Fertility checks on the NHS - best to go private??

[Janey3090]

Hi lovely Mumsnet ladies! I was just wondering if there is anyone who has had inferility investigations on the NHS (or decided to go private) who could provide advice?

Basically, DH and I have been TTC for just over a year now, but I have identified I have a short luteal phase which needs looking into. GP has been good so far though the wait time for appts is huge. I have had a series of blood tests to check progesterone/FSH levels etc and have a follow up appt on the 15th November to discuss next steps.

I was just wondering those who have had fertility investigations on the NHS how you found it? What do they tend to do/what checks etc, and how long did you have to wait for a referral? DH and I are wondering whether to go private for a fertility check as I've heard the wait can be quite long of up to a year? (Had to wait over a month for my follow up GP appointment alone as the NHS is so busy.)

Any advice/information would be really appreciated xx

Hi, no advice but thought I'd pop on and say hi as I am in exactly the same boat and also wondering about this. Like you, been trying 12months and have just had CD3/12/21 blood tests (all fine on first lot, waiting on CD21 results) and husb is booked in for a SA next Wed, and I have a phone appointment at our Gyno and Reproductice Health dept on 17th Nov, which I have no idea what that will be for, but perhaps to discuss results? I guess next steps will be a physical exam/ultrasound and Hycosy or other dye thing to check for any tube issues, but have no sense of whether that would be a long waiting time on NHS (I suspect so, my husb just waited 12months to have a very simple but necessary endoscopy done for a (unrelated) health issue!) but who knows?!

Would be keen to hear how you get on with it all, and also for any insight from those who have been through these things recently!

I went private as the nhs won't refer until 1 year trying without success and we had a misscarriage which reset the nhs clock. Private investigation is about 500£ all in and was done v quickly

Hey,

I'm in a similar boat. I'm 35 TTC for one year. I just had some blood tests done and I have low progesterone, no evidence of ovulation. My luteal phase is always short too. The Dr is referring me to a fertility clinic, but I phoned them and they said waiting lists are longer due to covid backlog.

I spoke to the Dr's receptionist and explained about the waiting lists and asked what was the option / process for going private, and she got really snotty with me and said basically in that case I was on my own, and they couldn't tell me anything. She said "so that's what you want then is it? to go private? fine" I was like, "I don't 'want' to go private, I just want to get this process underway as fast as possible!".

I just don't know what to do to be honest!

No advice but thought I’d drop in and say hi as I’ve just started fertility checks after trying for a year with no luck! Had my day 4 bloods done today and will go for my next ones at the end of the month. Been referred for a ultrasound but I’m. It sure how long the wait is for that to be honest.

If you have the money go private , some tests the GP can do- full bloods etc. I was waiting nearly a year for mc investigations and did them all private and for pregnant in the time it took to get an appointment.
It’s also dependent on your age , I’d move faster 35 plus then 30 for example . Best of luck

NHS we're good but slow. I'd go for a private fertility check up for you and your partner at a fertility / ivf clinic while persuing the NHS funded route.

The gp will do day 2 and 21 bloods to check you are ovulating and a semen analysis. This will rule out any obviously easily solved problem eg clomid. They can refer to sub fertility clinic who will do ultrasound and hsg.

The ivf/fertility clinic will do an AMH blood test to test ovarian reserve and maybe a pre assessment ultrasound to see how many antral follicles you have (count) then you will be in good position to take it from there.

Because of covid the time from initial gp investigations in May 2019 to referral to IVF in June 2021. And I had 6 months to lose weight in there too. It's also more complex as I have had three miscarriages.

Waiting list for tests such as ultrasound can be 6 weeks but each test is a 6 week consecutive wait I can take ages.

Good luck.

(After all that it runs out my AMH is too low for funding - I will own to terms with it but I wish I'd known at the start)

Hi @cherrypiepie I have terrible amh and last count I had 3 and a dodgy 4th follicle. I was able to get pregnant naturally but had 4 mcs in a row. My last ivf ended up being iui ( long story) so almost a natural pregnancy but
I did immune treatment this time. Pm me if you want info on that, at 41 I’m now in my 3 trimester. My friend I made on this forum had 7 mcs and is passed 12 weeks for first time on similar protocol to me . Don’t assume it’s always low amh causing losses like I did

My friend is nearly 43

Thank you all so much!! I actually spoke to my GP on Monday, and sadly I don't think the first round of blood tests were conclusive enough. My progesterone level only hit 12.9, but could have been that we were a day too early in taking the bloods. I have a follow up conversation with her next week so will see how that goes. I think if she suggests referral to a clinic we will take the private route in the meantime. I'm 31 and DH is 35, so age isn't a big issue yet, but we don't want to wait for ages.

@Girlanon oh that's so tough! Did they give you any indication on how long the waiting list would be? It's so hard to have to wait so maybe by the sounds of it (and if you can), maybe try a private fertility check up in the meantime if there's a good clinic near you, but keep your NHS referral too?

@cherrypiepie thank you so much for all the info, that's extremely helpful! I have had my bloods done, but as the results on ovulation were inconclusive I expect either an order for further bloods or referral to clinic, so definitely sounds like a private check would be worth it. Sorry to hear you've had such a long wait, that must have been hard. Wishing you all the luck with IVF and that it goes well

So I just got a call that by nhs referral to dr Shehata has been accepted 10 months after I made it. Thank fully 8 months pregnant now via private method. This just gives an example of the timescales. Unless your young , I don’t think anyone can wait this long. This was for rc miscarriage and treatment to sustain a pregnancy

Hey, so I had my initial docs apt for fertility tests at the start of this month, have now had my day 3 bloods, cervical swabs, and have my day 21 bloods and ultrasound a week Tuesday. I’d check with your docs on waiting times before you go private as I know for me I’ve had all this booked and done in under a month. They haven’t tested AMH, but have said they will after next bloods and ultrasound if necessary x