Best london fertility clinic for investigations?

[Plantpotpot3]

I’ve more or less given up on my Gp. My blood tests (day 3 and 21) came back normal and she shrugged and told it me was my age. I’ve wasted a year on that track now (first went to my gp a year ago) and gotten nowhere (and have been TTC for 20 months).

I am having secondary infertility and want to book in with a private clinic who will completely check me out, and sooner rather than later.

Is there any London clinic anyone can recommend? I don’t want to spend a fortune, but I want to go somewhere really good.

Or are there any particular tests that I should look for when choosing a clinic?

I had a c-section and am wondering if I have secondary infertility as a consequence. (GP wasn’t interested in investigating this. I know I could request another GP but time is running out for me as I’m 40.)

Any advice would be appreciated!

Anyone?

How did it take a year just to get day 3 and 21 bloods? That seems an awful long time. I had both done in the space of a month via GP but this was pre Covid. Anyhow unfortunately I can’t help with a clinic but I can give an idea of the tests they might consider doing. They may do an AMH blood test which gives an idea of ovarian reserve. Also a HSG or Hycosy to look at tubes, it’s possible to get blockages if you developed adhesions/ scarring after the surgery. Only thing is that it tells you if tubes are blocked or not but not if they’re actually functioning properly and there isn’t a test for that. I’ve also had a csection and our IVF clinic did a saline ultrasound which looks to see if there are any abnormalities in the cavity of the uterus after surgery. With an ultrasound they can also check your antral follicle count (number of follicles on each ovary) which also gives an idea of ovarian reserve. None of these tests can advise you if your egg quality which is predominantly dictated by your age. Other basic tests if not done already would be things like thyroid/ prolactin. Also a sperm analysis for your partner. The costs can add up quite a bit and it may well be that they don’t identify anything. Unfortunately egg quality start to decline and falls quite rapidly from late 30s to early 40s although it’s certainly not impossible to get pregnant. Well I hope so anyway as I am 41 and still trying! Good luck. X

The reason it took so long was, when I went a year ago, i was told that (because I conceived easily before) perhaps it was my anxiety. I went to see the GP for two things (double appointment) and she diagnosed me with anxiety and sent me for CBT. The CBT was great, I did have a generalised anxiety disorder without even knowing it. But the TTC thing got completely pushed to one side - medically, anyway.

Then COVID happened and I didn’t go and get tests. So that meant I got the blood tests in June.

Thank you for this info - it’s really useful. And checking out if the c section may have caused any problems (it may well be my age, but I can’t help but wonder if it’s the c section!).

It does sound like it’ll add up! But good to know what to properly look for in a clinic.

Good luck to you, too!!

Hi Plantpotpot3, just wondering if you had any updates on your ttc? I hope you're doing well & found a good clinic?
xx