How long was your wait from first fertility clinic appointments

[ICSI]

Me and DH have been TTC for 18 months and have had all of the tests through our GP which found he has very low counts on all sperm measures (i.e. morphology, count, movement) and I have PCOS although all my blood tests say my hormone levels have been level so far and I seem to ovulate each month but either way it hasn't worked!

We're now with the fertility clinic for our first NHS round and have been told we will need ICSI. I've had my redo of all the blood tests the GP did with the clinic and will be having my HSG this week. I've had my AMH test as well. DH is having his third semen analysis soon but this is the first one now we're officially in the fertility clinic.

I suppose I just want to get an idea about what comes next and how long realistically it is before we start treatment. I'm almost certain there have been no changes on either front as DH has previously given up all alcohol, caffeine and eaten like a saint and it made no difference to his sperm count before. Neither of us are overweight or smoke.

How long did it take you to get from our point to actual treatment? Should we just give up on the NHS and go private?

Hi, I think this really depends on the area and how much of a backlog still remains after lockdown. When we had ICSI 2.5 years ago we started the cycle with my next period after I’d completed all the investigations so there was no wait. But I don’t know what it’s like now. Have you tried asking the clinic directly if there is a waitlist and approximate times? I suspect they are the only ones who will be able to give you a true feeling for how long you might have to wait. It sounds like you are getting through your investigations fairly speedily though so hopefully it’s not too long. X

@Lemongrass1 thanks for your reply. That gives me hope that maybe it won't be too long but again I don't want to get my hopes up with all the Covid stuff!

We haven't filled in any funding forms yet. Which point in the process does that come in?

I think it does vary by area/hospital as suggested. Covid is definitely seeming to have caused a backlog, but hopefully not toooo much of a delay. If you do ask your hospital, would you mind sharing what they say, for comparison?

We have our first consultation next month and our hospital UCLH told us it would most likely be 6 months from then to start treatment, but I am secretly hoping it’s sooner if we don’t need a lot more testing ...

Can I ask what they asked in your initial consultation, and why they wanted to retest your partner’s sperm if he already had results? And was the HSG mandatory? Similar to you, we have already had two sperm tests (with low counts across the board). I’ve had blood tests and transvaginal ultrasound done already, so I was hoping they wont do too much further testing as it seems clear the issue is on hubby’s side (unless something happens to be wrong with my tubes).

Thanks!

Also, we are similar to you - hubby doesn’t smoke, barely drinks, eats super organic/healthy 95% of the time, works out ... really frustrating that the sperm still isn’t good! Not sure what else he can be doing tbh, I guess maybe it’s something genetic

Yes of course, I'll share anything I find out as soon as I know. 6 months sounds very positive! Were under Birmingham Womens Hospital and they seemed to be one of the last ones to open up again so might be a bit slower to catch up.

Our GP told us that the fertility clinic wouldn't accept us unless we had already had sperm analysis on his side and blood tests and a transvaginal ultrasound on my side but even with that they would redo things because it's more specialised and they want it the most up to date.

After DH's first SA they said he needed to make any tweaks lifestyle wise for three months then they retest but I'm now anticipating the fertility clinic might do the same thing which will add on some time.

My first consultation was supposed to be in April and both of us were supposed to go but it was cancelled because of Covid. They then changed it to a phone consultation and it all felt quite rushed, I didn't get a chance to chat or talk about the process. The doctor had looked at my notes before and just said, you need a blood test for a full hormone profile on day 3 of your cycle and you can pay £100 for an AMH test. Your husband will need another sperm analysis and if there are no improvements then it will be ICSI.

The whole conversation was about 3 minutes long!

I'm surprised they're doing all of the tests again if you already had ICSI in the past

We used Nurture in Nottingham. Referred June 19 from fertility clinic and started IVF drugs in July 19

@Luz192 sorry ignore that last bit about having already had ICSI I got mixed up between you and the PP!

Thanks @Anaesthetist83, did they do all of the tests in that month before you began? That would be amazing if it was that fast!

The fertility clinic we used was “related” to the NHS clinic, therefore investigations from the NHS transferred. I think the only things we had to repeat were our viral screens (HIV/hepatitis etc)

I'm currently on the waiting list, Scottish clinic. After a bit of back and forth we were put on the list officially back in May. We were told that it's usually a 6 month wait but that due to Covid they have a 4 month backlog to get through so that would add on too.
So still patiently waiting.

We originally went to our GP in October last year. Fertility clinic appointment in Jan. HyCoSy in Feb. Appointment for March to put us on list (had to have my partner having stopped smoking for three months - he admitted to being a social smoker). March appointment cancelled due to Covid. New appointment given in May over video call where it was literally just to confirm he stopped smoking and then was told we are on the list from there.

@ICSI we didn’t have to fill in any funding forms although I’ve heard some areas do this. The clinic seemed to already know what our entitlement was when we went for first appointment (one fresh and one frozen transfer). X

I was under Birmingham Women's earlier in the year. Ours is slightly different as we needed hsg, hysteroscopy etc, so first appointment in May 2019. Our diagnosis is unexplained. But at our appointment in January this year we got the diagnosis and the doctor started the process. Recieved our funding letter within 3 weeks and the had our group meeting where they talk through the process (not sure if they're still doing them). Covid and lockdown came on the day we were due to do consents.

During the summer my ccg changed provider so we've actually moved over to Create now and will be starting next month.

I found once the funding was approved things seemed to develop pace - not sure how the hospital is working now after covid though. Good luck.

@VenusStarr I bet that was so frustrating when lockdown happened! I hope all goes well for you next month 😊

I had a few months where I was so scared at the thought of all the injections and procedures that I wasn't looking forward to it. Now I've got my head around it a lot more and am getting impatient!

@Luz192

I had my phone appointment this week and they said there is a waiting list from now of 6-7 months but they s a chance it could be sooner. I'm quite surprised it is that soon as I was expecting them to say about a year longer!

Hi @ICSI hope you don't mind me jumping in here as we have similar issue. Just a quick question - did your DH's sperm test indicate any antisperm antibodies?

Hi there,
I have been referred to the Hommerton fertility clinic in London, last week I spoke to my GP and she said she would refer me, I have since received a letter saying the clinic will call me to book an app but didn’t give any indication of a time frame. I’m so scared as I’m 35 next month and my partner has low motility sperm - he had SA test two weeks ago and the on the diagnosis comment, the doctor wrote ‘this sample fits the criteria for ICSI due to low motility’
I’m seriously worried about this COVID back log and time is obviously so important - I’m a bit new to all this, its my understanding that once you go private, you can’t go back to NHS, is that correct? Any comments would be appreciated