NI Fertility treatments issues

[kpropka]

Hi! I'm new to the forum, I've come across it when I looked for advice and information on what is available to me in Northern Ireland.

When I met my partner he had already gone through with vasectomy procedure having had a child from his previous relationship.

We were hoping we could get an NHS funded IVF treatment but I just read that it's not available if any person in the relationship voluntarily went through with treatments such as vasectomy.

I have looked at IVF clinics and the treatment is very expensive. Is there any clinic in NI that offers monthly payments just like they would with for example eye surgery?

Have any of you been in the similar situation and can share their experience?

My dream is to use my parents sperm in the IVF process, but if that is not possible we would be open to donor sperm or adoption if everything else fails.

[Karinyaa]

Hi dear. I'm sorry for the situation you've found yourself in. I'm afraid I cannot be of much help concerning NI fertility clinics. I myself have experience of being treated abroad - in Kyiv. We went there mainly for more affordable prices and the possibility of making several installments - Not the whole sum of money at once! This blew us away time ago. The clinic we'd been with invented MANY different treatment packages. One may find what suits best. Try to have a closer look at biotexcom.com/services/. Wishing you the best and hoping you'll have more answers soon.

[andylins in reply to Karinyaa]

Hi there. May I ask, is this BTC com you’re using, right?? If so, than it’s really hard to think of any better idea. They’ve got LOADS of pros. All their packages are all-inclusive. Meaning they include: Medical procedures and medications. Medical and psychological examination of the donors/surrogates. Payments to the surrogate. Donor eggs if needed – for no additional price!! Interpreter with you at the clinic on every visit. Legal help to obtain documents for the baby after it is born. Monthly ultrasound reports with pictures of your baby. English speaking coordinator who is considered to be your point of contact at the clinic. Moreover, all packages are paid in 5 intallments!! No need to pay the whole money sum at once. This blows away.

What are the outcomes for you??

[andylins]

We underwent IVF treatments in Ukraine. Here’s the general guideline to the procedure. The first step in IVF is taking fertility medications for several months to help your ovaries produce several eggs that are mature and ready for fertilization. This is called ovulation induction. You may get regular ultrasounds or blood tests to measure your hormone levels and keep track of your egg production.Once your ovaries have produced enough mature eggs, your doctor removes the eggs from your body (This is called egg retrieval). Egg retrieval is a minor surgical procedure that’s done at your doctor’s office or at a fertility clinic. You’ll get medicine to help you be relaxed and comfortable during the procedure. Using an ultrasound to see inside your body, the doctor puts a thin, hollow tube through your vagina and into the ovary and folliclesthat hold your eggs. The needle is connected to a suction device that gently pulls the eggs out of each follicle.

In a lab, your eggs are mixed with sperm cells from your partner or a donor – this is called insemination. The eggs and sperm are stored together in a special container. Fertilization happens. For sperm that have lower motility (don’t swim as well), they may be injected directly into the eggs to promote fertilization. As the cells in the fertilized eggs divide and become embryos. People who work at the lab monitor the progress.

[andylins in reply to andylins]

Am adding. About 3-5 days after the egg retrieval, 1 or more embryos are put into your uterus. The doctor slides a thin tube through your cervix into your uterus. Then inserts the embryo directly into your uterus through the tube. Pregnancy happens if any of the embryos attach to the lining of your uterus. Embryo transfer is done at your doctor’s office or at a fertility clinic, and it’s usually not painful. Plan on resting for the rest of the day after your embryo transfer. You can go back to your normal activities the next day. You may also take pills or get daily shots of a hormone called progesterone for the first 8-10 weeks after the embryo transfer. The hormones make it easier for the embryo to survive in your uterus.

I hope this help to get the whole pic of the process. And, yes, this procedure may cost a fortune within clinics. That's why more and more people are turning to clinics abroad to get treated there. As it is realtiovely affordable. They tend to offer top notch treatments at pocket friendly prices. Try doing more research on the point – people here are amazing!

Hope my message helps, wishing you the best of luck and support on the way.

[JoyfulStar]

Hi kpropka, I don’t live in NI but live next door in England and yes IVF prices can make your eyes water! I noticed some clinics in England offer treatment plans but you have to go into each clinic’s website to find out.

Like you my partner had a vasectomy and his was over 15 years ago. The first IVF clinic I went with were able to carry out a sperm retrieval on him after we explored all the options. They were able to collect enough sperm for 6 IVF rounds! I am with a different clinic after a failed IVF attempt but was able to have the sperm transported.

One final thing to add is that we had to have ICSI which is more expensive than standard IVF because of the vasectomy.

All the best with finding the right clinic and treatment options!