IVF Pre Treatment Consultation

[hannahsto]

Hiya,

I was just looking for some guidance on where we are in the process and the timescales of stating IVF...

We have had multiple consultations since July 22, i have had my bloods and my partner has had to do samples. I also went through a hycosy in October, and following this we were placed on the waiting list.

We have now received our letter to say we are first on the list now and have our pre-treatment video call on 5 January. The letter states that following this meeting we will then meet with a further practitioner and we will have to get tested for smoking also before starting any treatment. We had a lot of videos/forms and consents to complete which we have both now done and returned, along with ID etc.

So i was wondering if anyone knew what will happen at our video call in January, what the next steps are and how long after this meeting would we be looking at starting IVF?

TIA :) x

Hi I hope everything went smooth with ivf, I am going thought ivf and will have to get a test done for smoking also, I am worried because I can’t find anywhere what tests they do, can you tell me what tests did they do to check for you?

luna x

Hi Luna,

They never actually tested us for smoking, it was never mentioned, apart from a standardized letter The only tests we ended up getting was bloods for HIV & Hepatitis these are standard and need to be within 3 months of your treatment. We didn't even need to go to fertility for these, they just sent us to a clinic in the hospital that was open at night so we could both manage after my work.

Once they received my results (within a couple of days), i got my protocol sent to me by email and i then had to drop off a letter to my GP to provide me with my prescription for my meds and was able to collect these the next day ready to start on my protocol date.

We had our last meeting with fertility the first week in January, bloods end of January and was due to start medication in February with egg retrieval booked for March. Just as a rough timescale. We never actually ended up starting medication as i found out i was pregnant, however it ended in an ectopic pregnancy. So i am just away to start IVF now, bloods booked for Monday to start my next cycle.

Good luck with your journey :)

Hopefully this helps, but any questions feel free to ask :) x

Thank you for replying I didn’t think I’d get one cause it was a few months old, but I appreciate it!
we have had all tests done and have frozen samples, had bloods also, but had to reschedule appointment the beginning of the year due to personal life, so had a consultation phone call yesterday everything went fine, but we still need to get confirmation from my GP that we have stopped smoking, however I have had minor slip up and feeling anxious over it because I don’t know when our next appointment will be, also my doctors aren’t very good they said last time I called about the test that they would call me back and months later I still haven’t had a call. I just don’t want to wreck our chances, it’s been a very difficult time since the start of the year and had a few weak moments.

im sorry to hear you had an Ectopic, that must have been so hard, and I know I don’t know you but I am happy you are starting your journey and hope that it all comes true for you because it is hard emotional and stressful. I have my fingers crossed for you. And again thank you for replying..

luna xx

Hiya,

Thank you so much, i also hope everything goes as planned for you too :)

Just thought i would let you know i ended up getting a smoking test yesterday along with a follow up of bloods in order for them to be within 3 months of IVF (this was at the fertility clinic).

The tests was a carbon monoxide test that you blow into. I also had a slip and when i found out yesterday i had panicked, but it came out at 3. 1-3 is normal levels, anything over 4 they may query. Alot of things can affect the test tho, like passive smoking whether its someone you walk past or if you stand with them while smoking, car emissions if in traffic or again walking down a busy road. Generally if you haven't been exposed to any of this within 48hours your reading should come back 3 or below.

I have been told my partner will also have to get the test and bloods, once he is home from offshore - however i have my protocol and meds again ready to start on our agreed cycle date.

Hope this helps, but i wouldnt worry about it to much, as long as you are not an active heavy smoker or around people when they are smoking you will be fine :). You are only human and slips are normal, especially when you are going through such a tough time.

Good luck with it all and hope you manage to get the answers you need quickly to be able to start :)

xx

Hi,

thank you for letting me know this.. I appreciate it so much, I can put my mind at ease now :). So it is just a carbon monoxide test for both you and husband then no other tests urine or blood test for smoking ? Because I’m having it done on the NHS so they told me I have to get proof from my GP and last time I tried getting one done I didn’t hear back from them and this was last year.. so I will have to push them this time..
and brilliant I’m glad it’s all about to start for you, wishing you get your little baby and everything goes well and as planned it would be great if you kept me updated on how everything goes if you have the time. Goooodluckkkk!!!

thank you again

Lindsey xx

Plus are you in the UK ?? Xx