Belfast Fertility Clinics

[Sunshine180]

does anyone here have any experience with fertility clinics in Belfast. For background my husband and I have been TTC for 2 years now and my dr has referred me to gynae but the waitlist is currently 3 years. My husband has booked for his semen analysis and if it comes back ok I assume the nhs will just tell us we have to wait on my gynae appointment so I was going to look into going private.

I have seen In Ovo do an IVF package for £5k has anyone with experience of them experienced are there many hidden costs on top of this please?

@Sunshine180 I don’t remember much about it to be honest lol was very quick and the staff were all lovely.

I found the FET a lot easier than the fresh transfer though. Think I was still feeling a bit bloated from the meds and uncomfortable after the EC for the fresh transfer. Not at all painful, just a bit uncomfortable if that makes sense?

FET was a lot better for me and I think I was probably less stressed as I’d been through it before and knew what to expect.

@daisy9207 thats good to hear! Yes that’s understandable about the FET. I’m not sure if I’ll be doing a fresh transfer yet but I really hope I am able to just want everything done as quickly as possible lol.

did you take any time off work during your treatment?

@Sunshine180 the experience with TFP is on the whole fairly similar to RFC so far to be honest. Dr Agbaje is a doctor at TFP too so nice to see a familiar face. I'll know better when I go for scans/EC etc, but I've had no bother so far!

@Sunshine180 100% would be great to have the fresh transfer if you can as you get it as part of the NHS cycle and as you say, don’t have to wait for FET.

I didn’t take much time off for the EC and first transfer. I felt like I’d already taken loads of time off for other appointments in the lead up to it and wanted to keep as much leave as I could in case I needed further appointments for private treatment or FETs.

There was less appointments leading up to the FET so I ended up taking the week after the FET off as at that point I felt like I could have done with more time off the first time round.

It’s so hard to know what to do and everyone’s different. On the one hand, I liked having work as a distraction but then it was nice having a bit of a break from everything and being able to take it easy.

@Patientlywaiting37 that is good to hear. I’ve only seen Dr McManus in RFC so far but have heard good things about them all and as Belfast is so small they all seem to work across a few of the different clinics.

@daisy9207 i was told if I don’t get to have a fresh transfer I will be entitled to 2 FETs so hoping that is correct but didn’t ask too much as really hoping for the fresh transfer and no OHSS.

I am planning to take the week of my collection off as I know I’ll need two days anyway and it’s quite stressful not knowing when it will be until last minute! I weave just told work I am having a planned procedure and will be taking it as sick leave though. So many people seem to use their annual leave for it and it seems so unfair that they have to!

I would really like the 2ww off to avoid stress as I have quite a stressful job so hopefully the GP will be able to provide a sick note for that.

@Sunshine180 I really do hope that’s the case as really unfair only having the one FET left if you’ve lost out on your fresh transfer for reasons outside your control. I never even thought to ask the question at the time though and then didn’t apply to me so never had to consider it.

It’s so hard to manage your life around this. I was able to use medical leave for some appointments but then just used annual leave for days I didn’t really need off but just wanted for my own sake.

I would also get stressed at work and felt like things that didn’t usually stress me out did all of a sudden. Probably already on edge because of the treatment so didn’t take much to make me feel worse.

Then never mind the stress of rethinking my life choices and wondering what I could have done differently lol I genuinely think I went a bit mad during the whole process.

@daisy9207 yes that’s exactly how I feel at the minute, definitely more sensitive to everything and hardly have the headspace to concentrate at work atm never mind in a few weeks when it’s all happening. It’s so hard not to completely overthink everything isn’t it.

Did you tell work about your treatment? We have only told our parents so am hoping I can avoid telling work if possible.

@Sunshine180 I told my manager but I’m very lucky that my work is really supportive and I felt like I could. Made taking time off a lot easier and they understood that a lot of it was last minute and outside of my control.

I know for a fact that if I was in my previous job I wouldn’t have told them because it was just a completely different environment.

@daisy9207 aw that was good I’m sure it made all the difference! I’m torn between telling my manager, I know she would be really good about it but I just want to keep it private if I can so I will see what happens.

Hi @daisy9207 - just seen your post re stress in work. I am so glad (not glad you experienced it obviously) that someone else was like that. I am currently in the TWW and since the transfer I have been a total wreck. I have never felt like this or behaved this way before. I honestly can’t believe how much this has affected me, I’m usually easy breezy! Lol

@StillTTC7 it’s awful and I don’t think you can explain it unless you’ve been through it!

My watch kept giving me relax reminders because of my heart rate and prior to starting treatment that had only happened maybe once or twice. I definitely thought I was going mad with how I reacted to things but the only good thing was I was completely aware of it. So I’d maybe have a rant with my husband and then immediately admit afterwards that nothing I said was rationale haha.

I felt so awful after the failed transfer due to all the emotions over that short period of time that I didn’t know if I could go again. But you just have to pick yourself back up and I think the break before the FET was actually a good thing for me.

@StillTTC7 sorry to hear you’re feeling like that this week, totally understandable though! Will hopefully all be worth it soon!

@daisy9207 you’re right, every reaction seems so irrational and you know it is but your brain just won’t let you change your behaviour! Not enjoyable and hubby has been a saint. Your watch stats would have been up the left from all of that lol.

I’m sure it was so tough, but you’ve found the strength to muster through and go again which is just brilliant. And as I’m nearly sure I saw in a previous post from you, you know what to do now to help avoid those same stresses which should make it more manageable and enjoyable.
When did you say you begin FET plan sorry? I have missed so much.

Thanks @Sunshine180. I had been putting on a brave face but took a total wobbler with my hubby so kind of had to come clean to him and even myself that I was struggling, which actually helped weirdly. A problem shared and all that? I’m getting super nervous about test day though…
How have you been feeling with your tablets?

@StillTTC7 aw I’m sorry your feeling like that but I’m glad you feel better after speaking to your husband. Sometimes I think they just don’t realise how much it affects us. Is it next weekend your test?

Started my tablets yesterday but so far so good feel fine thankfully!

@StillTTC7 I’ve already had my FET which was successful. I definitely had a different mentality with the second transfer.

How're you finding the 2ww? I have to say I don’t miss the pessaries lol

@Sunshine180 yeah he’s been fab through it all which has made it easier. I think we’ve both been through enough stress recently, he brought on shingles last month he was so stressed lol. So a good understanding of it I guess!

It’s this Thursday actually, I got it wrong! They recommend a day 10 test as technically it is 14 days anyhow. So I need to chill! Glad you’re feeling okay, long may it continue!!

@daisy9207 aw amazing news! Sorry I didn’t pick up on that. How far along are you?
I was fine until I was woken out of my sleep at 4am this morning with the worst cramps and like a stabbing pain in my left hip. And I’ve been cramping a bit this morning so I’m totally paranoid…

Don’t even talk to me about the pessaries 😂 they are beyond a nightmare! Somedays I work in Belfast so I’m leaving by 5.30 ish so I have to get up at 4.30 for the morning one, it’s killing me slowly haha!

@daisy9207 congratulations on your fantastic news!! I had to freeze all and my review appointment was planned for start of march but it’s been moved back to the second week. I was hoping we’d get started straight after that but it sounds more like there’s another waiting period? which is really disappointing. It feels like we we’ve been trying unsuccessfully for an age and we’ve been attempting ivf since October and it could be quite a while yet before we even try for the first time. I’m trying to be positive about timelines and our bumps in the road couldn’t have been avoided but the waiting is the worst!!
at one of my appointment I was told things were changing from January and in NI we will get three attempts now at IVf- the third only if all other attempts have been unsuccessful which is great news for couples with frozen embryos.

@StillTTC7 oh at least Thursday is a little bit sooner! Have my fingers crossed for good news for you, will be well deserved after all the stress yous have been through

omg 4.30 wake up calls do not sound good to me at all, do you have to do that often?

@StillTTC7 that's crazy! Ok, now I feel bad for complaining cos at least I live and work in Belfast so was never up that early! After the FET I was using three a day for about 8 weeks so I just really fed up in the end.

Well I had cramps after both transfers. Because the first one failed, I completely panicked when I started cramping after the FET. The feelings were so similar and so I was convinced it hadn’t worked again and couldn’t even look at the pregnancy test. Try not to overthink all the symptoms, although I know easier said that done because at this point your super sensitive to every single feeling in your body. If you feel really concerned are you able to get a response from the clinic if you have any questions? I always felt reassured after speaking to the nurses.

I’m 12 weeks now btw.

@Anna531 I personally had to wait another 3-4 months for my FET but not sure what the wait time is at the minute! I’m also not sure if you would be different because you didn’t have your fresh transfer?

As much as I was really stressed at the time because of the wait, it flew in and I actually got myself into a better place mentally and physically for the FET. I know I can say this now cos I’m past that point, but I definitely felt that time allowed me to go into the FET with a much more positive mindset.

That would be amazing if true by the way!

@Anna531 thats so frustrating about having to wait to long but hopefully it won’t be too much longer for you now!!

yes at my initial consultation I asked loads of questions about funding and he was answering them but kept saying that’s just how it is at the minute I could change as if they know it’s going to?? Would be amazing if it did but we all know it takes years to actually get funding for everything here so I won’t hold my breath lol.

Thanks @Sunshine180 hopefully we'll get started in some way in March or April 😊
No probably best we don’t expect too much here in NI - not quickly anyway.
I’m not sure if my egg collection counts as one of my attempts, I must ask given we didn’t see it through to fresh transfer but I’m grateful we have our embryos frozen and if we need to look into private my partners happy to do so.
fingers crossed you have no issues with OHSS and the fresh transfer sticks! It’s a lot when you’re starting all the injections and working and trying not to over think everything x

@Sunshine180 thank you! I just want it to be Thursday tomorrow, but I will stay strong and no early testing! I’ve only had to do it a few times but by gosh I love my sleep so it hasn’t been ideal but I’d do it everyday like that if I had to!

@daisy9207 ohnmy gosh 8 weeks though, that’s a long old slog. Why did they recommend 8 if you don’t mind me asking? I was saying to @Sunshine180 that my portal says if positive test, to take until 12 weeks of pregnancy. But doctor on discharge from transfer said take the last one the night before pregnancy test. I’ve heard taking it can really help.
Yeah I’m a bit of a realist, so I’m not expecting this to work if I’m honest and I think I’m writing myself off early. I also feel like a have a bit of a flu today with aches and pains so this isn’t helping! It’s reassuring to hear that you experienced some cramping with the successful transfer. Also 12 weeks is so exciting. Have you told anyone yet?
I don’t want to pester anyone so I’m just going to keep quiet for now and see what Thursday brings!!

@StillTTC7 I don’t think you stay on the pessaries for as long if it’s a fresh transfer? For the FET, I had enough pessaries to do me for a few days after pregnancy test and then I had to go collect the rest. I was told I could stop taking tablets and pessaries at my 7 week scan so just slowly weaned myself off them.

I also started to bleed a few days before I was due to do my pregnancy test after my fresh transfer so for my FET, I had injections as well as the tablets and pessaries. So not sure if using the pessaries for so long was just specific to me because of my first transfer?

I also felt like I had a cold/flu! I was so angry that I’d picked something up cos I hadn’t been going out or been around people and couldn’t understand where I’d got it from.

We haven’t told people yet as wanted to wait until our scan which we haven’t had yet. I was so sick at the start of the pregnancy I was really worried I had a virus so held off telling people and thought we’d maybe tell people after the 7 week scan. Then I had a bleed around the 7 week scan and that made me worry again and I decided just to wait until we have the 12 week scan. I probably sound a bit paranoid but we’ve waited this long we just decided to wait a bit longer to share with people!

@daisy9207 ahh okay I see. It’s all a big confusing. What were the tablets / injections you mentioned? More progesterone?

Aww that must have been heartbreaking. I’m dreading that happening to me and I’m paranoid it will. So odd re the flu feeling! I have also been in hiding, hate going into the office in case people have germs!

No you’re just right, I can only imagine the fears don’t ever go away. It’s the most exciting but scary thing to go through. Was your sickness extreme morning sickness you think? Or a virus as you say? Have you got your scan coming up soon?

@StillTTC7 the tablets were estrogen and then the pessaries and injections were progesterone. Because the pessaries were meant to hold off bleeding after the transfer and I bled early, they just gave me the injections after the FET as extra progesterone. I’d been taking the tablets in the lead up to the FET and think they’re just standard.

I was devastated when the fresh transfer failed and completely broke down having to tell people that knew we’d gone through it. I just didn’t want to go through that again so didn’t tell people about the FET.

I have no idea what it was. It was early in the pregnancy in December and so many people I knew were sick at that time so I’m not sure if I had Covid, a flu, a bug or cold!! I was physically sick once and had really weird body aches. I talked to one of the nurses and they thought it was too early to be pregnancy symptoms and that I’d maybe picked something up. Those symptoms didn’t last too long though and then I just continued feeling really tired and nauseous. Then I had a bleed just before my 7 week scan and panicked but every thing looked good at the scan and they said that can be quite common.

All I can say is what might seem like a negative symptom might not necessarily be anything bad. It’s so hard not to overthink everything but just try to stay cautiously optimistic. I felt like that was the best way to deal with it, hope for the best but not get my hopes up at the same time.

Have our scan this week so hoping all goes well and we will share the news at that point.

Fingers crossed for you with your test! Are you counting down how many sleeps you have left or was it just me that did that? Lol