Kent NHS IVF?

[Sylva123]

Hi anyone in the Kent area. I'm moving there in a couple of weeks - does anyone know what the IVF waiting list is like? I think there are 2 clinics- one is Tonbridge Care Fertility but not sure on the other?
I'm trying to figure out if I should go into debt in my overdraft and go private, or hope to get through the waiting list in a couple of months. Been on my current boroughs waiting list since April with no joy...
Any tips welcome xx

Hi there! I am in Kent too and kind of in the same boat. I have been on waiting list for a month. I don't really know what the waiting list times, can't seem to get an honest answer.
I am 38 and probably need PGT-M, so thinking I'll prob go private as don't want to wait

Such a similar boat, I'm about to turn 38. I've actually just done one round privately as id been on the waiting list in the other Borough for so long. We'd promised ourselves we could only afford one private round (it ended up costing double what we expected). We got pregnant but I miscarried, and now its so hard to know what to do. I don't feel like there's the time to keep waiting, and I'm also worried about what the NHS treatment does / doesn't cover. Really can't afford private without getting into a lot of debt... was stupidly hoping someone would say 'its just 2 months waiting list' haha!
Its a shame they're not giving you much information about waiting times. Did they at least give u any info on clinics? There's hardly anything online about which clinics they use

Welcome to Kent!

I am so sorry about your miscarriage 😢 on the positive at least you know you can get pregnant and have experienced the process and hopefully you'll get another go soon.

I have been talking to Care Fertility, they work with Access Fertility and you can get some good deals on multiple cycles but no payment plans (which would be better!). Unfortunately we have found out we're both carriers of the cystic fibrosis mutations, both milder versions and poss asymptomatic, but I am waiting on some genetic counselling to confirm if we need PGT-M. If so we have to move clinics and do EC and ET in London, plus it pretty much doubles the cost. We definitely didn't budget for that 😦

We were booked in to get started in Feb but not sure if that will go ahead now. Feel like I have been in limbo for so long!

Re NHS - they did say we should hear from them within 3 months to book the first appt but I am not sure how quick that will be. Earlier this year she said it was about a year but that was longer than normal. At least I am on the list and if we need it then we have that there. My friend in Sussex got seen pretty much immediately a few years ago and she was a bit younger although had an extremely love AMH.

X

Wow - a year is a really long time to wait. And with the NHS under so much extra pressure now I guess it'll be longer.
Its so hard to know what to do when there's so much money involved, and such a lack of time.
I hope your testing goes well. We used a London clinic for our 1st round and it was great - we were well taken care of- but it is a lot of money and I think it always ends up being more than what you think its going to be.
I also had a look at that access fertility package at Care. I think we'll end up sticking with our original clinic (they know us) and using my overdraft and credit card, or waiting for the NHS.

Some time to heal from the miscarriage first I think. Its such an awful thing to experience.

Good luck with yours. Really hope it works out well for you and that you get the answers you need re: the gene. Such a lot to think about. X

Care fertility is in tunbridge wells, not Tonbridge, although they're only about 20 mins apart. Sorry, I don't know where else offers nhs in Kent. If you're happy with your previous clinic and if you do do another private round it's probably worth sticking with them if the commute for appointments isn't too much of an issue. Or you can get all of your notes passed over.

I loved our clinic but its the cost really- we're in debt from our first round, and once that is paid off we'd need to find another £13k if we're to have a second round. We just have normal jobs- not particularly high earners, so it would mean more debt / borrowing. We don't own a home, so this kind of money is the equivalent of a deposit for a house. Also getting in so much debt just feels scary. Ideally we'd like to be able to go with the NHS provision, I'm just not sure how long the waiting lists are. I don't think we have the time on our side to wait.

Hi, whereabouts in Kent?
I was referred to Care tunbridge wells on 24th November on NHS for IVF ICSI. I heard from them 2 days later, already done loads of forms. Husband had his SA with them yesterday and we have initial consultation tomorrow. Consultant told me there is no waiting list for IVF in Kent. I'm not sure if you would have to have all the investigations done again on NHS though which would obviously slow things down. We were originally referred to fertility specialist back in March and then with covid delays and testing it has taken till now but I don't think that's too bad tbh.

Oh the other clinic is BMI Chesterfield in Orpington but I preferred the look and feel of Care. There is also the London Women's Clinic in Canterbury but it is quite new and smaller and currently not covered by NHS funding.

@Narwhal88 wow that is good to know. So when you say waiting list no NHS waiting list? My referral was done in November so I am wondering if I wait it out or bite the bullet and do private.
Great news that things are moving for you x

@Sylva123 have you looked at other private clinics? £13k sounds extortionate for a single round. We've just paid £5600 for one round at a London clinic (including meds) and have been very happy with the service/care provided. Granted we didn't have ICSI or embryo testing or anything, but even adding those in would still be far less! (I think ICSI was an extra £1000 from recollection. I was on a high dose of stims so meds costs weren't cheap). Apologies if I'm being naive and you have very specialist requirements, but it might be worth shopping around a bit?

Where did you go @MGee123 ?

I agree £13k is loads @Sylva123

Care in Tunbridge Wells is £8200 for 2 cycles and unlimited FET (via Access multicycle programme) plus meds. ICSI included in that if you need it. There would be a £220 consultation fee and maybe you'd need some extra tests if your previous ones were out of date etc - I am really impressed with them.

@Narwhal88 wow that is really promising to hear that you're moving through the system so quickly and are already being seen. Hopefully the same will be true for us then. That's really given me some hope. Ours will be IVF + ICSI as well. Good luck with yours and thanks for the info re Orpington vs Care.

@MGee123 mine was a bit more expensive because of the ICSI and the drug costs were high too, it was also a clinic that specialises in endometriosis. Its hard to know the real costs when talking to clinics - ours quoted 7k all in when we started and we were happy with that, but the costs just kept going up and up as things became more complicated along the way. Its been a real headache. Would you mind DMing me the name of the London clinic you went to? I'd be interested in trying somewhere else if we can't get NHS.

@farfromperfect82 Care Tunbridge Wells sound great and thats a really good deal. If we can't get NHS that sounds like a good option for us too. Much more affordable than our last round. Is there an age cut off if its through Access ? I'm almost 38 and remember that it gets more expensive as you get older

@Sylva123 we're the same age - it's the price for 38/39 year olds. We got some time 😉

Amazing @farfromperfect82. Just writing the word 'older' made me wince! My clinic keeps saying we're young and have lots of time but sometimes it doesn't feel that way, especially since being on this path since aged 33!

I'm going to contact them for a consultation ASAP after Xmas and get the ball rolling, NHS or self funded. It would be good to chat to them about what we learnt from round 1 and what they'd suggest doing.

Good luck with yours. Really hope it works out

@farfromperfect82 yeah no NHS waiting list.
Had my initial consultation today and I need to lower my TSH slightly (thyroid) so need to take medication for 4-6 weeks. They said January is full already so looking at probably starting end of Feb/ beginning of March. Nurse consultation will be booked for whenever they can fit me in.

That's filled me with so much hope @narwhal88!! I have to wait 3 months for my body to recover from my miscarriage (and my brain & emotions to be honest) so hopefully we can get through all the forms etc and start April time.

Good luck with yours ! Hope you manage to get your TSH down and that it all goes well for you. Good luck

Omg this is really good news! Thanks for this @Narwhal88. I might just hang tight then but 💯 want to go with Care if I can but maybe have to be referred to tertiary care service because of genetic stuff.

My doctor scared me and said it might be a year.

My TSH also elevated (3.7) - I started Levothyroxine a couple of weeks ago. Feel better already!

@Sylva123 thank you! So sorry about your miscarriage but hope you can start again soon when you are ready and good luck 🤞🏼 x

@farfromperfect82 My husband had genetic testing at Guys so assume this is the tertiary centre. Thankfully it came back with no issues. I think Guys have a long waiting list though for IVF. Hopefully you can go with Care as well. My TSH is only 2.8 but they want it below 2.5, I hope it does make me feel better as I do feel tired a lot! They also want me to take a bit more vitamin D (I just take pregnacare at the moment). Good luck with everything! X

Hi everyone! I hope it’s ok that I’m wading in...
I’m currently with Care Tunbridge Wells hoping to start first cycle at start of Feb. I miscarried in October and self referred at the end of October as I also lost a baby in 2019 and am concerned as my mum had an early menopause that I’ve no time to waste for DC2 (DC 1 born in 2015). Turns out I have a low AMH and AFC, all else ok. Does anyone else have a low AMH? It means we can only get multicycle from Access but I feel so disheartened about the whole thing I’m thinking we may just pay the clinic direct. I am 37.
Care have been lovely even when I’ve sent some panicked emails to the nurse - who got back to me really quickly. I’ve read the Rebecca Fett book but Care haven’t talked to me specifically about nutrition or supplements - are other clinics a bit more holistic?
I’m wondering whether we should go to a specialised low AMH clinic as time is not our friend, does anyone have any advice?

I don't have low AMH but I'm the same age as you and I know it can be quite common, which makes me think that all fertility clinics should be well equipped to manage it (don't take my word for it though - maybe start a thread to see if anyone can recommend any specific clinics for low AMH just in case. I bet there's lots of people with good advice around that concern).
My previous clinic didn't speak to me about nutrition but did give me a list of supplements to take (coq10, vit D, nicotinamide riboside, omega fish oil, pregnacare pre conception & resveratrol - i think these generally help egg quality but do ask which ones are best for you). I also ended up taking DHEA because my testosterone was low, but do only take that if u need it as it can throw everything out of balance.

I'm so sorry about your miscarriage. I've just had one too and its utterly heartbreaking. I hope you are okay. I don't have any advice, other than acknowledgeling that going through all this is so so hard - so go with a clinic you feel happy with. Its important that you feel confident in your decision and comfortable with the treatment. I feel up against it time wise as well, which puts so much pressure on choosing the right clinic.
Are you paying Care at Tunbridge Wells or is it on NHS?
Good luck x

Thanks for replying @Sylva123 😊 and for your kind words..
I’m so sorry to hear of your loss as well- it is just heartbreaking ... I am finding it really difficult to deal with to be honest, it’s been a huge blow this time and i now just can’t stop worrying. How are you doing?
The doctor I’ve spoken to at Care has been really kind, and positive given the circumstances. Their patient reviews are good and generally Care success rates are good from what I’ve seen. We’re paying them direct as I already have a child, I’m not eligible for NHS funding.
Thanks so much for sharing the supplements you’re taking- I haven’t heard of resveratrol, but am on the COQ10, vit D, alpha lipoic, vit E an C and have melatonin lined up for a few weeks before treatment. I have tried to get some DHEA but it seems to be stuck in the system somewhere.. Where did you manage to get yours from?
Thanks for recommending starting a new low AMH thread - I might just do that!
I hope things work out well for you too 😊 x

No worries @beckybee83 and so sorry to hear you're struggling. I have been too, to be honest. Its such a painful loss after wanting the pregnancy for so long. I wish I could say something more comforting - but just know you're not alone. It is so horrible, and so isolating. I think just having that acknowledged sometimes is what matters. I've been getting counselling for the IVF and the loss, which I recommend if you haven't already done that. Its helped a bit. With all the ups and downs of treatment its been good to have a space to talk. I hope you feel ok in time.

The DHEA I got from Zen pharmacy in Baker Street. My consultant ordered it on prescription from there and it got delivered next day - maybe google & call them and see if they can help? They might not need a prescription from the consultant? It cost an absolute fortune - about £300 for 3 months - but it worked, my testosterone went to the right levels, so its worth it. What does the alpha lipoic and melatonin do?
The resveratrol is meant to help with the egg quality and with my endometriosis but I have read it can impact implantation so I only take it the first 2 weeks of the month.
Its good to hear so much good stuff about Care. I think its definitely where we'll go now.

Hi @Sylva123
You’re right- Miscarriage is definitely so isolating ☹️ Talking about it has helped me too and I’ve been so shocked at the number of people who’ve told me about their own experience with it - it’s so sad.. I hope you also start to feel better soon..
Thanks for letting me know about the DHEA- Care have told me they couldn’t supply it as a supplement but I think with a prescription would be ok-I maybe need to pursue some blood tests and get it that way. I’ve ordered some from USA in the mean time but not sure it’ll arrive.
Melatonin is apparently also good for egg quality, it’s a hormone I think that helps with sleep cycles, but I s recommended for a few weeks before treatment. I can’t remember what the alpha lipoic is for (!) but it’s one of the supplements recommended in It Starts with the Egg- I feel like I’m taking so many!
I hope you have a great experience with Care 😊

Hi there, good luck!

Successful IVF with Care Fertility a few years ago now. Funded by NHS