A couple of questions

[Peony1]

Hi,

We’ve got a chance to have a fertility appointment at a private clinic for half price - however we’re wondering if it’ll be worth it! We are entitled to 2 free rounds of ivf on the nhs and our first appointment will be in August. The only thing that I’m thinking I will get out of the private clinic is possibly a more in depth consultation and perhaps a few questions actually answered, rather than a shrug or silence that I’ve had from my appointments with the nhs lol. Also, the private clinic said that they offer a more thorough scan of the uterus and ovaries. I think she said this checks for follicles and polyps which the nhs doesn’t....but that didn’t sound right to me...I thought that was what the nhs scan checked for?

I have had internal and external scans, swabs, blood tests and a HyCosy on the nhs. Does anyone know if the nhs scans do check for follicles and polyps? Or if not, is this something they’d do before I begin ivf? I spot before every period usually up to 4 days before af and I’ve never had an answer why! Seems a little coincidental that I’m not getting pregnant too.

Also, does anyone know roughly how long from our first ivf appointment in August, will I actually start my ivf treatment?

Thank you x

 

[Bambi42]

I’ve only had a private consultation as too old for NHS. My first private appt. lasted half hour max, she asked what I thought we’re pretty basic questions about periods / age / history and then gave us 5% chance of success ....before we had any tests were done. She was very doom & gloom and I didn’t like her approach.

2nd appt at a different clinic was more thorough, and more human but again just questions. I had had AMH and hydrocosy by then so was armed with facts and info. I imagine you’ll have to pay for scans & tests and the half price will only be the consultation?

Other people may have different experiences but mine was pretty underwhelming in relation to how big a step it was to take.

Don’t know if that helps?

Xx

 

[Peony1]

The scan and a few other tests which I’ve already had done on the nhs would be part of the half price deal. I’ve had amh done recently too which was fine. I just wish there was someone I could sit down and chat to who will listen. I did feel my doctor at my nhs gp listened and he was brilliant - sent me for a further couple of tests, but as they came back clear, they couldn’t explain the spotting and couldn’t help any further. The fertility specialist I saw with the nhs didn’t give me much hope to be honest...he ignored questions by diverting the conversation and didn’t give us any advice other than to ‘go on holiday and relax’ I think because we are unexplained they just want us to go away and come back when we need ivf...I was kinda hoping that if I saw someone private that they might offer up more advice than to just relax!

Thanks for letting me know your experience, it’s helpful to know x

 

[Sugarpop]

If you want IVF in the NHS then I would stay away from private clinics. I think you can have tests done privately but I wouldn’t tell the NHS. If you have any treatment privately the NHS won’t treat you.

I presume the NHS IVF will take a very similar path to the private IVF. To be honest, there is a reason why that clinic is offering half price everything. I’d stay away. I had an ultrasound on NHS and they did look at follicles.

 

[Peony1]

Our nhs fertility doctor said if we paid for ivf privately we would still be entitled to the nhs ivf. However, I think you’re right...it is ringing alarm bells and I did think the nhs scan looked at follicles...otherwise what’s the point of them looking! We didn’t intend to pay for ivf before our free rounds anyway, but every time af is on its way it’s like i feel desperate for answers! Thanks for your advice...it’s good to hear others realistic opinions rather than biased private clinic opinions! Xx

 

[MoominGirl]

NHS scan definitely checks for polyps as that's how they found mine. I think they also check follicles too but I got the impression they would have done this as part of the work up for IVF as I don't have PCOS.

I haven't personally had a private consultation but you may find that the consultation is less thorough as you fee will get you say 30 minutes and that's it. I had a shocking experience with the NHS fertility clinic but it's important to remember that many NHS consultants undertake private work. The one we saw certainly does and I don't know what I'd have done if we'd actually paid for the privilege of the consultation we had!!

I'd be very dubious of a clinic offering half price deals. If I chose to go private, I'd want to choose the right clinic based on what I thought was right for us. Of course private clinics can offer more options than the NHS but obviously there's a large price tag attached. I would have thought you would still be entitled to NHS funding even if you had private treatment. I'm a nurse and we have lots of patients who move between both.

We were referred from the NHS fertility clinic to the IVF clinic in March last year. By the time they'd applied for funding etc I think we would have been seen around May and potentially started treatment around June.

 

[Peony1]

Thanks all, I’m so glad I spoke about it here and didn’t get lured into it! I should always trust my instincts but it’s hard to when yet another month of spotting starts and I know af is going to be arriving any time soon! It just makes me feel desperate!

That’s good to know about the timeframe... I’m considering leaving work when I start ivf and working for myself from home and if I do, I wanted to know if I’d have enough time to hand in my notice. Whatever happens baby wise I can’t stay in my job forever....life’s too short to be in a job you hate x

 

[Bambi42]

I have struggled with spotting since my early miscarriage last year (never had it before then) and every doctor from my gp to the private consultant dismissed it as nothing. My accupuncture lady linked it to low progesterone and I found her treatment helped improve the ‘quality’ of my period (yuk!) but the spotting continued, apart from the months I had chemical pregnancies.

I’ve also had lovely replies on here from a few women who had spotting issue but got pregnant & had a healthy baby ....so who knows, maybe it is nothing to worry about?

I hear you on the ‘unexplained’ diagnosis. So difficult that that’s the diagnosis instead of trying to find out why. I find that really challenging but in my heart I have to believe we’ll be successful at some point.

Hugs to you x

 

[Peony1]

Thank you x

I randomally started spotting after about 8 months after being off the pill and ttc and I’d never spotted before in my life, even before I went on the pill. One of the nurses I spoke to said it sounds like a hormonal imbalance but everyone else has either said it’s nothing or ignored my questions about it.

How long have you been trying? It’s been over 2 years for us and I’m now at the point where I can’t see it happening naturally anymore. I just wish I knew why. Then at the same time I’m scared of having ivf in case it fails...i don’t know how I could cope with that! Xx

 

[Sugarpop]

Thank you x

I randomally started spotting after about 8 months after being off the pill and ttc and I’d never spotted before in my life, even before I went on the pill. One of the nurses I spoke to said it sounds like a hormonal imbalance but everyone else has either said it’s nothing or ignored my questions about it.

How long have you been trying? It’s been over 2 years for us and I’m now at the point where I can’t see it happening naturally anymore. I just wish I knew why. Then at the same time I’m scared of having ivf in case it fails...i don’t know how I could cope with that! Xx

It can be a sign of low progesterone but some people just spot before their period starts. I always spotted slightly first both when I ovulated and when I didn’t. When I was on letrozole I’d spot too.

Have you tried an ovulation tablet to strengthen your ovulation?

 

[Bambi42]

@Peony1 we start IVF tomorrow after a year and a half of trying. I’m 42 so no time to hang around. The spotting can be low pregesterone and with ivf the doctor gives you pregesterone after the fertilised embryos go in so they’re not concerned about it.
Ive never been offered a lot of the things other girls on here talk about because of my age it’s straight to IVF. I am trying to be very calm but really I’m scared. But my friend had three IVF attempts with no joy , then took C0Q10 for 6 months and is due her baby, conceived naturally at age 43, in May. So if ivf doesn’t work I’m not thinking it’s the end of the line. I have to have hope, even though our chance of success is 23% of pregnancy, 19% live birth. Xx

 

[Peony1]

It can be a sign of low progesterone but some people just spot before their period starts. I always spotted slightly first both when I ovulated and when I didn’t. When I was on letrozole I’d spot too.

Have you tried an ovulation tablet to strengthen your ovulation?

No, what is an ovulation tablet? Xx

 

[Peony1]

@Bambi42 best of luck for tomorrow and the next few weeks. I think it’s natural to feel scared especially as it’s your first (and hopefully only) round of Ivf. I’ll be thinking of you and keeping my fingers crossed. Yeah I always try to keep the hope but the. remove the expectations!

I’ve never been offered or been suggested that I take any supplements or tablets that people on here mention. I think that’s because all of my results have come back normal.

Currently feeling very sorry for my self as I have pre af cramps. But least it’s a lovely day weather wise which always helps me....I think I’m solar activated lol

 

[Bambi42]

Thank you. Hug to you x

 

[MoominGirl]

The idea of being unexplained didn't sit well with me either. I think ultimately nothing is truly unexplained but in most cases the NHS won't pay to find out. Obviously you can pay for more investigations privately but they might not find anything either. Unless there's an obvious fertility issue, I guess it's easier and cheaper for the NHS to just press on with the limited number of funded cycles they may or may not provide and then it's up to you if you want to fund any more. Also in my experience, the answer to most fertility issues is IVF anyway. We were never offered anything else either. In fact, despite the polyp, IVF was still heavily pushed upon us as our only option. I was made to feel like an idiot for wanting to try naturally for a bit longer after it was removed.

We only would have got one NHS cycle. If we had used it and it failed, we would have considered further tests for the purpose of guiding another cycle. For that reason, we decided to exhaust our NHS options first. Also we didn't feel we had enough knowledge to know what was money well spent and what would have just lined a clinic's pocket. I was very untrusting by this point after our NHS experience.

 

[Peony1]

Thank you, it’s nice to hear from others who completely understand....makes me feel less alone after reading all your opinions and experiences we have decided to just keep on with the nhs options and then go from there...I’m so glad I did ask on this forum now!

Still waiting for af to show....had cramping all day yesterday and that’s usually accompanied by af but not this cycle just a small bit of spotting...I think my body likes to do something unusual once in a while just to annoy me lol

 

[Outofsync]

I had a nightmare on the nhs to get to ivf stage it took about 2.5 years of tests and referrals but no one was telling us the results of what was wrong. In the end I paid privately to the same nhs clinic cost £150 within 10 mins of paying privately had all the answers and they had a file that was about three inches thick on me and I was armed with a prescription to try Clomid! Me and my husband both said if we had known would have done it miles sooner I still can’t get over that no one on the nhs ever said to me I had PCOS and low progesterone despite all the bloods and scans I would recommend anyone jumping the queue and paying to see the specialist if it’s within your means everything else has been funded it just got us in the system and actually felt like we were doing soemthing positive x

 

[Alexis2017]

I had my 1st ivf appt around July 2017 and I started my 1st cycle of Ivf on 4th Feb 2019 so I waited a long time to get through all the fertility testing and then they put me on the waiting list which was about 8 months then when I was at the top It took me 2 months to get a space to start !

All our tests were normal and hubby had excellent sperm analysis They only thing I found wrong was my amh was 3.7 and should have been above 6 for my age. I was told that doesn't cause infertility but can mean I have less eggs left. I was told I needed to do the long protocol because of this and use higher dose of hormone drugs.

If you ever need any info on ivf cycle let me know. I'm 3 sleeps away from my embryo transfer and I am so terrified it doesn't work and so so happy it could be my Rainbow BFP in a matter of 2 weeks.

 

[miamia]

Alexis2017 - try to stay positive, I am sure everything will work out for you. I keep my fingers crossed xx

 

[Peony1]

Thanks alexis, I may take you up on that offer! Best of luck, I hope you get some positive news very soon! xx

Last time I had an appointment with the fertility consultant I asked if there was a waiting list once we go to our initial appointment and he said no so I hope that’s not changed... he just said that the process would begin but didn’t say exactly how long it would be from that date that I actually start ivf.

I can’t imagine it happening naturally for us now, so am just waiting for ivf. Feels a bit surreal. Still feel disappointment every month but it somehow helps soften the blow now that I expect af to show. I cope a lot better with it all now than I ever have done since its been long term ttc, but still feel that longing for a child of my own, particularly as everyone of our friends have had a baby, are pregnant or are now trying for their second all in the time since we started ttc.