First IVF appointment at the end of Jan

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Hi, and Happy New Year!

We have just found out we have our initial appointment with the IVF team at Sheffield at the end of January (NHS referral).

Huge shock as we weren’t expecting it so soon. I’ve read a few books and done lots of googling but just wondered if anyone had any advice on questions to ask, I’m really nervous and don’t want to forget anything.

I’m guessing from what I’ve read it’s more of a paperwork appointment, and they will just give us lots of information, but any advice would be appreciated.

We’ve been unsuccessfully TTC for 18 months, H2B (41) is type 1 diabetic and I’m 36.

Thanks in advance!

Hello, at the first appointment expect lots of questions from the medical team. And you’ll probably be asked to have bloods and a couple of scans to rule out blockage etc. Do ask what the timescales are like in- between appointments, how do you get in touch with the team in- between appointments, how many cycles you will be offered and what the age cut off is for your CCG.

First appointment is usually swabs, paperwork, blood tests potentially (to check AMH) and lots of signing forms. Then basically you are ready to go when your next period begins! Xx

Thankyou so much! That’s brilliant, seems really quick!

Thankyou that’s great!

Hi! Please can i ask when your gp referral went to them? I'm curious about the sheffield waiting times.

We’ve just come out of our appointment, the Doctor was lovely.

I initially went to my GP in May 23, went back to follow up as we still weren’t pregnant, and was referred to Sheffield in Sept 23. Our first appointment was booked at the end of December for Jan 29th (today).

We’ve been booked for more tests and I’ve been booked for a scan and a hysterosalpingogram next month.

Hope that helps a bit! Xx

Hi! Can I ask how it's all going? We've just received confirmation of our first appointment, I can't believe it!

Hey - when is yours ?

Our first appt is early jun

Im hoping they test my amh @ our first appt

I tested it last summer with hertility health

It was high due to pcos

Havent tested amh since

Had an early miscarriage last autumn tho

How are things ?

Ok thanks, we have our results appointment at Sheffield gynaecology on Monday 3rd of June, with our consultant. Not too sure what will happen at that one but I’m hoping they will tell us about funding and if we are suitable to go down the IVF path.

We have found out that it is more than likely a male factor issue but will know more when we get our actual results (repeated bloods, semen analysis and HSG/ultrasound results)

How are you getting on?

xx

Keep us updated

We have a big appt early jun too.

Havent had private or nhs tests back re my partner yet
But wil have the private ones back by end of the month

Are you at Sheffield too? Sending lots of positivity!

I’ve found it can be quite lonely, so if you want to chat I’m more than happy to send you my email/number xxx

You're already so much further on.

I don't know what to expect next, I was told the first appointment as jessops is 'to sort paperwork'. I have had tests a couple of years ago but I don't know if these will need to be repeated or not. So I guess I'll find out next week.

Thank you
No , not Sheffield
Happy to connect via email

Our first appointment wasn’t what I thought a paperwork one would be. Our consultant asked us loads of questions and filled in some paperwork, but we didn’t sign anything or get anything to take away and read.

She just set us up with our referrals for repeated testing and ordered my Hsg.

I’m pretty sure they will want to repeat all your tests to make sure you are as up to date as you can be.

The staff there were lovely, but they were running quite behind with appointments last time (over an hour) so you might need to be patient :)

Keep us updated!! Xx

Thank you that's really helpful. I started the process once during covid (long story) so I didn't meet anyone that I didn't physically need to be with, so this first appointment is all new!
I will, you do too. We're also at jessops (unsure if I said before) so it's helpful talking through rough timings and the process.

Hi sorry for commenting on an old post, our GP referred us to Jessops 8 weeks ago and I called as I hadn’t heard anything, they’ve said they have the referral (after failing to find me in the system) and we’ll hear back in probably 4 months with a letter to be able to book an appointment. Does this sound correct? I’m worried we haven’t got a letter to say we’ve been accepted.

could I also ask what everyone’s experiences have been? We’ve got male factor infertility. Thanks

Hi!

We were referred last September (23) after a long wait with our GP. We got our initial appointment about 6 weeks later for January this year. Everything after that went quite fast.
That does sound right to me, we should have started our first round last months but we’ve postponed due to getting married at the beginning of Nov and having to redo several tests, so starting our first at the end of Nov now.

We never got a letter saying we’d been accepted, all the paper work was done during our appointments and you’ll get a document with your funding information during one of those appointments.

We are also male factor, and Jessop’s have been brilliant with us, right from the first appointment. The staff are lovely and our Consultant has been brilliant

xx

Thank you so much that puts my mind at ease a little. Hopefully we’ll get a letter with an appointment in the not too distant future. It reassuring to know the consultants are great and the wait isn’t too long.

I hope you have the best wedding, I know everyone says it but enjoy every minute of it as time just disappears on the day and wish you all the luck for your upcoming round of IVF xx

Aah thankyou so much! It’s all coming really fast now, 6 weeks tomorrow!

I was worried about holding off before, but I’m actually really pleased it’s worked out the way it has. Hopefully will be stress free after the wedding ready to get started.

Please feel free to private message if you have any questions or want an IVF buddy! It can be a lonely journey in parts xx

Hi everyone,

I first went to my GP in April 2024 and he referred us to fertility at Jessops in June 2024. I called a few times to chase and was told that currently, it's at least 6 months before you are even contacted for your first appointment (which would mean I would be contacted in December 2024). I have the NHS app and I logged on randomly at the end of October and saw my referral. I could actually book my first appointment with Jessops for December. This means it took 4 months from being referred to get my appointment, which is booked for 6 months after my initial referral. I hope you get yours soon, it's an agonizing wait.

Also, thanks so much for writing about your experiences. It's really helped me as I'm finding the whole thing very lonely. Wishing you all luck with your upcoming appointments (and the wedding!!) :)

Thank you for sharing your experience as well!

I finally got my appointment through for Jessops as well but ours came via letter with an appointment already on for just over 4 weeks time (from when we received the letter) which is now only a couple of weeks away.

We were really lucky that it will be 16 weeks from the referral going in to our first appointment. So less than the 6 month wait we were also told when ringing up. I’m not sure if this is because we have male factor infertility or if this is just how it is.

I wish you all the luck in your first appointment if you want to message me directly as well you can or I can try and update you on how my appointment goes!

I know it’s been a while- but how are you getting on with Jessops?
We were referred in August last year, first appointment in January (where they sent me for the usual repeat ultrasounds) results June where they then sent me for an AMH test… and we’re in absolute limbo. Our next appointment to discuss that simple blood test result/next step should have been end of July- but they booked us for September, then today they cancelled it due to ‘unforeseen circumstances’ (?!), rang and they said we have to ring again closer to the time to see when we can rebook as there are no appointments available past September currently.
I can’t help but feel very sad about it all because I only read positive things about Jessops fertility and I don’t know why it’s so difficult for us…. A whole year and just one ultrasound and blood test.
After a few appointments/ a year did things speed up for you or IVF approval happen quickly? Is that a few years wait too? I have zero clue what to expect as I know of no one who has been through this and my friend who is a doctor just repeatedly tells me that when I turn 36 in a few weeks things should speed up which I don’t believe! Think I need to hear something positive.
We’re currently considering taking out a loan to try and fund all of this private…

Hi, we sadly had a miscarriage in January after our first round at the end of November at Jessops. We had our only 2 embryos transferred and the one that stuck stopped growing at 5 weeks.

When we went for our follow up consultation to arrange to start again, they repeated some bloodwork and weren’t happy with my liver enzyme levels.

To cut a very long story short I paid to go private for liver investigation scans and they found a 7-8cm tumor in my liver along with several smaller ones. I am just recovering from a liver resection now.

If Jessops hadn’t pushed for further tests or our first pregnancy had continued it could have been a very different outcome for me so I’m really grateful to them. They have been great with us, although not the quickest to get back to you I must admit.

I have my next appointment to see Miss Tamankhar on the 1st of September to discuss our next steps and hopefully starting our next round.

I’ve just turned 38 and our treatment approval appointment was in June 2024, we started our first cycle end of Nov 2024. We were referred by my GP in September 2023.
My husband is 43 and had type one diabetes and our issue is male factor. I had a HSG and blood tests in March 24.

I believe this time of year is always busy for NHS patients, and it’s slows a little towards the end of the year? I’m sure that’s what we were told

Hope this helps a little, please feel free to private message me x