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Original poster

IVF/ICSI - Nottingham - Private or NHS?

7 replies

feelinglost22 · 29/09/2022 14:00

Hello! Can anyone give me some advice please 🙏

Would anyone recommend any IVF clinics around Nottingham? My partner his having double varicocele emobilisation next week but we will still likely need IVF/ICSI due to low semen analysis across the board.

Also - I have no idea where our NHS referral has got to BUT I know I need to lose about 3 stone before we meet the threshold… What happens with the referral? Will they not refer me until I get to that weight? Then is there another long wait for the actual process to start?

Debating whether to go private.. if so… would you recommend having some consultations now? Ideally we would wait 3 months after the varicocele embolisation to help with semen paramaters/ potential dna frag issues, so at least we would have some lead time? But equally I want to lose weight beforehand too, ahhh!!

Thanks so much - I feel so lost making such big decisions and have no one I can talk to about this as haven’t shared! It’s all a minefield 💜

Xx

OP posts:
EmzieMurf1987 · 29/09/2022 21:35

Hi!

Sorry I can’t help with the NHS side of things as we went private due to long wait times.

we used care fertility in Nottingham and were very pleased with our care. I felt the consultant listened to our concerns and acted on them and we started the very next cycle after our consultation, so no wait times if private!

We did a multi cycle package with IVF/ICSI split. We were very fortunate that our first transfer worked and I’m currently 17 weeks pregnant!

I felt all the staff there were lovely and very caring. Any issues were sorted ASAP. And I remember when it was transfer time we saw the embryologist in the corner of the room doing a prayer for our embryo when it was being transferred which really touched both me and my partner.

good luck with your journey and I think a 3 month wait post surgery sounds very sensible to get the best possible quality sperm.

if you are thinking of going private it would be worth doing a consultation soon as they will be able to advise you and of course they need to do blood tests on both of you prior to starting treatment.

Original poster
feelinglost22 · 29/09/2022 22:01

EmzieMurf1987 · 29/09/2022 21:35

Hi!

Sorry I can’t help with the NHS side of things as we went private due to long wait times.

we used care fertility in Nottingham and were very pleased with our care. I felt the consultant listened to our concerns and acted on them and we started the very next cycle after our consultation, so no wait times if private!

We did a multi cycle package with IVF/ICSI split. We were very fortunate that our first transfer worked and I’m currently 17 weeks pregnant!

I felt all the staff there were lovely and very caring. Any issues were sorted ASAP. And I remember when it was transfer time we saw the embryologist in the corner of the room doing a prayer for our embryo when it was being transferred which really touched both me and my partner.

good luck with your journey and I think a 3 month wait post surgery sounds very sensible to get the best possible quality sperm.

if you are thinking of going private it would be worth doing a consultation soon as they will be able to advise you and of course they need to do blood tests on both of you prior to starting treatment.

Thank you so much, that's really helpful!

I've honestly just teared up reading the bit about the prayer, how lovely and genuine.

Massive congrats. That's AMAZING news!

I know this is cheeky, but do you mind me asking how much you paid please? I'm worried about all of the hidden costs! Did you do a multi cycle package? All the questions!!

Thank you x

OP posts:
EmzieMurf1987 · 30/09/2022 11:04

No not at all!

so I think they also use age to tailor their prices so I was in the 35-37 age range and we did a 2 cycle multi package with an IVF/ICSI split. That was recommended by our consultant as we have been trying nearly 4 years and we had 8 medicated cycles and 3 IUIs all BFN.

we paid £9,100 approximately for the package which included 2 egg collections and as many transfers as we had embryos until we either have a live birth or we run out on embryos. That also includes all the scans during stims or FETs, meds for sedation at the time of EC, follow ups if unsuccessful, 8 week viability scan if successful, embryoscope, and CAREmapping. We have an amazing video of our embryo from the time of fertilisation up to a day 5 blast showing it’s development (still can’t believe it’s actually my baby!!)

extras were:
inital consultation £200
virology bloods £180 each
AMH and AFC count for you
sperm sample
all the meds for stims approx £2500 as I did a long protocol and had extra progesterone injections, so this will vary Depending on protocol type, stims used and type of progesterone.

I can’t remember some of the prices but they do have a website and you can request a price list which might be helpful, as it will give you all the options.

as ours worked first time we did massively over pay but I wouldn’t change a thing. It was so comforting to know that if the first transfer failed we had more attempts at no extra cost (except meds) and FET meds are ALOT cheaper approx. £200-300 per round. It’s the stims that are expensive!

I really hope that’s helpful. Honestly, if you have any questions just ask. Happy to share my experience. It’s such an emotional and stressful time and choosing the right clinic is super important! Xx

Original poster
feelinglost22 · 30/09/2022 15:42

EmzieMurf1987 · 30/09/2022 11:04

No not at all!

so I think they also use age to tailor their prices so I was in the 35-37 age range and we did a 2 cycle multi package with an IVF/ICSI split. That was recommended by our consultant as we have been trying nearly 4 years and we had 8 medicated cycles and 3 IUIs all BFN.

we paid £9,100 approximately for the package which included 2 egg collections and as many transfers as we had embryos until we either have a live birth or we run out on embryos. That also includes all the scans during stims or FETs, meds for sedation at the time of EC, follow ups if unsuccessful, 8 week viability scan if successful, embryoscope, and CAREmapping. We have an amazing video of our embryo from the time of fertilisation up to a day 5 blast showing it’s development (still can’t believe it’s actually my baby!!)

extras were:
inital consultation £200
virology bloods £180 each
AMH and AFC count for you
sperm sample
all the meds for stims approx £2500 as I did a long protocol and had extra progesterone injections, so this will vary Depending on protocol type, stims used and type of progesterone.

I can’t remember some of the prices but they do have a website and you can request a price list which might be helpful, as it will give you all the options.

as ours worked first time we did massively over pay but I wouldn’t change a thing. It was so comforting to know that if the first transfer failed we had more attempts at no extra cost (except meds) and FET meds are ALOT cheaper approx. £200-300 per round. It’s the stims that are expensive!

I really hope that’s helpful. Honestly, if you have any questions just ask. Happy to share my experience. It’s such an emotional and stressful time and choosing the right clinic is super important! Xx

Thank you soo much! Honestly so helpful.

I think I'm going to book a consultation with them. Do you think it's best to wait to book that until we're ready to go? We will want to wait 3 months for the varicocele embolisation to hopefully have some impact and for me to lose the weight!!!

Just thought it might help having sooner to frame our thoughts etc? We are only about 25 mins away from Care and seen really positive reviews so far! Xx

OP posts:
Lauralozzle · 03/10/2022 16:36

I’m currently with CARE, they have been great so far. I’ve had issues, but that’s been with hospital/GP rather than CARE.

So, before my GP would refer me to the fertility clinic on NHS my bmi had to be below 30. But, they had me do day 21 bloods, day 2-5 bloods and rubella and chlamydia tests. DH had to have SA. My tests and DH tests came back, but I had to have repeat tests for my thyroid and prolactin levels. I also had to lose weight to get it below bmi 30. This was August last year. I’d rang GP before and they basically said come back when you’ve been trying for 2 years.

Eventually got referred Jan this year. By this point gp had contacted endocrinologist about my prolactin levels and was ok. Had first appointment at fertility clinic in March. All my hospital/GP appointments have been derby though, not through QMC.

DH sperm is fine from SA. So, at first appointment with fertility clinic arranged appointment for scan and HSG. These took place before second appointment in May. We’re unexplained and referred for IVF, but had more bloods for thyroid and prolactin.

First appointment with CARE was June. By this point I’d spoken to GP about going into levothyroxine as consultant said it’s too high. Bloods came back higher than it was before. GP agreed to put me on thyroxine and referral to endocrinologist re prolactin (finally).

I had a scan at CARE for AFC, after appointment basically when TSH levels are ok and I have appointment and ok from endocrinologist I’m good to start. CARE will require letters to confirm.

Im currently waiting for letter from endocrinologist to confirm I’m ok to start IVF/ICSI. We’re having a split of IVF/ICSI because we’ve been trying for over 3 years with nothing. I’ve never had a positive test. We’ve also discovered I have one tiny ovary with no follicles on it so will be long protocol for me as I effectively have 1 working ovary.

CARE have (so far) been great. They have kept in contact asking for updates, I can email them questions they always get back to me. The waiting has been down to my GP not referring me to an endocrinologist even though my prolactin levels were double what they should be for over a year and not prescribing levothyroxine to start with because I am subclinical hypothyroid and not ‘bad enough’.

Im through NHS. If everything’s good and clear and you know issue/have a half decent GP the NHS referral to fertility clinic was quick once it happened. Within 2 months I had been diagnosed and had multiple tests. CARE contacted me about 3 weeks after I was referred to them by fertility clinic.

I went with CARE over Nuture because they’re closer (Nottingham one is about 20 mins from me) and easy to get to. Picked on results I saw online and fact that I could technically have scans in lunch breaks at work/on way to work.

im sorry that ended up being an essay!!

Original poster
feelinglost22 · 03/10/2022 16:44

Lauralozzle · 03/10/2022 16:36

I’m currently with CARE, they have been great so far. I’ve had issues, but that’s been with hospital/GP rather than CARE.

So, before my GP would refer me to the fertility clinic on NHS my bmi had to be below 30. But, they had me do day 21 bloods, day 2-5 bloods and rubella and chlamydia tests. DH had to have SA. My tests and DH tests came back, but I had to have repeat tests for my thyroid and prolactin levels. I also had to lose weight to get it below bmi 30. This was August last year. I’d rang GP before and they basically said come back when you’ve been trying for 2 years.

Eventually got referred Jan this year. By this point gp had contacted endocrinologist about my prolactin levels and was ok. Had first appointment at fertility clinic in March. All my hospital/GP appointments have been derby though, not through QMC.

DH sperm is fine from SA. So, at first appointment with fertility clinic arranged appointment for scan and HSG. These took place before second appointment in May. We’re unexplained and referred for IVF, but had more bloods for thyroid and prolactin.

First appointment with CARE was June. By this point I’d spoken to GP about going into levothyroxine as consultant said it’s too high. Bloods came back higher than it was before. GP agreed to put me on thyroxine and referral to endocrinologist re prolactin (finally).

I had a scan at CARE for AFC, after appointment basically when TSH levels are ok and I have appointment and ok from endocrinologist I’m good to start. CARE will require letters to confirm.

Im currently waiting for letter from endocrinologist to confirm I’m ok to start IVF/ICSI. We’re having a split of IVF/ICSI because we’ve been trying for over 3 years with nothing. I’ve never had a positive test. We’ve also discovered I have one tiny ovary with no follicles on it so will be long protocol for me as I effectively have 1 working ovary.

CARE have (so far) been great. They have kept in contact asking for updates, I can email them questions they always get back to me. The waiting has been down to my GP not referring me to an endocrinologist even though my prolactin levels were double what they should be for over a year and not prescribing levothyroxine to start with because I am subclinical hypothyroid and not ‘bad enough’.

Im through NHS. If everything’s good and clear and you know issue/have a half decent GP the NHS referral to fertility clinic was quick once it happened. Within 2 months I had been diagnosed and had multiple tests. CARE contacted me about 3 weeks after I was referred to them by fertility clinic.

I went with CARE over Nuture because they’re closer (Nottingham one is about 20 mins from me) and easy to get to. Picked on results I saw online and fact that I could technically have scans in lunch breaks at work/on way to work.

im sorry that ended up being an essay!!

Oh bless you, I'm glad you're now on your journey and are getting there!!

I thought the same re Care - they are about 20mins away from us and was thinking the same re appointments etc!

We are MFI and my partner is having double varicocele embolisation next week - I want to wait 3 months before going for IVF to help with the sperm, but also need/want to lose weight!! I don't think I'll be able to get below 30 bmi in those 3 months realistically - but i will try, but I just didn't know if they refer me in say Jan/Feb when I've lost the weight if it'll be another 6 month wait? Argh!

I've also had those tests you've mentioned and my partner has had several SA - this was all before any referral to fertility clinics though and just via GP?

Best wishes on your journey! Xx

OP posts:
Lauralozzle · 03/10/2022 16:56

@feelinglost22 It sounds like you’ve got a good GP!

From actual referral to fertility clinic to seeing the consultant at CARE it was about 6 months. But, if you’ve had the HSG and stuff it might be quicker. Maybe wait the 3 months for your OH to recover and try to lose what you can and take it from there? Or have a private meeting with CARE during that time as I think if your BMI is below 35 they’ll accept private. The bmi under 30 is a massive ball ache to be honest! There’s a weight loss for IVF thread on here too with others trying to lose weight for IVF. We’re a friendly bunch!

Thank you for your wishes. I’ve not told anyone so here is the only place I can really talk about it openly. Just waiting for my letter, which I believe has been posted but must be caught up in the Royal Mail strikes!

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