Advice/Experiences please!?

[AnnaVN]

Hello, we’re after some advice/views/experience...

We found out about 2 years ago that my amh was about 0.3 & I had premature ovarian failure. We were told our only option was donor eggs. So we started the long process of a) coming to terms with it all & b) waiting to find an appropriate donor. Our clinic found us an egg sharer so we were excited to proceed. We got to egg collection day, but unfortunately they didn’t manage to get enough eggs. We were obviously gutted, but knew it was always a risk. So we went ahead with another donor as soon as we could. Unfortunately the same happened again. Understandably we were pretty upset, especially as it had happened twice!

We picked ourselves up & decided to keep trying. Another donor came up & it was all systems go again. This one was an altruistic donor so we had higher hopes for some success this time round. Unfortunately just before egg collection day she dropped out due to a family matter. We were devastated, but completely understood that family was more important. She wanted to go ahead still, so we entered another cycle with her. We got to a few days before egg collection again & she called the clinic to drop out! By now, as you can imagine, we were not only upset, but very disappointed too. The clinic said they’d never had this happen before, so were apologetic, but we did question their donor screening at this point!

They offered us to go to the next package up for only the difference in price. Ultimately we want a child so agreed to this. The new donor seemed perfect & all system were go. Everything was going smoothly. There was a slight panic just before egg collection as I went in for a scan & my lining looked like it had thinned...but they asked me to go on to a newer machine & it was fine! We did ask why they maybe didn’t just get rid of the old machine that clearly wasn’t giving them the right answers! Anyway, we got to egg collection & they got 8 eggs. We thought great, especially when they called to say they’d all fertilised. A few days later they called again to say sadly several had fragmented & in the end only 1 was vaguely close to doing what it should. They then called me in & said we’ll go for implantation anyway, but warned us that it was a long shot as it was very low quality . We figured it only takes one...

10 anxious days later, we took a couple of tests & sadly it was not the result we wanted. Gutted...again.

Our clinic then called back to say we could get a 10% refund at this stage, or pay again for another cycle! We were not impressed!!

It feels like with this clinic we have wasted the last 2 years of our lives & several thousand pounds on something that they’ve not even come close to delivering. With emotions aside we can’t help but feel we are being extorted for money and asked to gamble another several thousand pounds on something we have no faith in the clinic being able to provide.

Has anyone else been in similar situation at all? Do we have a leg to stand on if we want to get a full refund & have the option to go elsewhere? Thanks in advance...& hope you all have more luck! 😌

[Lu1u]

Hi Hun, sorry to read your story.. I think you shd change clinics! You’ve got negative connotations with this place and are already feeling exploited financially through them.. if you want to go again I’d get your medical notes and start afresh somewhere else! ..I’m not sure you will get a full refund- read the small print.. but you can always go somewhere else- privately you can do what you want! I did 3 ivf cycles (all failed) under the same clinic as it was easier I guess but in hindsight their management of us was awful compared to what I hear about other clinics (monitoring etc) .. so IF I decide to do another cycle I’m defo going somewhere else- they already had enough money out of me! Move forward - start somewhere else with a more positive mind set and hopefully better results- good luck x

[angellllll]

It is so upsetting when clinics behave in such a manner. I am so sorry that you had such an experience. I totally agree with you! Sometimes I think clinics are there just for the money. It makes me so upset and sad. Patients suffering from fertility treatments need to be dealt with care. In this field doctors and the clinics should be more careful and delicate with the clinic. I think you should visit another clinic. For these treatments, it is so important to check the success rate of the clinic. Make sure the one you visit has a high success rate. Also, try to look at the experience of the doctor as well. These things matter a lot! We sometimes overlook these issues. Stay strong and don't give up. Sending baby dust your way.

[Hidden]

Wow what a nightmare you have been through! I have AMH of 0.4 and early menapause and was told only option was donor and that alone to deal with is so emotionally draining and stressful and upsetting and then u decide to except it and go ahead and use a donor and I can’t belive what happens to you twice!

I would change clinics and I would also write it all down so if In the future U want to make a complaint you have the info becsue it’s so easy to forget little details that could be so important.

Anyway I really really wish you better luck and I think you are a warrior.

Xxxx

[Cege1]

Hi Anna, I am sorrowful to read your story. I think you should change the clinic! You’ve got negative connotations with this place and are already feeling exploited financially through them. This will help your situation a lot. If you want to go again I’d get your medical notes and start afresh somewhere else! I did 3 IVF cycles (all failed) and that was what forced me to change the clinic so IF I decide to do another cycle I’m defo going somewhere else- they already had enough money out of me! I am definitely giving a visit to the clinic located in Europe.