Treatment delayed due to clinic

[Zowey232]

Hi ladies,

I’m a long time follower of this site, and I am currently going through a FET. Our first full cycle failed 3 years ago, and we made the decision to have one last attempt as we have two frozen embryos.
I was told by my clinic that if the day 10 scan was fine, I would then have transfer next Thursday (as they only do transfers Tuesdays and Thursdays). My scan today was fine and I was told my transfer would be a week on Thursday, with no explanation why. It was only when I questioned this, I was told it’s due to doctor availability.
I’m so annoyed by this, I had everything sorted with work and childcare etc and my husband managed to get time off, and now it causes all sorts of issues having it delayed by a week, which to me is a clinic issue and not mine.
I don’t really know what I’m trying to achieve by this post, I just needed a rant. I just think this treatment costs so much and you need to do so much planning you would think they would make sure that a doctor is available, I’m also stressing my lining will be to thick by then (I don’t even know if that is such a thing).

I'd be concerned about this since my clinic tracks ovulation very closely when doing a natural FET - are you doing a medicated or natural transfer? I'm not sure I'd be comfortable in assuming that my uterus environment would stay at peak receptiveness for an extra week just because someone is on holiday

(My clinic does transfers 7 days a week and I'd expect that for what we pay them)

I’m doing medicated, but I’m already on day 12 today. I totally agree with you, and I’m worried my lining won’t be as good. At the time I just kind of accepted it, but now I’m stressing about it.

Our clinic is not even open on a weekend, which I find ridiculous.

Is this an NHS clinic?

No care fertility in Tamworth

That's strange as I looked at Care Birmingham and thought they were a 7 day a week clinic (went with Create instead as had better feel about them)

I'd ask them what the implications are of delaying a week? How the mediation you are on is able to maintain a favourable environment etc - what checks will be done before transfer eg progesterone levels, lining thickness etc?

They are working reduced hours due to Covid, Which I understand, but they haven’t posted those hours anywhere so we had two wasted 1 hour trips to take my husbands Id, and when we got there they were closed. I have to say I’m not at all impressed with them at the moment. I understand that Covid is making things difficult, but a bit of communication would be nice.

Thanks so much for taking the time to reply. I will ring them on Monday and ask these questions. Annoyingly I will have to accept that transfer will be the week after now, as I would have to start progesterone tomorrow, and they’re not contactable after 4.

That is really bad service and Care aren't cheap either! Create reopened straight away once the ban was lifted (they lobbied really hard to get the ban overturned) and were working extended hours and weekends to get everyone treated - maybe ask if you can transfer to Care Birmingham as you are concerned about the level of service at Tamworth?

I have sent them a message on Instagram, and they are going to arrange for the director to contact me (although this won’t be until after the weekend), so I will have to just go along with the transfer date. I’m feeling really furious about it. Like you said they are not cheap!

This may not be what you want to hear but I would be having a think about what if the FET is not successful, will you wonder if the delayed transfer was a contributing factor? You want the absolute best possible conditions to receive the embryo so I'd make sure that is what you are getting for your money. Frozen embryos are pretty precious! Maybe it is medically fine but double check. The service sounds very poor indeed.
Good luck with the call.

That’s exactly the way I’m feeling. I know if it’s not successful I will constantly think it was down to it being delayed. Hopefully the director will call me on Monday, I’m annoyed with myself that I didn’t stay and argue about it at the time. This has totally put a downer on our weekend 😞

Don't be hard on yourself, it is the clinic who owe you an explanation and apology.
I was just imagining how I might feel in your position, I'd be mega pissed off but if they couldn't provide assurances that you could trust don't be pressured either to transfer then (I know you've arranged everything and it's super annoying). Do what you feel will be right for you longer term.

You really should not have been put in that position by your clinic. It's bad enough that they only do transfers two days a week but to mess you around like that is poor. That clinic is actually my closest but I didn't like their weird hours. From what I understood when I looked at them they are a satellite clinic for the Birmingham clinic so surely they should be able to see you there unless moving the embryo is an issue. I hope they give you a solution on Monday! Best of luck with the transfer. X