Glasgow Royal Infirmary NHS IVF Waiting List

[Cherryblossom32]

Hi Everyone,

My fiancé and I have been ttc baby number 1 for 2 years now. We were referred by our GP to the Glasgow Greater Clyde Assisted Conception Service. And advised that if we are offered IVF we will be backdated to our initial referral date.

We were referred on 31st May 2023, and should have had our initial telephone consultation on 20th November. We didn’t get a phone call because the nurse was off sick and the clinic hadn’t been cancelled! So we were given the next appointment in 6 weeks time which is the 2nd January 2024, and this time is with a consultant.

Before our referral we had the standard tests through our gp including blood tests which confirmed ovulation, semen analysis with good results and a pelvic ultrasound with no signs of abnormalities. I also had a private pelvic ultrasound with the same results whilst waiting on the NHS appointment.

Has anyone experienced anything similar with ‘unexplained’ infertility also going through waits with the NHS?

I’ve heard mixed messages in regards to backdated IVF treatment, I would be interested to know how long after your initial assisted fertility appointment did you start any kind of treatment and if this was backdated or not. And what the process has been for you.

Thank you x

Hi 👋 I’m based in Stirling. I went to the doctors the beginning of September and had a blood test to check I was ovulating. My partner did the same. I was told there would be a long wait to see the gynaecologist but was offered an appointment at forth valley a month later. I had an ultrasound and then had to call up for an Hsg xray. Unfortunately between holidays and the radiologist being on holiday I had to wait 2 cycles, but I had it last Friday. I’ve been told 4/6 week wait for the results. 🤞I thought I had unexplained infertility, however, I’m pretty sure I saw the dye only going through one tube in the Hsg xray… but then again I came off the pill in 2019 so even with 1 blocked tube I feel like I should have been pregnant already 🫣I’d recommend taking some painkillers before the xray. It was uncomfortable but didn’t last very long. Good luck with your journey!

Hey, thank you for your reply! That’s good to hear you haven’t had to wait too long for your appointments. Hopefully you get your results soon and can move forward. I just got referred straight to the assisted conception service rather than gynaecology, I'm not sure if they offer HSG X-rays. Was it an internal ultrasound you had, mine was as just a pelvic one non invasive. And do you have an idea on what your next steps will be? Thank you and wishing you all the luck for the new year x

I had an internal ultrasound. I wasn’t expecting to have it, so it was a surprise! But it was totally fine, much much better than a smear test. So far my experience has been good- although I wish there was a road map of tests to getting to the point of being on the waiting list for IVF, but I guess everyone is different! I’m not sure what’s next. I’ve given up being hopeful each month that it’s going to happen naturally and am trying to be “glass half full” about waiting a year! Is your appointment in January in person? It’s hard to manage the disappointment of delays isn’t it! X

I suppose it probably helped that it was a surprise and glad it wasn’t too bad. Oh it would make this process so much better if there was. Yeah I feel the same I’m at the point that I don’t think it will happen for us now without a bit of help whatever that looks like. Our appointment in January is a telephone consultation, I have a list of questions and things I want to make sure to tell the consultant but I think I’ll ask about the internal scan and HSG as well. Hoping we get some answers in the new year x

We’re in the same boat and classed as ‘unexplained’. We were referred straight to ACS at GRI for IVF in March 2023. We had our first appointment (telephone) in September and were awaiting semen analysis. Had follow up in December and added to the waitlist. It doesn’t get backdated unfortunately, I did ask after hearing similar and she said the best they would do is backdate to November when semen analysis was done. The clock effectively resets from their targets when you’re added to the waitlist. I’ve been told there’s about an 8 month wait from being added to the list. So it’s around 14 months from referral to starting treatment.

Since then, I’ve met the consultant and had an internal ultrasound and some bloods taken for my thyroid (both normal - she couldn’t explain why I’m not falling pregnant). We’re now just waiting on ART appointments - no idea if the 8 months is for ART or actually starting treatment, I’m hoping it’s the latter. It’s such a long process, I hope your appointment was a bit more positive than mine!

Hi there,

how long have people been waiting to get booked in for IVF? I’ve phoned up 3 months now and been told to keep trying it’s so disheartening every month calling up to be told no. Just curious to see how long people are waiting?