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?

@StillTTC7 i felt like I had did loads of research and knew everything then came on here and felt like I still had so much to learn! So great to talk to people who are really knowledgable about it all.

yeah it’s so hard to navigate and make sure you have all the right tests and everything that they want, our appointment with dr roberts was good in that way because he told us all the blood tests etc we would need so we were able to start getting them booked in while we waited.

yes our GP was the same, honestly think we would have got told to just keep trying forever. It’s so frustrating when you know it’s not normal. We’re coming up to 3 years trying now because we waited over 2 to go to the dr but just kept thinking it’s bound to happen soon.

im looking forward to getting my plan, hopefully I won’t have to wait too long! Do you just have to do one injection every day for now?

@Sunshine180 yeah you’re right, so much first hand knowledge on here! The acronyms are wild, it takes me a while to decipher 😆

Going to that doctor sounds like a great idea, wish we had known that! What is his other clinic called? I have asked for test results from TFP for NHS appointment just in case thanks ☺️

No once you get the online consents done you’ll get your nurses planning appointment and that’s when you’ll get your plan! Do they order the medication for you as well?

Yes still only the one injection, but sometimes it’s done via two injections with the odd numbers in the dose / vial. We’ll find out Saturday if they have done their job…

@StillTTC7 i know, I’m forever googling acronyms trying to work out what they mean 😂

Dundonald consulting rooms, I think there’s a few different types of consultants there but a few gynaecologists. Yes that was a good idea to have a record of them, when I got my AMH done privately they seemed to upload it onto some sort of NHS profile. I had brought a printed copy to my NHS appointment with me but the consultant already had it. Not sure if TFP would do this too.

oh that’s good I wasn’t sure if we would have to have a couple of appointments before starting. They said today they’re waiting on the nursing team reviewing our chart then we will get the rest of the consents. I’m not too sure what way it will work with getting the medication tbh, I had assumed they would just give us it at the hospital but I’m not too sure.

I have my fingers crossed all goes well for you on Saturday! It’s just one anxious wait after another with the whole process isn’t it.. did they tell you how many eggs they thought you had growing at your last scan?

@Sunshine180 haha me too! Aw here that’s a good job! Totally makes sense to do that as actually. Knowing my luck TFP don’t, but hopefully will get the print outs like you!

Your place might be different, but it was definitely straight to planning appointment after forms! Hopefully it’ll be the same and then it’s go time. I think I’m on the long protocol, which had a down regulation injection on day 21 of my cycle which was intramuscular in the butt cheek but it was a tiny sting just. And yeah hopefully you can just walk out with your big bag of drugs haha.

No the Dr doing the scan was very quiet actually, I just heard him reading out numbers to the nurse to jot down. He didn’t say too many so I think only a few follicles, which I'm preparing myself for! From previous scans I knew I only had a select few follicles in each ovary anyhow so here’s hoping some decent eggs are ready!

Do you have to travel far or is it local enough for you?

@StillTTC7 fingers crossed it will be the same, I feel so close to starting now but still so far if that makes sense.

aw that injection doesn’t sound too nice but at least it was only the one. I was told I’ll be on short protocol so I think that means I’ll just start injections on the first day of my cycle. I had 30 follicles at my scan so I think that means I might be at risk of OHSS so I think that is why short protocol and low dosage is used to start with but should hopefully know for definite soon enough.

Quality is better than quantity so hopefully you’ll have some good mature eggs!

It would take about 30mins to get to RFC with no traffic but depending on times can probably take close to an hour. And I’ve heard the parking there can be a nightmare so will have to allow for that too. I’ve seen a lot of people saying scans can be very early in the morning though so maybe they’ll be at 8 or so before the traffic gets too bad.

I think we’re quite lucky to be relatively close because I think the only clinics in NI are all in Belfast so could be pretty far for some people. Do you have far to travel for it?

are you doing ICSI or just IVF?

@Sunshine180 the different protocols are so interesting! Great news about the chance of loads of eggs though! Hopefully you don’t feel much discomfort and no sign of OHSS! Will you get more scans to keep an eye do you reckon?

Yes fingers crossed for some good eggs, it only takes one as they say! And yeah I have been to the RVH quite a bit and the car park is an absolute nightmare so definitely leave yourself good time for it. Though as you say morning jaunts should be quicker to get there so hopefully will balance out 😁

Not too far, we’re more North so a good hour gets us there. Better for morning appointments as you say! And hopefully just IVF at the minute, but I suppose any eventuality could happen so keeping an open mind!

As far as I remember my scans were around 7.30am and 8.15am at RFC. Parking at that time of morning wasn't too bad , it was always quiet and plenty of spaces.
@Sunshine180 I was on short too. I did 150 bemfola. I started on day 6 of my cycle. I had lots of follicles on first scan (pcos)
but by second scan they had reduced and by collection Only ended up with 10 follicles. Left ovary stopped responding and growing follicles. Got 7 eggs but out of that only 4 suitable. From that 3 fertilsed properly and all 3 made it to blast but quality was very poor. We transferred two embryos as a result and I'm currently 4 months pregnant. Our 3rd couldn't be frozen tho due to the quality so don't obsess too much over embryo grades as even the very low quality ones an result in pregnancy

@StillTTC7 I‘m not sure if I’ll have extra scan tbh or how many is usual. Will hopefully find out once I get my nurse appointment. How often have you been going for scans? Good luck for your scan tomorrow! Hoping all goes smoothly for you and you get the go ahead for Monday.

@NightSkyWanderer oh that’s good to hear about the parking early in the morning, I had been worrying reading about hour long queues and everything!

oh I didn’t realise injections could start later in the cycle I always thought it had to be day 1, that gives me more hope for getting started in my next cycle! Were you still able to do a fresh transfer with the large number of follicles? My initial scan I had 30 and have read that could lead to a freeze all but as you say they may not all grow.

that was a really good fertilisation rate. Congratulations on your pregnancy that’s amazing!! Love hearing success stories! Was that your first transfer? Do they only let you do a double transfer if you’re over a certain age?

@Sunshine180 yeah I think it’s all just play it by ear really! Scan went okay today thanks! I have 3 follicles that have grown, and they want me to do the injections for another couple of days to try and get the last few over the line so another scan on Monday and then will get word on collection hopefully!

@StillTTC7 aw that’s good you have 3 growing! Hopefully you will find out on Monday about egg collection then

@Sunshine180 yeah will let you know!

@StillTTC7 how did your scan go this morning?

Hi @Sunshine180, it all went quite well I think. Doctor was fab and seemed happy with follicle growth, but I didn’t ask how many so I’m not expecting there to be that many eggs come collection on Wednesday if that makes sense? Just happy to know the number we might get on the day. Trigger injection tonight!

Are you any further on with your portal / consents yet?

@StillTTC7 thats great you’re all set for Wednesday then. Yeah that’s a good approach to it, counting now won’t change the number come Wednesday so no point obsessing over numbers. It’s definitely quality over quantity anyway!

yes we got our consent forms through today so we are going to do them soon and hopefully get them all finished this evening. They also asked me to send the nursing team the date of my last period so hopefully they’re starting to look at dates and things!

@Sunshine180 yeah that’s what I’m trying to stick with in my head at least. Quality is right 🤞🏻

That’s great news! Yes sounds like it could be a good sign, I hope the dates lines up in your favour!

@StillTTC7 hope your trigger injection goes ok! Is this the last injection you will have to do then?

Thanks! I really hope the dates line up too but if not at least we should be on track for March cycle and will have an official date! Feels weird it finally being so close And things are actually moving when it feels like it’s just been a waiting game for so long

@Sunshine180 thank you! It was into the leg and totally fine! Last injection yeah, give my pin cushion tummy a rest haha.

Yes I have my fingers crossed for you that it goes ahead this cycle! But even if it doesn’t, it’s nearly February already and it’s a short month! Always a silver lining somewhere

@StillTTC7 thats great you’ve got to the end of your injections! One day off before tomorrow lol.

We got our consent forms completed last night so hopefully will hear back quickly and I think the next stage will be to book a nurse planning appointment

@StillTTC7 i just got our full calendar and schedule for meds through and I’m starting in my February cycle! Can’t believe it!

I’ve to take gonal-f and then it adds centrotide - did you take these? Feel like I need to fully research them now!

Oh wow @Sunshine180 that is excellent news! You’ll be starting so soon, how exciting for you both! What a nice update to get this morning. I must say, they seem to be very efficient so hats off to NHS.

No I didn’t take either, maybe it’s the difference of the long and short protocols? Yeah definitely get a wee read up, and I’d say you’ll find some info in other forums too!

@StillTTC7 yeah I’ve been really impressed at how quick they’ve been with everything since we’ve got to the top of the list. They’re really great at replying to portal messages as well.

I’ve been given an appointment for Monday for some bloods and BMI check etc and to collect medication so hopefully they will explain all the meds then. Exciting that things are moving and we have a date!

how are you feeling for tomorrow?

That’s excellent, you’re in for some good care then. Very fast re the meds, that’s super exciting! I was so anal about mine in the fridge, no food stuff allowed near and can’t touch the edges in case it froze 😂

I’m feeling okay about the actual procedure / anaesthetic part, but I’m definitely a bit nervous about the outcome. Actually I think I’m more worried about the waiting to see how many / if any develop into decent embryos. Even if I got two decent eggs that got to the finish line great, but I’d be worried about 10 not so decent eggs making it. Does that even make sense? Lol

@StillTTC7 oh that’s a great point that I hadn’t even thought of, things in the back of our fridge have been freezing a bit so I’ll have to sort that. I’ll maybe get a separate wee storage basket I can put all my meds in.

yes I understand what you mean, I feel like through the whole process you just worry about one thing then once past that stage it’s on to worrying about something else. I have my fingers crossed for good news for you. Is your potential transfer date Monday then? Do you have to take any more medication from now? Also do you know will they measure your lining? Sometimes I feel like my periods can be quite light so I’m a bit worried about that but both the TFP and the NHS consultant said it was fine so hopefully it is.

@Sunshine180 maybe I was just being over cautious but I thought it wise to keep meds away from the walls of the fridge just in case! A wee basket would be a great idea.

Yes that’s exactly it. Constant worry about each step, but trying not to. Thank you very much, it will either be Monday or Tuesday apparently. I didn’t know they did 6 day transfers so will wait and see. I don’t know if they measure it or not, the consultant was saying things about my womb and uterus but I didn’t really take it in! I might ask after tomorrow. That’s good that they’re reassuring you, it must be all okay then. I think if they had any concerns they’d definitely tell you as they have no fear telling us other issues!

The only meds I have after this will be progesterone pessaries which I’m not excited about lol! Hoping you get a different form of progesterone if you’re prescribed it!