IVF NHS OR PRIVATE ?: Hi, I am 38 years... - Fertility Network UK

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IVF NHS OR PRIVATE ?

leah345 profile image
14 Replies

Hi, I am 38 years old and have been refered for Ivf with the NHS.

My friend who also has had IVF said its much better to go private .

Has anyone gone with the NHS and if so was it ok?

MY doctor says there is only a 2 month wait and I cant afford to go private .

Thanks

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leah345
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14 Replies
HopesforLuck profile image
HopesforLuck

Leah that doesn't sound a long wait so if I were you I wound give NHS a try. I'm 37 and going private as it's not funded where I live, the cut off age is quite low. Good luck, how wonderful if it works and it was free! X

leah345 profile image
leah345

Thank you for your reply hopesforluck . I am just a little confused as my friend made me doubt my choices . I hope all goes well for you too xx

Mooster1 profile image
Mooster1

Hi Leah as Hopesforluck says that does seem an incredibly short waiting time and if you have all ready had all other tests done and you're ready to go I would say go for it!

There are always going to be good and bad experiences of NHS V Private. I started on NHS & then went private. The service I received on NHS wasn't bad. It took ALOT longer than 2 months though! You're very luck. We had to go private after all the tests had been done owing to my hubby having a child from a previous relationship so we couldn't get funded.....

See how you get on. Private is very expensive. We have I guess been treated a lot better in some respects as we are paying for it! (My bank manager probably isn't happy lol).

Wishing you lots of luck Hun. Xx

leah345 profile image
leah345

Thankyou Mooster1 , all the your replies so far are really reasssuring . Yes I am up to date on all tests . Had laparoscopy last year and that was fine .

I thought it seemed a good idea to go with NHS and I think my friend, has had bad experiences with NHS as she went through 9 courses of IVF .

I appreciate the time people have taken to reply to me and wish you and your partner lots of luck in the future too xx

Filmgirl101 profile image
Filmgirl101

Do the NHS first. As the wait is short. Then if all goes wrong, at least your private clinic, will have a guide to how you respond to the drugs etc!

Hopeful1982 profile image
Hopeful1982

Hi leah345, my husband and I had our tests done privately (as there was a long waiting list on the NHS) but we're now starting IVF on the NHS. It's early days but so far it's been a positive experience so if you only need to wait two months I would be inclined to go with the NHS first. Good luck x

leah345 profile image
leah345

Thank you everyone I really appreciate your comments xxx Good luck to you all too xxx

Cazo profile image
Cazo

If you have funding then I would give it a go on the NHS. You actually find that a lot of clinics do both anyway so you see exactly the same consultants as you would if you paid for it!

We have just had our first round of IVF and that was at a clinic which is part of an NHS hospital but I think they also do it privately. Ours is actually funded by the Armed Forces Health Comissiom as my husband is in the military but technically it's the same as NHS funded treatment and the clinic were absolutely amazing. I can't fault them.

We have friends who have paid for treatment privately in London and on this last cycle they went NHS at the clinic we've been to and they raved about this clinic and the team and got further down the line than the private treatment so I think it just depends on individual clinics and teams as to whether you have a good or bad experience.

Good luck with it x

Hi. I was nhs until now. And never had a probelm. Have had to go private now. Good luck. And do what's right for you and your partner. As your the ones going through this. ️Xxx

poochi profile image
poochi

Hi Leah345

I am on my first NHS funded round of IVF with a private clinic. You basically can chose to have your free round with a private clinic. I have found it financially the best option in the long run as the NHS in my area will not freeze any embryos, however the private clinic will which drastically reduces costs if another attempt is needed.

If you choose to do the same as me simply attend all your NHS appointments for your tests (as they insist on doing them) research the private clinics (some wont take NHS Funded, I'm with CARE) and once the NHS has approved your funding ask for it to be transferred to the clinic of your choice. This didn't delay any of my treatment, in fact I think it has sped it up slightly.

Good luck with which ever route you take.

Andrea

nellynel profile image
nellynel

Think it all depends on your clinic. My NHS experience has been bad but private excellent. As someone else pointed out some private clinics do NHS patients too which mind did. We just happened to be private but shows the standard of care was high for the NHS guys too compared with elsewhere. However for a 2 month wait and you saw expensive.. I think NHS is the way you need to go

pm27 profile image
pm27

Private treatment is very expensive as others have said. I'm too old for treatment on the NHS in my CCG. You're entitled to treatment and there's a short waiting time so go for it.

Hollibob profile image
Hollibob

If you qualify and can get funding with the NHS then go for it whilst you can.

If you look your first choice clinic up on the HFEA website, then it might provide you with further details as to whether they see private/nhs patients.

We are NHS and our first consultation wasn't quite what we expected, so we provided some feedback to the unit manager asking if it's because we are not private patients. We got apologises from all involved and our experience had been fantastic ever since.

Save your money for a rainy day x

pritsko2011 profile image
pritsko2011

Hi ya! We ve been offered NHS funding (3 fresh+ 3frozen cycles) .We went through 1st cycle last Sept-Nov and it wasnt successful. I cant even imagine how i would feel to pay so much money for ISCI and its not successful. At least it was free and we have another one try coming in May (im so hopefull and looking forward to it!) .

Our wait wasn't long at all (we went to GP in April and was on our first cycle Sept).

Good luck!!!!!

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