Almost 37, at what point to go see a consultant?

[Nichola2310]

I'll try and be brief, I'm 37 in 3 months, my husband is 44, we have a 2 year old conceived on 2nd cycle, no issues.

Been trying for a 2nd child for 9mths now with no luck. I've done home testing kits which showed that I'm ovulating, my AMH reserve is normal, and hormones are all fine.

My husband had blood tests done through the NHS and all fine, and has a referral for a semen analysis but the clinic is still closed.

I'm wondering at what point we should bite the bullet and go privately to see a consultant? Given our age is a year of trying too long to wait?

Hi

I believe you can get testing done through the nhs ? I'm TTC and just literally started trying and my gp said we can have some tests done as I have a lo from a previous relationship

I've got my bloods tomorrow and my oh has has this sa but that is as far as we have got

I've been off the pill 5 yrs and was always like if It happens it happens but now we are properly trying

X

I started the IVF process rolling after 12 months (but I had a history of recurrent miscarriage and had already lost a tube to a ruptured ectopic). It can take a while to choose a clinic etc and then of course at the moment there can be long waiting lists to start treatment due to Covid.

Once your DH has had his sperm test I'd take them to the private clinic - sounds like you've already had all the tests the NHS will do anyway and since you aren't entitled to IVF on the NHS as you already have a child there is no point in continuing on with them. The Private clinics will accept your NHS testing so long as they weren't done too long ago

Of course if the NHS sperm tests aren't going to be for months then I'd just get them done privately - they usually cost around £130 - a drop in a very deep ocean of what IVF can ultimately end up costing

Also bear in mind that fertility DOES start to decrease late 30s onwards, of course it's not the "drop off a cliff" scenario that some talk about it but it is significant. We have done 5 rounds of IVF and 4 transfers in 18 months but that's pretty quick as I've been doing natural modified IVF this year so you can cycle much quicker. Most people might only get 2 cycles in per year or less. So the sooner you start making decisions etc the better x