'Basic' fertility clinic?

[dogmam]

Me and my other half have just been referred to our local fertility clinic and waiting for our first appointment and next steps. When I've looked at the HFEA website, the clinic we've been referred to is classed as a 'small basic' clinic offering IVF and IUI. My question is what happens if say that right treatment option for us is ICSI, would we just not be eligible as the clinic doesn't offer it or would they refer us to a different clinic? Or, can i contact my GP and ask to be referred to a different clinic (a one I know offers more treatment). I know I'm being impatient as it's early days for us.

Most clinics even basic ones offer ICSI as standard. I imagine what they mean by basic is there are no "add ons" which might be offered by other clinics eg PGS testing, time lapse, assisted hatching, surgical sperm retrieval - although most of these the HFEA says there is not enough scientific evidence to suggest that they increase success rates. Depending on such clinic it may also be that this clinic is nurse led rather than consultant or only offers one type of IVF eg short protocol

You might have more luck If you post the name of the clinic as I'm sure someone on here will have used them and might be able to tell you their experience

Hi @ivfbeenbusy thank you for replying, hopefully you're right although on the HFEA site it lists what treatments are available and ICSI isn't listed (just IVF and IUI) whereas ICSI is listed on others. Maybe it's just not up to date though, I might ring them as was wondering what the waiting time was like as my GP couldn't tell me.

It's Sunderland Fertility Clinic if anyone has any experience!

I don’t have any experience of this clinic but I attended a clinic in a hospital that did the initial investigations, stims, scans etc but the actual egg collection and transfer were done at one of two satellite clinics. The HCG tests and follow up scans were then done at the first clinic.

I wonder if this might be a similar thing. It sounds complicated but actually worked out fine.

@themagicdeckchair thank you and sorry I have just seen your reply. Ahh right I see, that makes sense and maybe what this clinic will also do. Hope everything worked out for you.