NHS funded ICSI

[SLord992]

My husband and I have been accepted for NHS funded ICSI with either partner’s or donor sperm. However our clinic is saying they will only perform the option that has the highest possibility of pregnancy. This would therefore be using a sperm donor, as I don’t have fertility issues. I get that this would be the best chance of pregnancy, but my husband at least a wants a chance at being a biological father first. Not sure why they won’t accept us wanting to try with my husband’s sperm.

The whole process seems a bit mixed up.

Has anyone else experienced this?

[Cinderella5]

Ive never heard of this unless of course there is some kind of major issue going on with his diagnosis that shows there is no chance of success. My hubby had a very low sperm count but they told us there was enough for ICSI so Im not sure where they're reasoning comes from. I would ask for more information and reasoning as to why they wont consider using your hubbys sperm. This seems extremely cruel!!xx

[SLord992 in reply to Cinderella5]

My husband does have a extremely low sperm count, but there are still some sperm. As long as we can try and get a few eggs fertilised we’ll be happy, as we only need one embryo to implant.

All of his other blood results and tests have been clear, so I’m unsure as well.

I think we may try and change clinics if they will not consider using his sperm for the NHS treatment. Not sure how easy that is to do though. We really don’t want to lose out on the funded option, as it’s so expensive private. X

[Cinderella5 in reply to SLord992]

Absolutely, try to take the funding if you can get it. We were NHS too so I would ask the clinic to explain if there is a problem with the sperm they have found, do they not look good for example? They only need enough good sperm to inject one into one egg. My hubby actually got offered to freeze some of his prior to our treatment just in case there was none on the day. Best of luck to you!xx

[SLord992 in reply to Cinderella5]

I’m speaking to the consultant tomorrow, so will ask about this. If he will not perform ICSI with my husband’s sperm. Then I will tell him I will go to another clinic, because I’m sure other clinics will be able to help us x

[Lizzielizzielizzie]

We had a choice of clinics where we wanted to take our funding, hopefully you can too.

[SLord992 in reply to Lizzielizzielizzie]

Yeah we had a choice and chose the clinic we are currently at as they seemed great and said we could do ICSI with my husband’s sperm. But now we are in they have seemed to have changed their minds.

Not sure though how easy it will be to change to another clinic, and keep our funding.

[Lizzielizzielizzie in reply to SLord992]

Hmm I see what you mean. But surely they can’t dictate that you must use donor sperm?! Some people are morally opposed to donor after all.

[SLord992 in reply to Lizzielizzielizzie]

Yes that’s my point. This will be our first round of treatment and at least want to try a few times with my husband’s sperm, before even considering a donor. It’s just very frustrating, thinking we are getting somewhere with it all and then told we can’t go ahead with treatment how we planned.