IVF NHS funding process

[She1992]

Hi there, I had my first fertillity gyno appontment today, and they concluded IVF/ICSI is the best route for us. The Gyno said that the next steps were for him to send a referral letter to my GP gor the NHS funding. He then said for me to book an appintment with my GP. I didn't realise the funding goes to GP and then I have to go back to GP. Would I then get seen by a clinic? Is this the same process others have had? Or has this been different? Would be great to hear the process in how you had it done and also the timings. Any help greatly appreciated thank you

We went to the gp for unexplained infertility. He referred us to the hospital and we never spoke
to gp about it again. All future appointments were at hospital. They did have to apply to funding and that was to some board. Not sure if gp was a part of that decision to fund us be we had no more appointments with him.

Thanks for replying back to me. This is the way I thought it would happen, so worrying now that I'm gonna go back to GP and feel like I'm going backwards (initially took 6 months for the gyno appintment so worried will have to start again with this and have to have another gyno appintment or something)

Could you ring the hospital back to clarify as the GP is not an expert In that field so I just don’t know why you would go back there. He can’t do any more for you. Could it be they didn’t explain it right and your next appointment is with them once they know if they have had the finding approved?

Thank you, I will try to ring them to confirm. He said that he would start the process for the funding, and a referral will be sent to the GP, and then I would need to book an appintment with the GP. I wonder if perhaps they will do the referral but GP will also recieve it? Would hospital normally sort it all out then? A bit strange that it's happened this way, hopefully it's now slowed down the process :(

I remember going to GP first about infertility problems and they referred to Gynecology’s hospital and in that hospital apartment they sorted the rest of the stuff like forms ect , I never went back to gp after first time 🤗

after that first appointment they just sorted out my next appointments with them and I would get a letter with the date. I didn’t have to chase anything up or book any appointments myself.

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This is what I thought would happen. Did you sort the forms in that appintment, or did you recieve things after? I wonder if perhaps the gyno has started the funding process, but I will hear back by appointment/recieve forms in the future. I feel like this may have taken me back slightly!

Thank you, I will try to ring them to confirm. He said that he would start the process for the funding, and a referral will be sent to the GP, and then I would need to book an appintment with the GP. I wonder if perhaps they will do the referral but GP will also recieve it? Would hospital normally sort it all out then? A bit strange that it's happened this way, hopefully it's now slowed down the process :(

Thanks for replying back to me. This is the way I thought it would happen, so worrying now that I'm gonna go back to GP and feel like I'm going backwards (initially took 6 months for the gyno appintment so worried will have to start again with this and have to have another gyno appintment or something)

Did you have to do anything in that first appointment, to do with forms etc.? Or was the next step that you recieved an appointment and weren't from there? How long after did they make contact?

@She1992 hey , Im finding it a bit hard to remember exactly because I did this about 3 years ago , but as much as I remember is , I went to GP , talked about our infertility and GP agreed that we would very likely be accepted for ivf , then GP reffered us to Gynecology apartment for further checks and I am pretty sure here is where we filled in the forms with the specialist . Then as I remember we got forms sent home few weeks later saying we have been acccepted for ivf by NHS and which clinic . And then you had an appointment times written there with the clinic to go from there to start ivf , and my god there is a lot of forms to sign before starting ivf in the clinic 😝like consent forms and ect ect , smear test results from GP , a paper copy , has to be in date no more than 2 years old , I remember it was a lot of messing around getting all the paperwork together before actually starting the IVF for real . I think it took few months from refferal from GP to actually starting IVF . And the few months was to fill forms and wait for forms in the post to come .

Mine was a slightly different situation in that I went in the January but needed to lose weight to qualify for the nhs. They made me an appointment for June to check on weight loss. I lost 3.5stone by June so we then got the go ahead and we did the forms then. I had the treatment in September and am currently 37 weeks pregnant. If I was the weight I needed at that first appointment they would have filled in the paperwork then I think.

Yes I have heard about the forms and how long they take to complete 🤣 Glad to hear the process was quite smooth and quickly, it seems once the funding is approved and contact with the clinic has been made, things tend to go through quite fast. I think I will give the hospital a call on Tuesday just to check if the process that they have completed for me is correct, as the last thing I want is having to wait another 6 months to see a gyno again, when it could have been done there and then 😟

Ahh congratulations to you, 37 weeks that's lovely news 🥰 so strange how I never filled in any paperwork at this first gyno appointment, and they just said the referral for funding was being sent it. Everyone seems to fill in forms there and then, I am just hoping that maybe something will come in the post soon but I will try to call them next week to clarify

Heyy Guys, I have my first Gyno appointment next week Saturday. So happy and nervous all at once. Can anyone tell me what I should expect.

we got a bunch of consent forms to fill out before hand. Is that normal. We hand test done privately and figured out it’s male factor.will they make us repeat all the tests again if it was done this year.

I know the NHS is so overwhelmed but I don’t want to be rushed out of this appointment without getting all the information I need so is there any questions you think I should ask?

if anyone could reply that would be great

Hi there, that is super exciting. It may feel nerve wracking at this stage but the great thing is, is that you are onto the next step and hopefully closer to the end of this journey. It looks like you have had all of your tests, so I think if you/parter have had the blood tests, HSG, ultrasound, sperm testing etc., then at this appointment, the next steps are to likely talk you through IUI, IVF, ICSI etc. They shouldn't make you take any of these tests again, we had all of ours this year and didn't have to repeat any. It is great that you have the consent forms already - we are still awaiting for these but are currently awaiting next stages for ICSI NHS funding (our issue is male factor also).

I would definitely ask them what the next few months look like - if it's likely to be IVF, how long could this take etc. I guess it would be dependant on how long you have been trying, if it's 2 years, I think they will push straight for the fertility help. From what I hear with the NHS, once the funding is through (it should take no longer than 6 weeks), then you pick a clinic and then get the ball rolling with the clinic. Perhaps also ask if there is anything partner can do for male factor results. For us, we have tried supplements/cutting out coffee, more exercise etc, but still is a problem.

Wishing you all the luck on this journey - happy for you to reach out and PM if you would like to keep in touch/ask any other questions etc.

Heyyy , thank you so much for the reply.

wishing luck on your journey. Will definitely PM after my appointment to let you know how it went.

Hi,

I also have gyne appointment coming up, and I wondered if anyone had any further updates on the process after this point?

Most people seem to be referred straight into IVF clinic/departments, but I've been referred to a community gyne service, so I don't know if actually getting any closer.

Thanks!