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Infertility

Our Infertility Support forum is a space to connect with others in the same position, discuss causes, treatment and IVF, and share infertility stories of hope and success.

Original poster

NHS IVF Glasgow Royal Infirmary

105 replies

heatherandhares · 15/02/2023 10:24

Hi

Does anyone have experience of the NHS IVF service in Glasgow and specifically how long it took from their first consultation to start of treatment cycle?

We are on the waiting list for NHS funded IVF via NHSGGC Assisted Conception Service at Glasgow Royal Infirmary. We have had two semen analyses (one private, one NHS) and I have had an antral follicle count and AMH privately. We had a private consultation after these results (via GCRM) which diagnosed MFI and recommended ICSI.

We were referred in October and have a consultant appointment in April but are unsure whether we should just go for the self funded option instead, as I'm in my late thirties and concerned about success rates declining. Apparently there's a 3 month wait for start of cycles in the Glasgow Royal self funded service just now, so am a bit concerned it will be ages before we start if going via NHS route. Equally, as things are in train with NHS, would rather not pay thousands of pounds if don't have to!

When I rang the NHS waiting list coordinator and was given the April appointment, I asked about rough timescales for starting treatment, she said something about a six months target but it depends when the doctor decided when the clock had started - which was all a bit confusing.

Would be grateful if anyone has any recent experience of their timescales between referral - consultant appointment - starting treatment.

Thanks

OP posts:
Ros456 · 15/02/2023 16:49

I couldn't even get a call back from GRI self funded so I took that to mean they were really busy! I have a NHS telephone consultation next month but I've been advised (not by them but another professional) that it would be near the end of the year before treatment would start so will go with GCRM if nothing happens naturally in the next month as I've had some tests with them and a consultation in December.

Original poster
heatherandhares · 15/02/2023 17:27

Thanks for this, appreciate your reply. Would be interested as to what they advise at your NHS phone appointment next month in terms of timescales, if you'd be willing to share (either here or by PM).

I think the self funded service at Glasgow Royal is less busy than it was as they are now returning messages left on voicemail (I had same issue at end of last year hence going to GCRM for investigations).

OP posts:
Cocoogam · 24/02/2023 12:40

Hi. I’m in in similar situation. I was referred to NHSGGC dec time- have had no word of consult. Went to GCRM for invest and tests and been advised ICSI.
Would like to hear other peoples timeline with the NHS as don’t have time to wait years on NHS as late 30s. Would the NHS fast forward things if invest have already been done? I wonder when the 6 month goes from- referral or first consult?

Original poster
heatherandhares · 24/02/2023 12:52

Sounds like a very similar situation - and similar questions - to ours. I can let you know what we find out when we have our appointment in about 5 weeks time if that's helpful.

OP posts:
Ros456 · 24/02/2023 12:56

I have my telephone appointment next week so can let you know what they say about timescales and whether they accept tests that have already done as I was wondering that.

Original poster
heatherandhares · 24/02/2023 12:57

That would be great - thanks so much.

OP posts:
Cocoogam · 24/02/2023 13:00

That would be great thanks

Scirocco · 24/02/2023 17:24

Hi, we went with GRI for NHS funded ICSI, but it was during the pandemic so waiting times were totally skewed and probably not the same as they will be now.

We had to do all our tests again with them, they wouldn't accept our privately done ones, but that might have changed...

Cocoogam · 24/02/2023 20:38

What a waste of time and NHS resources to not accept your private investigations. Ridiculous.

Is there any difference between GCRM and GRI? Does GRI do nhs and self funded? Is self funded the same as private?

Daphnaki · 24/02/2023 20:40

I was never able to get a call back from them and I tried several times. I looked at some Scotland-wide statistics (www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/ivf-waiting-times-in-scotland/ivf-waiting-times-in-scotland-quarter-ending-30-september-2022/) and it seemed like there was a significant waiting time. So as we can afford it, we decided to go self-funded to GCRM and they have been great. We have all our tests and initial consultations done, and hopefully getting started in May after I have completed a course of some supplements the dr recommended.

Original poster
heatherandhares · 24/02/2023 20:41

Thanks for sharing your experience @Scirocco - do you mind if I ask which of your private tests would they not accept and wanted repeated, and where you'd had them done?

OP posts:
Scirocco · 24/02/2023 22:13

We'd had blood tests (AMH, etc) and ultrasound scans, which needed repeating. Not a huge problem but it was a bit annoying at the time! We'd had them done with GCRM while we were waiting for GRI as we didn't know how long we'd be waiting and wanted to know whether we had time to wait.

Scirocco · 24/02/2023 22:15

In total, it was about 18 months from initial referral to starting a cycle.

MrsDrambuie · 24/02/2023 23:06

We self-funded at GRI (GRFC). They accepted the semen analysis test that we had had done at our local hospital, so long as it was done in the previous 12 months. All other tests we had done by GRFC as part of the treatment process.

Original poster
heatherandhares · 25/02/2023 07:42

Thanks - that is frustrating, we've also done the same in terms of investigations as had expected that GCRM results would be accepted based on the lab accreditation etc. Will wait and see what comes out of our appointment.

OP posts:
itsmschanandlerbong · 01/03/2023 21:09

We had a successful NHS cycle in August 2021 and are in the early stages of arranging to start our private sibling cycle, both at GRI. If you have any questions I'll try my best to answer. They have been a bit of a pain to get a hold of but once I spoke to someone I had all tests arranged 3 weeks later and a consultation arranged 3 weeks after that.

Cocoogam · 02/03/2023 07:34

Thanks itsmschanandlerbong and congrats!

So is it correct once you have one ivf nhs child, you aren’t eligible for a 2nd even though natural conceiving can not occur?

Can you remember how long you waited from first nhs consult to starting your first ivf cycle? I know Covid may have changed it. Did you feel it went well through the NHS?

thanks

Ros456 · 02/03/2023 17:30

Had a telephone appointment today and was advised the waitlist for IVF is around 8 months. I totally forgot to ask if they accept previous test results. I was a bit floored by the news that I'd have to wait around 2 years for a laparoscopy due to potential blocked tub. Private it is 🙃

Virgo24 · 02/03/2023 20:50

Hi there,

I'm going to my first appointment next week at GRI and have had to lose weight due to my bmi, I can't seem to shift the last 3lbs yet to get me under the bmi of 30. Does anyone know how strict they are with this ?

Original poster
heatherandhares · 02/03/2023 22:13

Ros456 · 02/03/2023 17:30

Had a telephone appointment today and was advised the waitlist for IVF is around 8 months. I totally forgot to ask if they accept previous test results. I was a bit floored by the news that I'd have to wait around 2 years for a laparoscopy due to potential blocked tub. Private it is 🙃

Sorry to hear that - do you mean 8 months from your telephone appointment today? That's much longer than I was expecting even on a relatively pessimistic timescale...

OP posts:
Southsiderg4 · 03/03/2023 13:44

Hi everyone. I’m sorry you’re all going through this as well. We were referred by the GP in October and have our first appointment with the assisted conception unit at the GRI at the end of March. It’s a telephone appointment and I don’t really know what to expect. We haven’t had any tests done apart from a day 21 blood test which was useless as due to my really long and irregular cycles was at the total wrong time. My husband has also had a semen analysis. What will happen at the telephone appointment? Will they just arrange further tests? Also does anyone know whether they offer clomid/letrozole or if it’s straight to more invasive treatment? The paperwork they sent out with my appointment only mentions IUI or IVF. Thanks and wishing you all the best in your journey x

Virgo24 · 04/03/2023 10:17

I think it depends on what your results are, after we had our 21 day test and the semen analysis we were then referred to a gynaecologist who then sent me for a transvaginal ultrasound and a HSG test to see if my tubes were blocked. She then referred us to GRI and the consultant advised she was putting us forward for ICSI and our first appt is next week, I've just been told now though that my BMI needs to be under 30, I asked when we were first referred but the girl on the phone told me not to worry about it! Only 3lbs so hoping I can get that off and they won't be too strict co sidering how close I am! Good luck at your appointment hopefully you will be quick in getting to treatment stage

itsmschanandlerbong · 05/03/2023 21:10

Cocoogam · 02/03/2023 07:34

Thanks itsmschanandlerbong and congrats!

So is it correct once you have one ivf nhs child, you aren’t eligible for a 2nd even though natural conceiving can not occur?

Can you remember how long you waited from first nhs consult to starting your first ivf cycle? I know Covid may have changed it. Did you feel it went well through the NHS?

thanks

Thank you! When you've had a live birth you no longer qualify for NHS treatment.

So I think it was around 8 months but during covid so would have been longer.

I have no complaints at all about my NHS treatment. The staff are lovely and are so good at putting you at ease. We're about to start a private sibling round and are going back to GRI again because of this.

itsmschanandlerbong · 05/03/2023 21:11

Virgo24 · 02/03/2023 20:50

Hi there,

I'm going to my first appointment next week at GRI and have had to lose weight due to my bmi, I can't seem to shift the last 3lbs yet to get me under the bmi of 30. Does anyone know how strict they are with this ?

Good luck at your appointment! They are very strict with this, it needs to be under 30 or they'll ask you to come back. Try low carbing for those last few lbs. I know the struggle, on both cycles I was only a couple of pounds under 30 BMI.

Virgo24 · 05/03/2023 21:18

itsmschanandlerbong · 05/03/2023 21:11

Good luck at your appointment! They are very strict with this, it needs to be under 30 or they'll ask you to come back. Try low carbing for those last few lbs. I know the struggle, on both cycles I was only a couple of pounds under 30 BMI.

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Thank you so much! Is it just the once they will take my weight or do they do it through the cycle?