When did you know it was time to change clinics?

[evalooda]

Hi,

We're with our local IVF clinic and after two failed cycles we're starting to feel like we'd like to try a different clinic that might personalise our treatment a bit more. (We've had 4 double transfers of day 3 embryos - BFN, MC 5 wks, BFN, BFN)

Our current clinic's staff are lovely but overall it feels a little sleepy and rural, where they just keep cheerfully popping in day 3 embryos and hoping for the best. I feel like I'd like more than they're willing to offer - the option of pushing for blastocyst transfer not just day 3, further investigations for us both (they say they won't until after 3 failed fresh transfers- we've had 3 failed transfers but only two were fresh), possibility of PGT testing due to my age (turned 40 last week), etc.

I know IVF fails most of the time and it's hard not to direct frustration at the clinics, so I don't want to overreact. We've paid for a three-cycle package so we will go again with them soon for our 3rd cycle, but with very little hope and with one eye on next steps, possibly in a different clinic...

When did you know it was time to change clinics? Are you glad you did? Any tips?

Thanks in advance :)

I had similar thoughts this time last year (note the username!) We changed clinics as we'd lost confidence in our first clinic after the review meeting - they didn't show any interest or insight into why our first cycle had gone so badly or why DH's sperm quality had decreased so dramatically in between his first test and now. They couldn't tell me what they would do differently another time to try and maximise our chances of success or suggest any further tests - I don't think our doctor even looked at DH's sperm results before we had our review meeting. I also didn't feel they were being transparent over an infection I got during the cycle.

We got DH a urologist and me a new clinic in Harley Street. I'm pretty sure that our latest FET has failed (BFN at 5dp5dt) and I'm not sure that we'll ever have a baby but it's still been worth moving - not only do we know that we've done everything possible to have a baby but we found out through our tests that DH had testicular cancer. We would never have known about this had we stuck with our original clinic.

Hi there,

Definitely change after your 3 package is finished. Moreover at your age (my age) there's no more time to waste.

I guess that you change when you feel that they are not really helping or trying different things to make it work next time.

On my first clinic I stayed for 4 cycles, horrible results and they just wanted to keep trying. I changed clinics and although still no baby (had 2 MC) we've tried different things and feel more confident. I only regret not to have changed clinics sooner.

Ger informed, read books and check in blogs like this to learn because that will help you ask the doctors about new things.

Best wishes

Wow @TimetoChangeClinics , you've been through a lot. I hope your DH is doing well now. Scary to think your first clinic didn't even question the change in his sample results!
I don't know if it'll ever happen for us but I think, like you, I'll feel better knowing we tried all we could by moving clinics. Thanks for the advice, and good luck with your treatment!

Thanks @cherry35, that's sound advice. I definitely feel like I'm forming a list of things to talk to a new clinic about! I'm glad you're feeling good about moving, wishing you all the best for your treatment