IVF Clinics Manchester

[Sian7919]

Hello everyone, I wondered if anyone can recommend a clinic in Manchester? I’m 41 with a low AMH, partner 44. Any info you can give about your experiences would be really useful. Lastly, does anyone know where I can find the success rates by women’s ages for the different clinics of the country or point me in any direction of where I can find this info? Many thanks x

Hi lovely! I'm in Manchester with a low AMH. My friend is over 40 with a very low amh and she is with Create in Wilmslow. They are very good with low amh and follow a more natural method. She's very impressed with them. I was initially with Manchester Fertility who were terrible and I wouldn't recommend at all. I'm moving to Care Manchester myself as I'm in a different situation to my friend and I wasn't recommended the more natural ivf. So far I'm impressed with them.

@Vea1601 thanks so much for the really. That’s interesting about your friend who’s been recommended the more natural method. Where abouts are you up to in your journey? How long do you have to wait normally at Care? X

I think about 2 or 3 weeks max if private. I'm going via NHS referal so may take longer for me. I'm unfortunately not too far down the road. We've been trying for 2 years. Paid for private testing at Manchester Fertility and did plan on staying with them but they have been truly awful.

@Vea1601, sorry just saw this as I've been looking at private clinics. How come Manchester fertility was poor? I've had initial fertility tests on nhs and me and my partner was referred to fertility clinic (nhs) in March then Covid happened and it's been cancelled over and over since. I'm not too sure of what treatment we need but think we need a private consultation. Just wondering who to call up tho

Hi @Catsnkidsistheplan the actual fertility testing (amh, pelvic scan and semen analysis) were fine. However there have been several problems with organisation. During the scan the sonographer told me I had 4 antral follicles. She just came out with it. I wasn't expecting any answers in the scan. I was expecting to get them when I spoke to the Dr. So I then had 9 days to wait and stress and cry before chatting with the Dr. I wish she'd not told me and I certainly didn't ask her to. I didn't like the dr during the consultation. He was quite patronising. He started off with "so. What do you know from Google. Most ladies I chat to consult Dr Google before consulting the real Dr". Then it took 1.5 weeks to get a written report. I complained several times and nobody ever rang me back. Nobody rang us to plan the ivf even though I was told they would. Then they sent us a written letter without the actual results. When i rang to ask for the actual lab results and scan report she said I was being unusual. And most people don't want that... Id probably use them again for the tests if I absolutely had to but they lack sensititivy and any kind of organisation.

@Vea1601 that sounds awful. I hate it when people are patronising and they’re your results, so you should be entitled to see them. I’m about to start an NHS funded cycle at St Mary’s. Have the info and consent signing session this week. But I’ve been told I have less than 10% chance of success so although it may sound pessimistic, I want to start looking at where to go next, it this one doesn’t work. @Catsnkidsistheplan my treatment was delayed due to Covid too. It’s been a frustrating and anxiety inducing time :(

@Sian7919 I wish you all the luck in the world. My CCG has a contract with CARE which means I can request to be sent straight there from my GP. I worry with the time pressure the consultant put on me that St Mary's would be too long. I have 2 friends that both had twins from St Mary's IVF. I just think I'm too worried to wait and I think Care may be quicker.

@Vea1601 yeah that sounds unprofessional to say the least. I'm not sure which to look at tbh. Or I carry on and wait for my initial appointment with the nhs. I can't say my nhs journey has been smooth either. On my first ultrasound I was told I had a bit of a hormone imbalance. No biggy. Then when I went to my gp she said I had a slightly bulky ovary on the report. And when I asked is it polycystic then, she just evaded the question. Done the SA. That came back 'not enough to count' so hubby in for a 2nd one tomorrow. Which has taken ages to get in for. So see what comes back from that and take it from there. I wish I could get gp to push the referral. But apparently I'm on a wait list. Must be quite a backlog as I was referred in March.

@clolo @Catsnkidsistheplan I know this is an old thread but I had to comment... We have just had the EXACT same experience At Manchester Fertility!
SA done in Aug, 2 weeks for the report. Missing loads of info, no morphology info and a note saying "not enough sperm to test morphology". The count was under low at 4mil/ml but the volume was 2ml meaning out 8 million, they couldn't measure morphology on any?!
Complained and requested a refund, in the end they've repeated the testing for us for free. Had a useless consultation with the andrologist.

My DH now has an NHS SA booked to confirm those results. Curious to see if they struggle to measure too...

Just to update this - I moved to CARE fertility and had no issues at all. All very helpful

@Vea1601 hi! Did you consider Create at all? I'm undecided between the two. I've never done IVF+ICSI before and I'm currently undecided between Create and Care. The natural IVF appeals in that our only fertility issue is male factor, so I'd hope we could try with my cycle as it is very predictable and I ovulate without problems.
But then I see comments that it's more for those who don't respond well to traditional IVF.

@notsofertilemyrtle yep we had a fertility Mot with Manchester fertility done and got results back last week. Been told that I'm ok but there were only 26 sperms in my hubby's sample. Some were twitching apparently. Had an Sa fine with nhs again in sept and that just came back with not enough to count. No values on that one. So all in all, hubby has had 3 sa done. He's having a blood test now. I'm still on the wait list with the nhs but it's so pointless with covid at mo. It's been a tough week but yeah we had a honest conversation with dr Peter. Which dr did u see at Manchester Fertility? To be fair we had an idea my hubby would have an issue sperm wise as he had surgery on his balls when he was a baby.

Dr Robertson. Who I do not recommend at all! Have you had a urology referral? Sounds like you may need that as well (I'm a nurse). Im now with CARE with NHS funding as my CCG had their contract with them. I probably wouldn't go to CREATE with that level of male factor - they seem to really specialise in low AMH and I'm not sure you'd get the most chance from a natural cycle?

@Vea1601 We have mentioned my hubby's surgery to our GP but all they say is we need to wait for our appointment with Bolton Hospital. Obviously Covid is sky high here and when I ring I'm just told that I'm on a wait list. So bit stuck with nhs! Like I say, Manchester Fertility found 26 sperms and want to do a blood test to try and narrow down the issue why my hubby is so poor sperm wise. I mean unfortunately he may just be v unlucky and could be to do with that op. He had a hydrocele when he was 2 and had surgery to correct. I think we need a urologist but how I get that with nhs and covid I don't know! It's all been v upsetting for us but I'm not shocked tbh. See what the blood test says. Sometimes you just need to take a step at a time and I suppose deal with whatever. Life is a lottery!!!

@Vea1601 ahh thanks. That's good to know they're more about low AMH. Hmmm, perhaps CARE is the one for us after all!

@Catsnkidsistheplan I'm also in Bolton! DH hasn't had his NHS SA yet. Our GP said once that's done, we'll get referred, then it's another wait to see whoever we see next, then referral to a clinic? I think...

In the meantime DH is on l-carnitine and acetyl l-carnitine plus Wellman 😂 praying they work some magic!

Were you guys daunted by the whole IVF thing? It feels like such a huge thing, but I'm hoping once you're in it, it feels ok?

@notsofertilemyrtle yep you will prob get referred to the women's health dept at Bolton hospital if gp has done all initial tests for you both. Originally I was booked in for July, then it was cancelled. I do ring up but just get told I'm on a waiting list. Hence why we have gone to Manchester fertility in the meantime. Let us know how you get on though. I'm seeing what the private blood test uncovers for my hubby.

I'm ok with doing ivf. Not too bothered by needles etc. I just would like it done sooner rather than later as success depends on age more than anything

@Catsnkidsistheplan interesting that the first referral is for women's health, I'd assumed it would be an appointment for both of us. Good to know what to expect, thanks for sharing.

I'm starting too gather that age is a major factor with IVF from my research. The andrologist at MF asked my age (31) and said "don't think you've got all the time in the world, you need to start ASAP if you want for than 1" which felt brutal at the time but I guess it's a numbers game

Best of luck with your OH's SA! We're still in 2 minds about plodding on a bit longer with the changes he's made (cut out all processed meats, dairy which he's intolerant to and more specific supplements). Or just diving in with ICSI which gives us the best chance statistically.

Yeah it's odd that it's women's health. I assume we would be going together but like I say I've not managed to get on that appointment with covid. I'd like to see the length of their waiting list. Yeah I'm 33 so wanna crack on if I need ivf. We did have a chat about using donor sperm. It's not something I want to think about right now but depends if I can get viable sperm out of hubby. Lol fertility is a funny thing. I didn't really expect all this. You assume you will just get caught and be preg but sometimes some of us are just plain unlucky!