IVF referral - total newbies

[Chubbstep]

hi there

We've just been referred for IVF - i am totally irregular with no explanation but probably PCOS.

I know there's a long wait list etc but I'd like to ask everyone who's gone/going through IVF what they wished they knew at our stage? Does it always go straight to IVF or do we do more tests and treatments available?

What do we need to know? Should i google anything or just wait till it's all started? We are excited but total newbies and have no ides what all the abbreviations mean so even help with that would be amazing.

Thank you for any replies and advice ☺️ We're feeling a bit clueless and stuck in this middle waiting nothingness.

[Hidden]

Hey, glad to hear you are moving onto the next stage. First of all just to let you know there is another IVF/fertility forum on here which is a lot busier and you will get a lot more answers - its called Fertility Network UK.

I couldn't do NHS as I was too old, but you won't go straight to an IVF round but will likely have a number of tests and often they do things like check your tubes to see if they are clear. So there will be a period of tests and conversations before you start any round.

Things I wish I had known: Do NOT Google. Understand every single person is different, just because one person got 30 eggs it doesn't mean that you getting 5 is a disaster, live your own personal journey and don't compare yourself to others. Its a quality game not a quantity game. Particularly on these forums people obsess about 'I only got 3 embryos' - it doesn't matter as long as you got one you are in with a shout. TRUST YOUR CLINIC. You have to have faith in them or you will go bonkers. and take every single day as it comes, you will have some great days you will have some disastrous days, but just because today wasn't a good one doesn't mean tomorrow won't be - things can change dramatically. Oh and download the Mindfulness IVF App! Heaps of luck x

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

this is such good advice

[Chubbstep in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much for your reply this has been really helpful 😊

[CathDu]

Hi, welcome to the IVF team. 🙂

This what happened to me...

The first point to note, is referrals can take a little while to come through if on NHS. They will contact you, usually by post with an appointment. A medical professional will then go through a series of questions with you to assess your eligibility for NHS provided treatment - I believe for England its 3 rounds, Wales 2 rounds, Scotland 3, Ireland I don't know. If your partner hasn't had two lots of semen tests, theyll want to take another. You then get a choice of where you want to have treatment. Your details are sent on, then there's another wait. Unfortunately you'll have to get used to waiting.

The next bit applies if NHS or not. Ive assumed tests like blocked tubes have already been done.

You and your partner will need to have additonal blood tests. For egg count, its AMH, scans to check your uterus looking for abnormalities, HIV, hepatitis, rubella, chlamydia, smear (if you arent up to date), semen analysis (if needed).... tests do depend on what they find. AMH is a key one because it gives an idea of egg reserve.

You will be consulted on all test results. Treatments or small ops may follow if they can fix something obvious. Lets assume you are recommended for IVF. Next step would be to discuss your personal plan. Assuming using your own eggs. You'll get given an idea of when and be set up for a drug appointment near to when you'll start.

A baseline scan is given (they scan you to see whats happening). With irregular periods they can give you meds, which will bring on a period when you stop taking them. Early on in your period you'll be told the start date for your meds - normally daily injections. They scan you regularly then determine whats happening. All being well you get a release drug which takes 36 hours to work.

You'll be in hospital for a egg retrieval, as a day patient - you wont be aware of whats happening at all. Your partner will give a his sample, which will be washed. They leave the eggs and sperm to fertilise and then call you with the results, this happens over night. The then monitor any embryos. You get an update on how good they look and how they are progressing. (Also grading if you have lots). They select the best one and put it in you. You're awake for this, your partner is with you. They scan and check eveything...note at this stage you'll already be taking progesterone.

Then its the two week wait.

Phew!!! Huh quite the process.

(For clarity a cycle counts from when you first take meds. For various reasons you might get nothing, have complications or of have many embryos. Any scenario is 1 cycle).

The best advice I can give is to be patience, this is a marathon not a race. Have faith in the medical professionals. Don't compare, this is your personal journey. Be kind to yourself. Keep on talking to your partner and loving them.

Best of luck to you x

[Chubbstep in reply to CathDu]

Thank you so much for taking the time to give such a detailed response this is so so helpful. They should print this in their wee booklets they send out 🤩