How important is to choose a clinic that’s close to home?

[Danielle2500]

We are in the process of choosing a clinic for our NHS funding. They have provided a list of clinics to choose from, however, most of them are 1-1.5 hours drive from us (there is one even 2 hours away).
One is reasonably close to us but has dreadful reviews (Create in St Albans).

what is everyone’s experience?

You need to take into account that you will likely be going to the clinic every other day in the second week of your cycle, for scans to check progress, then egg collection, then transfer 3 to 5 days later.

So for at least 1 to 2 weeks, you will be travelling there often. So a longer distance might take its toll, on top of everything else.

But again, it is only 1 to 2 weeks, and then it stops. So think about if it is doable for you!

Go with the best clinic, it's hopefully only a short period out of your life. Don't get me wrong, it is a pain to travel for scans and particularly egg collection and transfer, but if you don't have a nearby clinic anyway then the difference between 1.5 hours and 2 hours is negligible and you may stay in a hotel the night before egg collection for example.

Go for the best clinic you can OP x

Hi Op,

I lived really close to a clinic , only 15 minutes or so away and went with a different clinic based on reviews / research and it was at least an hours drive away . We stayed in a hotel night before EC just to avoid any unexpected motorway dramas. I would recommend a better clinic anytime over distance.

With regard to Create St Albans , I think they are a satellite clinic to St Paul’s , meaning you would need to travel to London for the majority of the big stuff ( egg collections/ transfers anyway and only St Albans for monitoring scans .

They also specialise in “ mild” IVF which may or may not suit you dependant on your needs.