IVF funding not approved... More hoops to jump through and the clinics baffled.

[glt01]

Today I rung the clinic after receiving a voicemail from them...

Our funding has been rejected on the basis that me and my husband have not been screened for HIV, Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C. We both work in healthcare so have been vaccinated against Hep B and are immune but they won't accept the immunity blood results. My husband has been told he needs to be screened for Rubella despite being vaccinated and no actual reason for this, i know they screen women as it can cause issues in pregnancy but I've never heard of a man being screened for it... They also want me to be screened again for STIs despite having been compulsory screened for them when we first got referred and me telling them that I have only slept with my husband for the last however many years, they want me to do another!!! (I find this the most insulting to be honest!)

Also they've now changed their mind and instead of all previous blood results and semen analysis results going into the boxes on the funding form they now want copies of all the original reports. They also want a letter from my GP saying she supports us in having IVF despite her being the one referring us for it! Even the clinic are baffled why they've changed all the goalposts and asking so much of us.

Anyone else had this issue? And wanted to scream? Just so disappointing especially when you know there are people out there having children they don't want yet for us we have to jump through flaming hoops just to even be given the chance to just try to have a child.

If anyone saw my previous post, this has made my mind up, I do want this over anything else, I've had a long think, thank you for the lovely comments.

Also sorry for all the ranting recently. It's just so crap.

[Orla9298]

Unfortunately they do keep making you have all those tests. I’ve done 5 ivf rounds and have had them done 4 times. I also find it ridiculous that I have to keep being tested for chlamydia and hepatitis when I’m doing I’ve with my husband, but I suppose there may be some couples where a partner is cheating, or people who may subject themselves to hepatitis risks.

[Sarah_S]

Wow how frustrating! Sounds like it's all steps to try and reduce/delay the number of people they have to fund 😔. But also more cost to the NHS I guess as now they have to fund all those tests and get reports for you, waste the GPs time, and then when it all comes back clear fund you anyway. Short sighted and ridiculous. Through my 4 year journey (2 NHS cycles) I had hiv, hep a & b every 3 years, as that was the clinic's policy, sti check once, and my DH certainly didn't have rubella screening! Another postcode lottery. Hope you get through all the requirements and it doesn't take too long xx

[Lizzielizzielizzie]

This is ridiculous. In my area the Ivf clinic did the blood tests once our referral had gone to them, but before we started treatment. But the hoops to jump through will be worth it. At least there is some funding in your area... more and more areas just don’t have any funding for non-cancer related infertility. Good luck with getting all this done so you can start the next steps of your journey.

[AnnieAnnie]

It is a stupid process and one that costs the nhs probably lots of money. I had all my screening done when we went for our NHS referral, had all the blood tests but didn't get the funding as my amh was too low. We then went private for our first ivf cycle and because my blood tests were over 6 months old, they wouldn't accept them, so we had to have all of the blood tests again which we had to pay for. After the failed private round I paid to have my amh tested, it had increased and I went back to my gp to ask for another referral on the nhs, they wouldn't accept my private bloods and had to have them all done again (including the amh). I've had to jump through many hoops to get my funding but I got there. Once you've finally got that letter confirming your initial consultation it will all be worth it. Start jumping through those hoops 😁 Good luck xx