IVF CLINICS - RECOMMEND ONE?

[singsong10]

Hello
I am 41, been trying for a baby for a year and half, been to Zita West, tried everything I can at home (peeing on sticks etc) - now ready to go look for an IVF clinic. Anyone been through this and can you recommend the clinic/doctor you used?
Thanks

I used Create in Raynes Park London (also have an office in Harley St) Geeta Nargund who runs it is truely wonderful!

There is an assisted conception thread over in conception that you might find suportive / useful.

All the best

If you want the other end of the spectrum try ARGC. They will throw everything at it.

They are expensive but worth it when you don't have time to hang about.

Have heard Lister is also good for older women. Try Fertilityfriends.co.uk as you will get lots of advice specific to your situation.

We used the ACU at Chelsea & Westminster and Bridge fertility centre. I was not happy with the Chelsea but can recommend Bridge. I was pleased both with the outcome (am now 38 weeks pregnant) and the process and the broad range of investigations available pre-conception (e.g chromosomal, aquascan etc). They did lose my results though which was quite frustrating at the time as had to put off the whole thing by 6 weeks because of it!

I looked at the HEFA statistics online and chose Bridge because it has higher than average success rates for my age group (38-40). Lister also has good success rates for older mums.

Good luck!

I'd recommend the ARGC. I was treated there 10 years ago. Unfortunately it didn't work for us but I think they were really good. They're not far from Zita West if she is still on Harley Street.

Ten years on and we have 2 DC's and another on the way all conceived naturally!

I am sure you are past this stage, and I don't want to sound patronising so forgive me if you have already tried this, but have you read Taking Charge of your Fertility by Toni Weshcler? We had tried EVERYTHING, including Zita West, and were booked to start treatment the month I got pregnant (which was the first month of following Toni Weschler's method). If you haven't tried it - I highly recommend charting for a month or two using her book. If you already have, then good luck with the IVF.

My acupuncturist is specialist in combining acupuncture and IVF - if you have been to see Zita West why not ask her what she recommends - otherwise my acupuncturist is - I am sure she will be able to recommend:

www.thefertilitysupportcompany.co.uk/FSC-Success.aspx

The lister were excellent when I had treatment there and you can have acupuncture from zita west there as well
I was 41 when I had ds2 after Ivf there

Many thanks ladies for this info.

I'll follow all these leads up.

Would recommend the Lister but if you have been used to Zita West and their caring approach, be aware, the Lister and others are businesses, when I attended an appointment at the Lister there were not enough chairs!

The Assisted Reproductive Centre has one of the highest success rates, there was a horrible Panorma programme about the hospital a couple of years ago which accused them of suggesting unnecessary treatments, the reporter was very smug (Kate Silverton) and they were gunning for him, however maybe these treatments are the reason why his results are so high!! He got an apology of some sort a while later. He asked Kate Silverton how old she was and if she got to an age where she had to consider some help wouldnt she look for a clinic like his! She said she didnt want to be experminted on, however I am sure she slipped his card into her handbag. Really bad reporting IMHO..

I am sure you have done this but have you had medical tests and have they come up with some reasons? 41 is a challenging age and my SIL went to Zita West and spent an awful lot of money to then find that she was going through an early menopause.

Also, be aware that some of these clinics have long waiting lists. I got in by saying I could come on the day if necessary. I also rang them every couple of days and that is how I found out they had just had a cancellation...

Didn't have IVF but found the Bridge good for fertility isues. A lot depends on location though - that one works for my work location and others such as ARGC were just impractical. Bear in mind with IVF you will have a lot of scans etc.

Another rate for the Lister. I had my twins thanks to their Assisted Conception Unit and am currently pregnant following FET (frozen embryo transfer). They had a massive refurb a couple of years ago which was much needed - now much more space. The consultant care is excellent - they don't follow due process but instead treat individually. The downside is the waiting times can be long, but actually I never found it too much of a problem (I just took a good book). It was reassuring that appointments took as long as they took and they didn't just chuck you out after the alloted 30 minutes or whatever. Can really recommend Marie Wren or the head guy, Prof. Sam (Hossam) Abdallah. Both are excellent and know their stuff.

Also heard the ARGC is very good. If we had complex factors (we dont' really - just male factor infertility, which makes it all a bit more straightforward) then I'd probably have gone there.

HOpe this helps and best of luck.

Another recommendation for Dr Nargund and Create Health here. The 'healthier' approach to IVF imo. Probably best to go to a few open days and do some research on the fabulous Fertilityfriends.com

Good luck!

We got lucky and conceived the month before we were due to start treatment but we went to the Centre for Reproductive and Genetic Health in London - CRGH which is formerly ACU. It's the UCH private clinic and is based on Gray's Inn Road. Found them to be good and realistic and they do a free info evening once a month you can go to (though you have to sign up for it as numbers are limited) and then we got an appointment a week after that.

Ah, thanks, this is good. The Lister and ARGC seem to be doing well.

I am booked up to see most of the London clinics early Sept, so my gut instinct will have a lot to with it. But hearing from people who've been through it is really useful, thank you.

Rocky12 - I saw that programme too. She was quite negative (Kate Silverton) - considering she admitted from the off that she was having trouble conceiving.
I've had all the tests - pretty sure I'm not early menopause . Fingers crossed it's not too late. I didn't meet my hubby till I was 38 - and I couldn't expect the poor man to start a family straight away (although it crossed my mind - I knew straight away he was the one ).

Thanks everyone.

Hi singsong. I was treated at the Lister (Chelsea) and found all the staff, from receptionists to doctors absolutely wonderful. My son is 10 now so I can't recommend any particular doctor there as things may have changed on that level. However Dr Marie Wren is one that was central when I was under them - really wonderful doctor.

I wish you all the luck in the world - it is a sometimes long journey, don't give up. I had so many hurdles to overcome and I have a wonderful son to show for my and my DH's determination.

On the flipside - I also saw Dr Robert Winston (before his lordship) and found him the most objectionable person ever - really not interested in you as a person, just interested in the conveyor belt of treatment. I respect him for his pioneering treatments and research but he is soooooo not a people person

Again, good luck. I have everything x'd for you.

This is a bit random but a friend of mine was telling me today all about her brother's ivf treatment and he is having it done in Denmark, apparently it's a third cheaper there and they have some excellent clinics in Copenhagen, worth looking into if on budget.

Good luck!

Would not recommend Lister Hospital. Not what was expected. I went to Lister hospital for egg freezing. I had Dr Jaya Parikh who performed the surgery. On the cycle I was due to start, my follicles were low compared to the previous cycle. I was concerned but Dr Parikh seemed very commercial and money driven and persuaded me that l never know if the next cycle is going to be good cycle in terms of higher number of follicles. So l went ahead. She also said there was a polyp in my uterus that needs to be removed. In fact l never had a polyp and Dr Parikh proliferated and the dialator went through my uterus and l had to do an emergency laporoscopy to check for internal bleeding. I also only had 2 eggs retrieved. Very disappointing. I went to private thinking that I will get better service but please be cautious. I was otherwise healthy now l have scars from laporoscopy and a damaged uterus. Be warned of Dr Parikh, she is not good doctor, and she became very defensive, no apology at all from her. My social life I want to write this, so that other patients do not go through what l did. I also asked for refund and they refused to give me back the £5.8k I spent on the egg freezing. My social life is taken a bad turn as a result.

We went to the ACU at Guys and had a good experience. Great team, treated us well. Good luck!

Would not recommend Lister Hospital. Not what was expected. I went to Lister hospital for egg freezing. I had Dr Jaya Parikh who performed the surgery. On the cycle I was due to start, my follicles were low compared to the previous cycle. I was concerned but Dr Parikh seemed very commercial and money driven and persuaded me that l never know if the next cycle is going to be good cycle in terms of higher number of follicles. So l went ahead. She also said there was a polyp in my uterus that needs to be removed. In fact l never had a polyp and Dr Parikh proliferated and the dialator went through my uterus and l had to do an emergency laporoscopy to check for internal bleeding. I also only had 2 eggs retrieved. Very disappointing. I went to private thinking that I will get better service but please be cautious. I was otherwise healthy now l have scars from laporoscopy and a damaged uterus. Be warned of Dr Parikh, she is not good doctor, and she became very defensive, no apology at all from her. I want to write this, so that other patients do not go through what l did. I also asked for refund and they refused to give me back the £5.8k I spent on the egg freezing. My social life has taken a bad turn as a result, it has left me psychologically damaged.

Oh no Faulty. That's shocking.