NHS fertility clinic referral and private testing

[Jaem23]

Hi!

I was wondering if anyone could share any experiences they’ve had or shed a bit of light please!

We’ve been trying to conceive for just over 3 years with a 6 month break right in the middle in the lead up to our wedding. Last month I spoke to my dr who arranged for day 21 blood tests for me (although my periods are very irregular so not sure how accurate these results would have been as I was told they needed to be done 7 days before my period which couldn’t be predicted.).

I had another telephone consultation last week where the dr informed me everything looked fine in the blood results but that doesn’t cover all bases and although he couldn’t remember the criteria for fertility clinic referral he was going to try and refer me. In my first drs appointment the dr suggested my husband had his sperm tested and when I checked that with this dr he said the same.

Today my husband tried to book in for a sperm test and was told that no andrology services are running at the moment and to ‘ring back after lockdown’.

So I have a couple of questions:

1. Has anybody experienced fertility clinic referalls in the current Covid circumstances and if so how was it in regards to time and what they could offer? (Anywhere in the Uk but if South Wales, even better!)
2. If we had a private fertility consultation which includes:

·Consultation with fertility specialist ·Pelvic ultrasound ·Semen Analysis ·One Anti Mullerian Hormone blood test Would we be able to use this as part of our NHS referral or would it damage our chances of NHS treatment?

Thank you in advance!

Hi!

We have not been affected by covid at all. DH has had 3 SA and no one mentioned longer waiting times or no andrology etc.

We've also both had an US, and a load of bloodtests, all on the NHS. Our GP referred us, and the fertility clinic (on NHS) also referred for some extra ones.

Might depend what area you are in? And what the exact issue is? Waiting for appointments certainly takes longer on NHS than private (2 months for andrologist here!).

@Jaem23

Hi!

I was wondering if anyone could share any experiences they’ve had or shed a bit of light please!

We’ve been trying to conceive for just over 3 years with a 6 month break right in the middle in the lead up to our wedding. Last month I spoke to my dr who arranged for day 21 blood tests for me (although my periods are very irregular so not sure how accurate these results would have been as I was told they needed to be done 7 days before my period which couldn’t be predicted.).

I had another telephone consultation last week where the dr informed me everything looked fine in the blood results but that doesn’t cover all bases and although he couldn’t remember the criteria for fertility clinic referral he was going to try and refer me. In my first drs appointment the dr suggested my husband had his sperm tested and when I checked that with this dr he said the same.

Today my husband tried to book in for a sperm test and was told that no andrology services are running at the moment and to ‘ring back after lockdown’.

So I have a couple of questions:

1. Has anybody experienced fertility clinic referalls in the current Covid circumstances and if so how was it in regards to time and what they could offer? (Anywhere in the Uk but if South Wales, even better!)
2. If we had a private fertility consultation which includes:

·Consultation with fertility specialist ·Pelvic ultrasound ·Semen Analysis ·One Anti Mullerian Hormone blood test Would we be able to use this as part of our NHS referral or would it damage our chances of NHS treatment?

Thank you in advance!

Hi! I was referred by my GP for fertility investigations last week after 1 year ttc with no luck... I fall under Aneurin Bevan health board in South Wales. My GP told me she needed to run some blood tests including a day 21 blood test and my DH requires a semen analysis. I had paid for Day 21 bloods privately and was told that I should send a copy to the GP and these will count towards my NHS referral. My DH tried calling to arrange his SA but was told this isn't running currently due to lockdown... we have paid to have one privately and will give the results to our GP to include in our referral, she basically told me she doesn't care about either results, it's a tick box exercise and something they have to do to make the referral! I called Gynae directly for an idea of timeframes- they said usually 20 weeks post referral however there are currently no appointments due to lockdown so I am imagining there will be a further delay on top of this. Not really amazing news but a step in the direction- wishing you the best and would be interested to know how you are finding things, especially if we are under the same health board x

Thank you so much! We are indeed the same health board! I’m glad to hear that you can use the private info!

We weren’t told we needed the semen analysis to be referred, according to the dr he was going to try and refer me. It’s hard to know whether to Chase things at the moment!

I don’t think we could go much further with private but if it gets us started I’d be happy.

Lots of well wishes to you and I’ll definitely update you if/ when things move along.

Thank you again for responding! 😊

It's strange they didn't say about an analysis for your partner! My GP took my husbands details on the phone call to me, asked if he consented and then told me to collect a pot and the info from reception as it was needed for our referral! Maybe it is different between surgeries.

It is frustrating they focus on female issues when men make up 50% of it!

We have now found out we will definitely need treatment so want to exhaust our options with the NHS before going down the private route!

Good luck and I hope you have some good news soon, please update me if you hear any more about referral times! 😊

I know, so strange! I’m going to ring my drs surgery in the morning to see what’s happening!

I know, they were barely interesting in my DH at all!

Sending you the biggest amount of best wishes for your journey and I just hope everything starts to get going soon! We will definitely be doing the same!

Of course I will! Hopefully I’ll be able to share some positive updates with you soon! 😊

I’m so glad your journey hasn’t been affected!

We’re Aneurin Bevan health board, what health board are you?

I was shocked to hear andrology was closed, I’m not sure if in our area they may have been redeployed? Hopefully, we will get some answers soon!

Hopefully we will have some good news soon!
Good luck on your journey! 😊

@hippo256 just wanted to give you a little update!

I’ve been referred to gynaecology at the Heath for fertility which is why they haven’t had to have anything from my partner. They told me that the current wait time is around 31 weeks.

We are calling the private clinic tomorrow to book in for their initial consultation and tests.

Hope everything is going ok for you!

@Jaem23 thank you for the update!

That seems like such a long wait time at the moment doesn't it! Do you live in Cardiff? I'm in Newport so unsure whether it would be Gynae closer to home or if it's Cardiff as that is where fertility treatments are!

There isn't really an update here yet, I've had my referral to Gynae so I suppose that clock is now ticking down, the GP said this week she expects I would have a letter within 2 months as she has marked it as an urgent referral but I am very sceptical!

Good luck with your tests 😊 have you decided which clinic you are using for those tests? Will you then be waiting for NHS treatment if needed?

@hippo256

It seems like forever! We are technically Caerphilly CCBC but our postal address is Newport!

I rang the fertility clinic at the Heath last week to enquire whether I would have been referred there and they were able to let me know it was gynaecology I’d been referred to, so I gave them a call! She said that all cases are looked at by the head Dr and when she checked she said mine had looked at and that I’d been accepted for investigations. I then questioned the wait time and she said 31 weeks! She did get a letter sent out to me as well as it hadn’t been done but all it said was I had been referred and they would be in contact!

We’re going to go with the one in Llantrisant, CRGW. I think we will most probably have to wait for NHS treatment though!

I hope you get some news soon! 😊

@Jaem23 hey! Just thought I'd give you a quick update..

I've checked the Aneurin Bevan website today in a ' restarting services' section and it says that as of today fertility clinics have recommenced 😊

Will still probably mean a bit wait for us both but it's definitely made me feel a little bit better!

@hippo256 ah thank you so much! That’s fantastic news, I’ve got everything crossed for her you! Please keep me updated! 😊