No HIV test on the NHS - whats wrong here?

[sarahharas]

Good morning,

I have not posted in a while but yesterday something outrageous happend and I want to share it.

I have now finished 6 rounds of unsuccessful OI and I am now referred to IVF (long other story). As I dont wnt to wait 1 year on the NHS we will go private in the meantime. We need an HIV test. The private doctor said we should try to get it at the GP because it is much cheaper there.

Yesterday I went to the GP because of something else (I terribly sprained my ankle after I walked out if my very last appointment at the fertility clinic -then I knew also this cycle will be a fail).

Anyway - I asked for an HIV test for IVF and he literally said: " I am sorry but we cannot offer this service for people that chose to use private healthcare instead of NHS". I started to boil insinde.I said that it is a funny agreement because many people do not chose private healthcare, but it ia more the NHS making the choice for them. He was visibly nervous continouing with all sorts of explanations that the NHS is short of money and people were angry when this "cross-services" happend. He also said: " I know that this is a delicate topic and people are embarrassed to talk about this" (this had nothing to do with our conversation and the only person in the room being embarrassed was him!).

Earlier in the waiting roomm, they advertised on the screen that homosexual people are advised to have an HIV test (on the NHS obviously) every year, and when they have frequently changing sexual partners, every 3 months!

Seriously: Gay/lesbian people sleeping around do get free HIV tests regularly but a couple beeing together for 10 years desperately trying for a baby not? How sick is that? Also what a terrible thing to assume that only homesexuals are on a risk for HIV, also heterosexuals sleep around....

I am still in rage. He should be happy that I will go private because then they (hopefully) dont need to pay for my IVF - the costs for an HIV test are ridiculous in comparison to that.

Sorry I just needed to vent.

xx

[HopeTTC18]

Book an appointment with your nearest GUM clinic. Tell them you need a HIV test. You don’t have to tell them why. They will ask but you don’t have to give a reason. Everyone is entitled to free sexual health screening in this country whatever their sexuality

[Oxfordgirl]

That really sucks, sorry you’ve had this experience.

[Kyell2]

Yeah our GP was very specific about what they would and wouldn’t test for. We didn’t ask for HIV tests, as the clinic did them as a group with other tests needed but wouldn’t do any of the male fertility tests.

Our old GP was a family friend and I know she would have done them if she could but I think the GP’s hands are tied by the health boards’ strict rules. They did do my MMR and thyroid tests for me and topped up my MMR booster.

I agree that you could go to your local GUM clinic for the HIV test but I found it easier to just pay the clinic, anything to make it simpler. I agree it’s rubbish though😩 x

[Vegemite]

Go to Gum!

I seriously can’t understand the state of the NHS. What if you did have something? What if? Is it better to be proactive medicine or reactive medicine ? Sure let’s react only after we have caused more issues-sigh! Some days I dream it’s easier to fly to another country , get shit done and fly back.

[sarahharas]

Thank you all, funnily our doctor at the private clinic said in case my GP refuses, I should just go to an emergency sexual health clinic and say that I had unprotected sex with a stranger and then they are obliged to do the test. My husband would do that, but I find that very awkward.

I know that the hands of this GP might be bound and it is not him making these rules, but what made me even more angry was the way he was talking to me. He talked in this annoying voice that people use when they are talking to children about things that is non of their business. I almost wanted to shout at him that I have a PhD in neuroscience, so my level of education is equal to him and he should start taking me serious.

We are already going through so much physical and mental pain, why do they do thaht to us?

My blood pressure is still going up when I just think about that, but I will check other options and keep my head up and hope that at some point it will all be worth it

[Solly-44]

Hi,

I’d also go to a sexual health drop in. My first cycle was so delayed that all my test results were more than a year old so needed to be redone.

It was all a bit panicky as this was realised when I’d already started the meds! I went to the gum clinic as was told this would be the fastest way of getting my chlamydia and hiv results back and they were brilliant. Staff there tend to be really pro people getting regular screens, so I wouldn’t worry about feeling you have to explain yourself - you can just say you’re doing a health MOT if you feel more comfortable x

[Oxfordgirl]

You may also need the hep B & C tests done in addition to HIV tests so make sure you have a full list of what the fertility clinic needs before you put yourself through the stress of getting only some of the tests done through a sexual health clinic only to discover you need to pay for other tests anyway. Strange though because my GP authorized these on the NHS no problem, may be it's another post code lottery thing.

[Tigr]

It is all a bit weird. Virals would have been much more expensive at the GP, like double the price we paid at the private check. GP also first did not want to do a progesterone test as "I am with fertility treatment now" although they did it last year before we went for fertility treatment and it is anyway recommended to test it a few times as one cycle with ovulation for pcos me does not mean the next cycle has ovulation. I pretty much gave up on it all and just hand over all of my money for all kinds of tests and pay for them privately. There seem to be no clear rules what will need to be paid for privately and how much it is and what does not need to be paid privately. I also feel kind of punished double when tests that would have been done on NHS before now suddenly are not on NHS anymore just because we decided to treat a medical condition (yep, infertility is a medical condition) that is not covered on NHS privately. Still finding it absolutely important for (statistical) high risk groups to get virals done regularily on the NHS without discussion. It is not "you" or "us" against "them" Hope you get it all sorted out ok. Fertility treatment and everything around it is a massive pain and stress for everything, the body, the wallet, relationships, mental health. All the best!

[sarahharas in reply to Tigr]

THank you for your reply. I also think it is important that high risk groups are checked, I just find it a bit weird that just because one is homosexual the NHS declares you as high risk for STIs. I have many gay friends being married longer than I am and heterosexuals sleeping around.

xx

[Tigr in reply to sarahharas]

As far as I understand it it is just statistics that lead to those decisions. It is basically similar to the decision not supporting fertility treatment. The numbers they got for identifying high risk groups have led to paying for the tests for HIV on NHS and the numbers they got for fertility treatment (~more likely to not work) led to not allowing this on NHS for many areas. The NHS has a super limited amount of money, so they base decisions on numbers and affordability. Pretty much Excel sheet decision making

[Hidden]

I used to go the the family planning and sexual health clinic for birth control and they often asked if I wanted any testing inc HIV etc which I have been tested twice. No charges.

[Hidden]

I have done it privately and I think it was included in my private personalised care at Guys

[Boo718]

We were exactly the same. We needed a blood test and the gp said no, so it cost us £600 to go private. It would cost them sooo much more than that if we had done the ivf through the nhs. I was sooo annoyed xxx

[sarahharas]

Thank you all for your advice, my nerves have calmed down and we have decided to go for "Medichecks" blood tests which was recommended to me.

I think I was also so upset, because I am just during my last ever natural 2ww and my nerves are at the edge. Although this is 2ww #14 I am more tensed than ever and although I am kind of looking forward to IVF (I have ore hope in that) I am scared about what will come.

My period is due today, usually I started spotting one day earlier (which would have been yesterday) and I just do not want to go to the toilet.

xx