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Our Infertility Support forum is a space to connect with others in the same position, discuss causes, treatment and IVF, and share infertility stories of hope and success.

Original poster

Northern Ireland Fertility Clinic

18 replies

G0123 · 15/01/2021 09:52

Hi everyone,
My GP referred me to the fertility clinic in Sept 2020 but I haven't received any letter yet. I'm sure everything's taking longer than usual at the moment with covid, but just wondering how long on average it is until you receive your initial appointment letter? I think I'd feel better just having an appointment, even if it is another couple months time!

Thanks!

OP posts:
limesoda · 15/01/2021 11:35

We've been waiting since November 2019 and still haven't got any letters through, sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

My parents in law offered to pay for private treatment (we have male factor issues that can only be solved with IVF) and we went to an initial information session with Belfast Fertility at the end of September, and we will be lucky to start treatment in April, because I think so many people can't cope with the waiting anymore and its the only other option in NI (there is a new one called In Ovo but it has no reviews or anything).

It is SO FRUSTRATING we actually looked at using clinics in England or something but I think the travel aspect at the minute would be even more stressful.

Bluebells1983 · 15/01/2021 12:03

Yeah we are the same. Got referred back in August 2020, and at that stage advised to expect to be seen in a year for a first consultation. You can call the regional fertility clinic (or the Royal waiting list line) and they will advise you how long the wait will roughly be. I did call around nov/Dec 2020 and they said that they were only getting through august 2019 wait list at that stage.

Sorry to be bearer of bad news. Its so frustrating how slow it is and covid has just made it all worse. The girl in the royal said there is the possibility they will put on more clinics or appts once covid settled to get through the backlog but I wouldn't hold my breath.

We have also starting looking into going private as well, but it's a lot of ££. Depending on what your issue is it may be worth seeing if there are anything to improve your chances in the meantime naturally... Vitamins, lifestyle etc.

Sorry to not have any better news.

Original poster
G0123 · 15/01/2021 13:16

Gosh, I knew it would be long but didn't realise it was quite that long! Thank you both for the replies though! And sorry you's are having to wait so long as well :(

Thanks, I'll see if there's anything else I could be doing to help naturally in the meantime. I guess if still no luck a few more months down the line, private will be something to consider.

Best of luck to you both!

OP posts:
Zero9 · 15/01/2021 15:48

@limesoda

We've been waiting since November 2019 and still haven't got any letters through, sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

My parents in law offered to pay for private treatment (we have male factor issues that can only be solved with IVF) and we went to an initial information session with Belfast Fertility at the end of September, and we will be lucky to start treatment in April, because I think so many people can't cope with the waiting anymore and its the only other option in NI (there is a new one called In Ovo but it has no reviews or anything).

It is SO FRUSTRATING we actually looked at using clinics in England or something but I think the travel aspect at the minute would be even more stressful.

Hi ladies!

We moved to In-Ovo in October after bad experiences elsewhere and have been really impressed so far. We were nervous about no reviews or statistics but took the leap and so far so good, they have been really attentive.

Unfortunately can't comment on NHS waiting list as we weren't eligible for it (same sex couple) but hope you hear soon.

Good luck all Smile

Bluebells1983 · 15/01/2021 16:17

Aw brillant. That's great to hear. We had our first consultation with them a few weeks ago, and were happy, but still deliberating about when to go forward with treatment. May hold off for a few months.

Had heard good reports about the doctor who runs it so fingers crossed.

Best of luck with it all

Geep · 16/01/2021 23:53

Hi all. We were referred by GP in Feb 2020 and have heard nothing yet. And by the sounds of it won't hear anything for a while.
We were able to go privately and had our first round in November 2020 which was unfortunatley unsucessful and have been told itll be march before our consent apt which means april/may before the next round im guessing.

limesoda · 20/01/2021 22:30

Oooh thanks for the feedback @Zero9

Sorry to all the other northern Irish types in this utterly shit boat

AutumnHoping · 21/01/2021 14:02

@limesoda it’s rubbish having limited options and reading about others able to do back to back cycles and not having to wait on private cycles!

limesoda · 21/01/2021 14:46

So crap. DH saw a consultant in London in the summer and he is AMAZED at our waiting times 😳

Mgibbs · 23/01/2021 07:33

Not sure if this is the right forum to discuss
I’m new to this and it’s all a bit confusing. I’m 38 and have grown very impatient.

I’d started investigation privately in July. We never had any type of consultation and only had AMH done which was 70.1 pmol/l and spent 3 and a half months waiting for my husbands semen analysis. I’d been in touch a few times through the portal but missed a call and tried to return serveal times with no success.

My husbands results were sent to his gp who didn’t know anything about them. Tried to contact clinic few times and they eventually got back to me at the start of last week. They told me the amh result was sent out and we were put back on file thinking that was it. We have our initial consultation with consultant on Monday. Not sure what to expect. The main thing I want to know how long it will take from the consultation until I can start.

I also have epilepsy and very anxious about the procedure itself.

I know that’s a lot of probably useless information but wondering if anyone has any wise words of wisdom or help. That would be appreciated.
M

AutumnHoping · 23/01/2021 09:39

Hi @Mgibbs. I’m sorry to hear you’ve had so much issues with communication. I’ve had plenty myself - and think the portal is more of a hinderance than anything. I don’t know about wait times for initial consultation but know in general the wait times now are much longer than pre covid. They’re working at reduced capacity in the clinic and are busier than before. They do however do virtual consultations. My post cycle consultation after a failed frozen transfer was 8 weeks - which I think is poor and very slow especially compared to other clinics. I’m not sure how they would prioritise patients either - ie. would new patients have consultations quicker to get them on board or do existing patients get preference. I think they have put more slots for consultations in since mine so hopefully wait times are shorter. Pre covid - I think my initial consultation was 3 weeks from enquiry. And the follow up appointments were booked before you left the clinic so no issues with being forgotten. But that was also before they relied so heavily on the portal too. I hope you get a date soon

Mgibbs · 23/01/2021 09:55

Thanks for getting back and sorry to hear you had to wait so long for post consultation.
I was in touch in July for investigation, within days I had amh done. In July they also said it would be November before starting treatment if it was needed but didn’t hear from them. It was probably as much my fault because I didn’t want to fuss with everything going on.hopefully it has some momentum after Monday.

limesoda · 23/01/2021 18:28

Good luck for Monday @Mgibbs

Bluebells1983 · 10/05/2021 05:08

Hi,

Just checking if anyone has any updates on how they gave been getting on with in ovo clinic? We have had all out investigations done and thinking about starting treatment in the late summer. But it's difficult to find any reviews on how people got on with their treatment there. Would be interested especially if you were dealing with male factor. Am trying to decide whether to stay home and stick with in ovo or go somewhere like gennet in Prague who seem to have v good technology for male factor.

Any advice appreciated

ForeverAintEnough12 · 10/05/2021 10:13

Hi all, just wanted to jump on and say I’ve been doing ivf in the U.K. from Ireland (south) without any issues. Travelled over in November when both countries in complete lockdown and again in March. Very easy and not at all stressful. I did my scans and bloods at a satellite clinic in Ireland. Could be worth exploring if wait lists in NI are so bad.

Bluebells1983 · 10/05/2021 10:25

Thanks for this. Which clinic did you use in UK as it is something I would potentially consider.

I don't think the waiting list for in ovo clinic is too bad at the minute though, but was just wanting to hear how their treatment went with them.

ForeverAintEnough12 · 10/05/2021 10:46

I am with Lister who are in Chelsea London, I also did consults with create in Manchester and ARGC. Lister for us seems most attuned to our issues (we had already done 3 failed rounds in Ireland) and I’m happy with them so far. The cost was around a thousand more expensive than Ireland.

I would recommend researching and doing a few consults with clinics before committing to one. See what protocol they suggest, how much it appears they’ve looked into your case etc and decide on that basis.

But travel during covid wasn’t an issue at all even during lockdowns.

Northernreland · 22/04/2024 18:03

Hi I've my second appointment tomorrow my bmi was 35 and advised to lose weight. I have lost a stone bmi now 33 will they reject me xx

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