IVF referral needed again for baby no 2?

[wishfulbean]

Does anyone know if you still need a referral from the GP and to go through all the testing hassle in order to get access to an ivf clinic if going private for a second child?

We were very fortunate that our nhs ivf cycles resulted in the birth of our first child last year. I'm already thinking ahead to the possibility of a second child as my age means I really need to start the process sooner rather than later especially as we needed IVF for our first. One of the biggest delays to starting the ivf journey was getting a referral to a clinic in the first place. Will I have to start the process from scratch again? Have to wait after one to two years of trying without fertility treatment? The cause of our infertility was unexplained the first time (although my egg count and quality was low it wasn't listed as "the reason") and I doubt very much that going through all the pre-testing again will help.

I know there are stories of people getting pregnant without fertility treatment after an IVF baby... but let's assume we are not as fortunate!

I don't think you'd need a referral , don't you just go private for the whole thing? You'd get all the testing etc done through the private clinic.

Thank you for replying That would be great if so! It would have to private as we are fortunate enough to have our first child. Last time however the clinic said we had to go to them via our GP and have a referral...perhaps that was because they realised we'd want to use NHS funding if we could!

I just rang the private clinic and made an appointment, no referral needed.

It depends on the clinic - full private one ie not attached to a nhs hospital you just self refer but if the clinic you want to use is part of an nhs hospital ie Birmingham Womens or Coventry hospital then you need a GP referral

Ah @istandwithukraine I think that might be it! I've double checked on the website of clinic I used last time and it definitely says I need a referral from the GP or other fertility specialist even for private referral so my memory of trying to use them last time tallies with that. Given we were lucky enough to have success with them last time I'm obviously keen to try and go with them again!

I am a little hopeful the clinic might take me on without having to wait for the GP (they are so busy that getting an appointment for something non urgent like this is a genuine challenge!)... Our little one was made from the only viable embryo retrieved last round so none frozen to use for future attempts, but I assume if I had frozen embryos still with them they wouldn't make me wait and get a referral to access them and use them?

You just contact them, nothing to do with GP. And private clinics don't have waiting lists. Good luck!

For the second one you will have to opt for a private clinic so I think the waiting times, in general, will be reduced. Also, I do agree, start as soon as possible. Just contact them directly and good luck x