changed to natural modified so even less follicles and just got a BFP from the frozen cycle where I only had 2 follicles so don't get too hung up on numbers. If you don't have great egg quality actually focusing on fewer is better for quality than forcing your body to grow loads of eggs which it wouldn't have chosen to do it self x

@ivfgottostaypositive I agree and you they wouldnt know and you could be as careful as possible and still end up with covid.

My clinic are minimising appointments too. Leaving you in the car and ringing when you can go up.

@ivfgottostaypositive that’s wonderful news!

Congratulations @ivfgottostaypositive that’s amazing news! Wishing you a happy and healthy 9 months. X

I couldn't self isolate for 2 weeks cause of work else I wouldn't get paid...

Hi all, I hope you are all well? Has anyone else had any positive news/updates regarding treatment? I rang clinic yesterday to arrange scan 1 for my FET and they have asked myself and OH to go in today for a covid test and then after my scan on Friday they have asked us both to self isolate for 2 weeks.
To be honest I have been isolating pretty much since we went into lockdown so for 13 weeks now! I haven’t been to a single shop I’ve been so careful and only seen my mother in law as she is now in our “bubble” and needed to look after our LG when I have clinic appointments and occasionally keeps and eye if I have work meetings (working from home) My husband is going to find it very difficult to totally isolate for another 2 weeks due to work commitments so we’re going to just have to continue to be very careful and I will isolate and he will work at home as much as he can.
I feel a bit miffed as I still haven’t been given any proper plan for this cycle and it all feels really uncertain it’s making me feel even more anxious as if it’s not daunting enough. Not been able to get through to consultant and just been told to wait til Friday when I have my scan to discuss all the dates. Quite difficult to plan work and childcare when you have been given no idea of anything and just told to get on with injecting.
Also no idea if they will keep repeating the covid tests throughout treatment or they just have to go one in line with the new guidelines. This is such an uncertain time for everyone I wish it was easier.
I realise I’m incredibly lucky to have my LG (from previous ICSI cycle). We’re so desperate for another child I thought that feeling might go away a little but a friend has just announced she is pregnant and it’s knocked me for 6 this week. This will be our 3rd round now with one being cancelled a few days before transfer at beginning of lockdown and I don’t think being cooped in the house has helped with my mental state it’s literally all consuming this fertility cycle and I feel really lonely with it. I feel silly for even saying that when I’ve got a beautiful girl and supportive husband but I feel like this might be our last chance and the fact it’s all really disorganised is making me feel wobbly!

Sorry for the offload I know everyone is struggling and I realise I’m so lucky my treatment has been restarted when so many of you are still waiting for an update so my post isn’t meant to offend anyone x

I’ve still not heard anything - the clinics open and I’ve rang but they just don’t get back. Seems online a lot of people are the same. Some of the new referrals are getting letters saying 2021!!!
Does anyone know if it’s possible to transfer embryos from a nhs funded cycle to private? And if it affects future funding? I don’t know where to find the information.

C88M

My understanding is if you choose to go private then this counts as one of your NHS ones. How this works in your situation I don't know. .

Frozen embryo transfers in my clinic are only just starting again as they are more complex or something so we're last to be looked at.

@thefishthatcouldwish that’s my understanding too but with having three embryos I’m wondering if I can transfer these to private.

I could pay for an ivf round but seems a waste of money (and I was incredibly ill with the first round) when I have three embryos waiting! I’ll carry on waiting for now.

@C88M you can move your embryos to a private clinic for a FET. I’m afraid I don’t know how this might affect your remaining NHS entitlement. You’d need to check with your CCG/ fertility clinic as it does vary from area to area. Having looked into this myself the process of moving the embryos isn’t too complicated. You find a clinic to accept and then let your current clinic know where they will be going. You need to sign consent forms for both. Unless the accepting clinic has a specific courier they use/ a transport box they can lend you, you will need to find an embryo transport courier. However, the cost for transportation does add up, both clinics will often charge an admin fee (roughly £250 per clinic for entry/ exit admin) and then the courier was I think about £350?? Then you have to factor in the cost of a new patient consultation, having to pay storage fees again, and the possibility they may request extra investigations before they proceed depending on clinic policy. I was told the whole process takes something like 4 weeks. Hope this is helpful.

Hi has anybody heard from James cook nhs about starting there FET . When i rang a week ago they said they would be contacting people to start there FET. I am fresh first ever one just wondering if they have even started yet xxx

Hi all, hope some of you are a bit further along by now!
I was midway through stims when my cycle had to be stopped in March.
My clinic opened on 27th April but was not much use to me as it is in Spain!
I'm thinking of starting treatment again in July or August now that the borders are open.
I have all my meds in the fridge ready and waiting.

Still waiting for SA results over here. How's everyone else doing?

@Pinkbunny2811 The waiting is just awful and frustrating isn’t it, everything just seems to take AGES and it’s hard to just get in with day to day life while you are waiting for the next stage in the process.

I’m waiting for AF so I can book a baseline scan and start with treatment but I’m trying not to go anywhere or see anyone so I don’t get covid and have to stop treatment so my life definitely feels like it is being ruled by IVF.

@JeNeBaguetteRien Have you managed to get flights etc booked now to re-start your treatment now travel has become a bit more accessible? My fridge is also full of meds so half of it can’t be used for food....am praying I get to use the meds before the expiry dates which are in Sep/Oct.

Sorry to hear so many are STILL waiting on updates. It’s ridiculous!

I’m currently sat awaiting a call from my clinic to tell me if embryo has thawed successfully ready for FET this afternoon.
I have also been isolating pretty much since lockdown began and feel like I’m losing my mind.
I’ll keep you updated on FET. Send me some positive energy!
I hope you all hear back soon and those that are waiting to start treatment I wish you the best of luck.x

@Liliclaire Very exciting (albeit nerve racking!) for you. I really hope that call comes soon with excellent news and everything goes smoothly for you today. Good luck and sending you hugs and positive vibes for today - all fingers and tors crossed for you 🤞🤞🤞🤞💫💫💫💫
Let us know how you get on x