Private HyCoSy in London

[CoolSummer89]

Hello,
Has anyone had a HyCoSy done privately in London and would recommend the clinic?
Context - no need to read, just I know some people like more before they give recommendations:
I'm 36, been TTC for 18 months and currently on the waiting list for NHS IVF and have been told to expect to wait for 2-3 months. The doctor told me that because fallopian tubes aren't relevant for IVF she wouldn't recommend a HyCoSy for me. I said fine but looked online and saw some research which said that around 40% of women who had experienced infertility of 1+ year or more, conceived within a few months of the procedure. I know this means that it's more likely not to work than work, but in an ideal world my DH and I would like 2 children, so I want to check that everything is working as hoped down there.
I contacted the team and said what the doctor had said, but I inquired if I can have one anyway while I am waiting. They said yes and to email them on CD1 which is today. I emailed them again and they said that according to my notes the doctor said I didn't need one, which is very frustrating as I had told them that and now I have got my hopes up. So now I am just considering going private as a last ditch before IVF starts in June/July.

Anyway that's my long rambling story, if anyone has a clinic recc I would be very grateful!

Hi @CoolSummer89 I've had one through https://www.clinicaldiagnostics.co.uk/about-cds/ who were recommended to me, I've since had a saline scan (just uterus not tubes, but I'm sure they'd do tubes too) at my IVF clinic which is the Lister Chelsea and both have seemed good and thorough!

I can attest that 2 close women friends of mine - one TTC for 18 months and the other for 26 months with the official diagnosis of 'unexplained infertility' made after a full panel of tests and scans...got as far as getting assessed and registered for IVF.

Both had a HyCoSy and one got her BFP after one cycle and the other during her 3rd cycle.

Both happily cancelled the IVF ! The advice was given that if they hadn't conceived in 3 months from the procedure that IVF was the sensible next step.

One was 35 and the other 37. Neither been pregnant before and not a single positive in all the many months of fertility tracking/dietary adjustment/supplementation and accupuncture!

I believe they had privately paid for HyCoSy at CRGH at Great Portland Street.

So definitely worth a thought, although whether you could access it as a stand alone treatment I am not sure.....as both friends of mine had been processed with all the tests before being recommended to go to a HyCoSy.....

Wishing you all the luck !!!!

Thanks so much @Orangewillow will look into both. Might also see if my NHS hospital will allow me to pay for one as I see they offer private services there too.

And thank you @Kittyberry for your personal stories. I don't want to get my hopes up, but it does seem statistically and anecdotally significant so I definitely want to try it before fully embarking on IVF.

Hospital has got back to me basically implying that if I do this test it delays the start of IVF - but I think on balance I would rather try this first. Oh well, hope I don't regret this.

Aside from waiting to have it done, it shouldn't hold you back, there's no downtime and you can TTC immediately afterwards. Personally I'd say worth it as it could also flag up any uterus issues that are better to know about sooner rather than later!

Thanks @Orangewillow you have been very kind and reassuring 🙂
They have agreed to a HyCoSy now but want me to message them when I am CD1. I’m furious as I’m currently CD2 and not sure why I should have to wait a whole cycle because of their mix up, as I first got in touch with them two weeks ago.
i guess I have been trying for 18 months now, what’s another couple of months delay.

That's bizarre, you're still early in your cycle and why does 1 day make a difference to being able to do it this month? I was told anytime in first half of the cycle is fine to have it done

I think their process is:
Request HyCoSy for patient
Patient starts period
They book HyCoSy for days 8-12

and because they have only put in my request today after I started my period I wonder whether the process can’t deal with the nuance. Have tried to push back but honestly wonder if I should just be thankful that they are allowing me to do it at all.

So frustrating! I suppose it depends how much energy you have to try and push back on it and fight to get it this month, totally fair if you can't be bothered!

Glad you got your hycosi @CoolSummer89 ! (I meant, glad you’ll get it). I was in the same boat (just referred for ivf but really wanted the knowledge that my tubes were open). I also had to push for it. It had no impact on waiting for ivf (which was delayed for other reasons in the end). I’m currently going through an ectopic pregnancy, and somehow it’s very reassuring to know that 1.5 years ago my tubes were clear. Also, I have actually spontaneously conceived twice since the hicosi after about 2.5 years of nothing. But both ended in mc. Still, there’s hope in that. I’m considering getting another when my tube has had time to heal to help clear adhesions. I’m told by nhs that they don’t offer that post-ectopic so I’m maybe trying privately. We doing our first private ivf as soon as I’m healed, so if I still have eggs left after that then I’ll try hycosi. The other option is an oil-based hsg (xray version) that apparently also helps significantly. Not cheap but god, neither is ivf. Best of luck!! (Sorry for the ramble!)

Hi @Nosejug not rambling at all, thank you for sharing your story. It's always comforting to know that we're not alone in this - sometimes it can feel that way!
I'm so sorry to hear about your losses and the ectopic that you are currently going through - really hope your tube heals as hoped and that your private IVF can start soon.
So your story to date is:

• Trying naturally for 2.5 years with no success
• Referred to NHS fertility services
• Recommended IVF straightaway
• You ask for HyCoSy to check patency of fallopian tubes
• You have IVF on NHS which is unsuccessful? how many rounds?
• You spontaneously conceive twice but both sadly end in MC
• You are currently having a third pregnancy, which is sadly an ectopic. Was this natural conception?

Did I understand that correctly? I'm so sorry to hear the journey so far has been very up and down. Wishing you all the best at the private clinic.

So two round of ivf on nhs. Maximum protocol. You must make a minimum of 3 eggs and the second time my body only made one despite such high stims so no more funding. I made 4 eggs in total and had two failed transfers. This is my second pregnancy and second miscarriage currently, both spontaneous. Have been offered Donor egg ivf on nhs but the waiting list for eggs is so long that I’ll be aged out by the time I’m at the top, so they didn’t put me on the list.

I am so sorry @Nosejug this all sounds very tough. How old are you if you don't mind me asking?
Have you heard of nmn powder? I hate to give advice when I am so much earlier in my journey but on another thread that is what someone started taking and it seemed to improve their egg quality and were successful with IVF after many MCs.
I then looked it up on Reddit and it seemed that loads of people who had smaller ovarian reserve had taken it and then had successes, either producing more eggs at egg retrieval or the eggs they did have more likely to get to blastocyst.
I have started taking it as I was expecting to have an egg retrieval in 3 months' time, even though I don't have a low ovarian reserve I wanted the chance of getting higher quality eggs for future family planning.
www.reddit.com/r/NMN/comments/1jmklir/nmn_or_nad_for_improved_ivf_fertility/

Hello - just coming here to vent! My period started, I had a long cycle because I stupidly managed to delay my ovulation by 5 days by taking too high a dose of a certain supplement.
I dutifully email my fertility clinic to book in for a HyCoSy and they say they don't have any appointments for this time round and to email them NEXT cycle. Anyway so I have just bitten the bullet and paid an arm and a leg for private - wish I had just done this when they messed me around last time. Can't believe they are wasting people's time like this at such an emotional time!
I was so upset, they never even said "if we have appointments" so I could have prepared myself, they just said to me to message on CD1. I think it's probably a bank holiday thing but still! I was so gutted. Oh well, what's another month to add to the 18 already??

Had my HyCoSy today. No blockages were found, here's hoping I am one of the 25%-40% (studies vary) of women with unexplained fertility who have a spontaneous pregnancy after a HyCoSy. I would love to say I won't get my hopes up... but I will.

I was also very dizzy, faint and sweaty after the procedure! Not something I had anticipated after reading about it. But apparently it is very common because it's due to a change in blood pressure. And anyway I felt fine after 20 minutes, but just in case people come across this thread over the years and want a bit of info.

I had one at One Welbeck, done by Sam S…. (Long surname starting with S) and she was great!

Hey @CoolSummer89how did it go after the hycosy? I’m in a very similar position to your original post being told there is no point having one before ivf but want to give it a try after reading about the increased chance following the procedure

Also jumping on as wonder if I should have one of these - can you have them without referral though? We’re at an NHS/private clinic (nhs patient) and doctor thinks it isnt needed, so hasn’t offered it, wondering if I ask to pay privately, or just get it done somewhere else. Feels a bit political - hard to go against doctors advice!
I’ve had one Bfp that was an early chemical so dr said no suggestion it’s a tubal issue, but I’m not sure!

Hi @Bubbles14 @Muddysocks1

unfortunately I wasn’t one of the lucky ones. I remember the doctor commenting that my tubes were very clear and that he didn’t need to use all of the foam. And also I think my husband and I might have missed that fertile window due to a family emergency.

so while no pregnancy I’m glad I did it because I think it’s good to cover all bases. While the NHS didn’t recommend I had one, there were willing to offer me one if I wanted however they messed me around a bit and I would have had to wait 4 months so I paid for it myself.

for what it’s worth I have had my ivf egg collection and had a result I am very happy with and should hopefully be transferring one embryo next week.

@Muddysocks1yes I think you can have them privately without a referral they are about £500. I know what you mean about political, but think going to go for it

thanks for replying @CoolSummer89, I agree about wanting to cover all bases and choosing not to wait for nhs as think may delay ivf process, we’re starting in Feb!

Really glad to hear about the result, fingers crossed for your next step! :)