Husband smokes IVF help: Hi guys I am... - Fertility Network UK

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Husband smokes IVF help

RASA2715 profile image
9 Replies

Hi guys I am new to this forum I am getting ready for my IVF treatment very soon, just a quick question before my referral can be done at Bourn Hall in cambridge. My husband smokes around 7-8 ciggerettes a day, a letter has come in the post that in order to progress our referall my husband is required to give a carbon monoxide levels readings to prove he has quit. He has been smoking recently due to stress at work and long hours, but since we have recieved the letter he has stopped.

On Monday 26th March he has an appointment to his GP and get the levels done, i am worried he will fail the test or his readings will be high and that i wont be referred, just a little bit tensed! He has been smoke free for 5 days now, can somebody explain what the carbon monoxide levels are what it requires?

Do you think he will pass this if he doesnt smoke until his test and going forward stops all together which he knows he can do!

I look forward to hearing from you guys

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RASA2715
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9 Replies
E8989 profile image
E8989

Hiya welcome 😊 both my partner and i where smokers prior to our confirmed IVF funding it is so bad I know. I was petrified that they would not treat us as it is a strict guideline that they won’t. However, we both stopped 3 months before treatment to help me quit I used a machine that you blow into and shows your level of carbon monoxide it’s the same one that they use in hospital pm me and il send it to you I don’t need it now xx

destiny121 profile image
destiny121

If i remember correctly, the carbon monoxide takes around 3 days or so to leave ur system... so should be fine... id double check but im sure its something like that x

LHow81 profile image
LHow81

Hope he passes ok. We were at Bourn in Cambridge I would recommend it to anyone. Good luck on your journey cx

LHow81 profile image
LHow81

Congratulations firstly!! But remember not everyone is lucky enough to be able to afford to go private.

in reply to LHow81

I understand that. We borrow the money! We weren’t the lucky ones to get free1,2,3 cycles on the nhs ! We pay taxes to, so I think we should have the right to have a family to! But no....

LHow81 profile image
LHow81 in reply to

I totally agree we do all have the right and it isn’t right when one person has a child from a previous relationship that you then don’t qualify.

However the NHS is not endlessly funded and unfortunately they have to draw the line somewhere.

If it was up to me everyone would get at least 2 free goes and as many FETs as they manage to get, but sadly it’s not.

RASA2715 profile image
RASA2715

Thank you so much for the replies guys! LHow81 thank you for that :) do you know how long it takes to get a first appointment? after hubby does his monoxide levels taken then the gynaecologist can refer our case to Bourn.

Also did Bourn ask if you are a smoker when you went for the first appointment?

LHow81 profile image
LHow81

To be honest although we were smokers before the whole process we never got tested maybe because we only had procedures done there our referrals and scans where all elsewhere.

Naz82 profile image
Naz82

Hi RASA2715 i was in the same boat as you few months ago. My husband was a nightmare and kept prolonging to take the test as he smoked alot. He stopped for a week before the test and past. That was in January and we received the starter pack in February which has forms etc to fill out. Our first appointment is in a few weeks time at the clinic. Hope this helps you 😊

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