IVF clinic timescales

[alt22]

Hi

Just a quick one really - we're right at the start of this process and we are currently having further tests to find out possible causes.

That being said, I suspect that our route will be ICSI.

I just wondered how quickly it is possible to start treatment with private clinics? I suspect it's a 'how long is a piece of string' question but just curious as to people's experiences.

I wasn't with a private clinic but with nhs once all the baseline tests had been done, we could start ivf ICSI with my next period.
I think private it's the same. As long as all blood work has been done and semen analysis.
They will talk you through ivf plan and get some frozen sperm as back up and can usually start with next period!
Good luck x

With private clinics I think it’s usually fairly quick. I just called on the first day of my cycle and then I was put on norethisterone so that my next cycle fit in with a free slot in their schedule. I took it for about 3 weeks before stopping and then starting stims. It may vary from clinic to clinic though.

If you go private, it’s usually very quick after they have done all your tests and your consultations etc. I had mine done early December and two weeks later they said we could start but we delayed to end of jan just to give us a little time. Good luck

Hi Op,
we were private (also ICSI), we had our initial appointment end of October 2021, before this we didn’t even know there was anything definitely wrong. And I started injections on the 31st Jan 2022.
We could have started sooner but we decided to get Christmas out the way. It was all pretty quick, which I actually preferred as we didn’t have much time to sit and think about it/dwell on it all.

I am having a day 3 transfer hopefully tomorrow on NHS. It was very quick process end ot end.

I had a scan, partner had a sperm check. They called within 5 days told me to call on day 1 of period and started injecting on day 2, Then booked me In few days after for a baseline scan. And had scans every 2 days following also started a 2nd injection on day 6.

From 13th Jan through to Thursday just gone was our injection period.

We only got 3 fertilised and are left in the unknown of how they are doing.

But I wish you the best of luck, it's a stressful process but can also be bonding (recommend having other half do medicines and get a sticker chart to make it feel a little fun).

Hi OP, I just wanted to add to the above, it is not only private vs NHS that affects the timeline, it is also impacted by what your specific issue is and whether they want to try and resolve it or investigate further before sending you for treatment.

To be honest they should do as much investigation as possible first because IVF is extremely invasive and not a nice thing to go through - if there are alternatives then they are worth looking into, although I know it's so frustrating because you just want to get pregnant now.

We waited months before getting ICSI because they wanted to try supplements and some meds for my DH before moving onto IVF, to see if it improved things. It took at least 6 or 7 months to get to the treatment stage as supplements need time to work - but if it had worked it would have been great. I did not enjoy the experience of going through IVF.

Just something to think about - We were NHS but that wasn't what held us up at all - private would not have been any quicker due to our circumstances.