Hospital Infertility Appointments - what to expect?

[Emc16x]

Hi all,

I have been referred to the infertility clinic by my doctor. We have our appointment at the local hospital at the end of January.

No idea what to expect. What will happen at the first appointment? Does my DH need to be there too? Any feedback very very welcome!

I’m quite nervous. After 16 months of TTC I’m worried they’re going to give us bad news for some reason?!

They’ll ask questions about your journey so far, family histories etc. I’m not sure if your DH needs to be there as we were referred specifically for ivf/ICSI whereas if it’s for investigations they might start with you and then check him. Anyway regardless I would contact them and check if he can come because I would find it useful in any eventuality. Weight and height check. Might also get bloods for endocrinology and an internal scan at gynaecology.

DH usually attends the first one as they'll take medical history from you both and probably do an initial blood test for you both. Then it's a case of waiting to be booked in for the various tests and scans. This is what takes the time and the whole process can take up to a year before you can even start IVF

Have you had any tests done already? Day 21 bloods for you and semen analysis for your partner?
If not then I imagine they will order those for you. If you have already had these they will discuss those results with you although your GP should have already given you those.

At my first appointment we discussed those results, our history, both me and my partner had our height/weight etc checked and a smoke test. I also had an internal vaginal scan where they had a look at everything there.
They then advised I have a HyCoSy to check my tubes were clear so we went away with another appointment for that. Luckily got one for the following month.
My partner was a social smoker (when drinking out which was very occasionally) but because we mentioned this at our appointment we were told he would need to be completely smoke free for three months before they would put us on the waiting list.

There are various other tests they order also but depends on results of your other ones. Good luck!

@LouiseTrees @ivfbeenbusy @willithappen thank you so much for all the insight!

I’ve had my day 21 bloods done three times. All three came back saying I wasn’t ovulating. DH hasn’t had a SA yet. Should we organise that before hand to get the ball rolling or not? We’ve been waiting for this appointment for 5 months.

I’m currently on C35 haven’t done a test yet. It would be a miracle if I get a BFP but still hopeful. May do a test tomorrow. I have such irregular periods I can’t tell if I’m late or just a long cycle this month.

How are you all doing? Would love to know your stories.

Xx

@Emc16x he will definitely need to get an SA done, even if it's showing you don't ovulate. As if he also has sperm problems then having you go on Clomid for a few months won't do anything and will just waste more of your time.

I'd try and get it booked in if you can. I think there are some waiting lists for it for NHS. I know you can pay for it to be done privately also to get it moving quicker.

I am in the exact same situation! Finally get to go to the fertility clinic at the end of the month (terrified they will cancel it because of tier 4). I was told to bring my partner (but makes sense as the issue is mfi).

I was wondering, will they ask me to do HyCoSy & day 21 bloods, if the reason we were referred is my partner? We already both did a load of blood tests and analyses and ultrasounds and those are the only two test we/I have not done yet as there's been no reason for it.

And does anyone know how long it takes from that appointment to starting IVF(+ICSI in our case)? This is, so far anyway, on the NHS.

@willithappen do they do SA on the day or will he need another appointment do you think? I might make him call the docs on Monday to see what they say.

@AnonymousXXIX me too! In a tier 4 area and worried it’ll be cancelled.

Desperate for answers!

@AnonymousXXIX I would assume you would need at least day 21 bloods (although if you have had bloods done already this may have been done as part of that?)
Even if it's MFI they still need to at least check that you ovulate otherwise you could be wasting time by only treating one of you.

HyCoSy is generally offered if something in your history suggests you may have blocked tubes. Some clinics are different though and may offer it as standard but it's not something that has to be done

@Emc16x no they won't do it on the day it would need to be a separate appointment as it will be different people doing it

Our GP had ours arranged and we had to get that done before they referred us.

@willithappen I had one random bloodtest and one day 3 bloodtest, plus an ultrasound, all of which suggest I am ovulating fine (knock wood). Plus regularish cycles haha which helps! Just wondering how many more tests they might suggest because I want to get them booked in asap and get on with things.

@AnonymousXXIX
I think it would depend on your circumstances and findings of the tests then. Strange they no day 21 ones done as I was under impression the only way they can guarantee for sure you ovulate is by doing this test. Positive ovulating tests and regular cycles don't prove ovulation does actually occur, just that the body prepares itself to ovulate.