IVF referral to CARE fertility and sm... - Fertility Network UK

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IVF referral to CARE fertility and smoking test?

Buttonboon profile image
19 Replies

Me and my partner have recently been referred for IVF under the NHS and I am aware they do a smoking test to ensure we meet the criteria. We have chosen to attend CARE fertility in Northampton.

I fortunately am a non smoker and my partner has given up, but had a bit of a blip this weekend and had a nicotine vape. Although, we haven't received our appointment yet, I'm concerned it may come through at short notice and he'll fail the test. Does anyone know what sort of test is done e.g. blood test? And do you think one night of a vaping would effect the results? He also lift shares with a smoker so I'm also concerned about this too.

Its annoying as he'd done so well and I really don't want it pushing things back as its taken so long to get to this point and I'm not sure what to expect from the first appointment.

Sorry for all the questions, but any advice would be appreciated.

Thank you!

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19 Replies
HopeTTC18 profile image
HopeTTC18

Hi,

If it’s a carbon monoxide breath test then he’ll be fine, even if it’s a blood test the nicotine should already be out of his system by now. It’s only in your system for a few days. You should be ok. Good luck x

Buttonboon profile image
Buttonboon in reply toHopeTTC18

Thanks for you quick reply. That’s reassuring to know.

I was just worrying as everywhere I was reading said you need to have been quit 3 months prior to the appointment and couldn’t really find much else about it. I didn’t know if this would completely undo all his hard work, so it’s a relief to know it should be clear by now x

My partner gave up smoking and had to do carbon monoxide tests at the smoking clinic and the amount lowered fast can’t remember the level but went down from like 20 to 2 after a week. Mine was 2 at my antenatal app I don’t smoke.

We were at that clinic and actually never given a test. Just signed to say we were non smokers. Care Nottingham did a breath test though.

sheri1991 profile image
sheri1991

Care Nottingham never did us any smoking tests.. my partner smoked vape when he had a drink but not often nothing as said. X

Buttonboon profile image
Buttonboon

Thanks for all the replies. They’ve all been really reassuring and it definitely puts my mind at ease now! We’ll just make sure there’s no more blips! x

Cherrytreescottage profile image
Cherrytreescottage in reply toButtonboon

Hi, do you recall what test they did for this? Was it a breath test or bloods?

Buttonboon profile image
Buttonboon in reply toCherrytreescottage

It was a breath test.

barkerdan profile image
barkerdan

how did u get on with the smoking test did they test at all?

Buttonboon profile image
Buttonboon in reply tobarkerdan

Hiya. Yes they did test, but we both passed. So I was worrying over nothing.

barkerdan profile image
barkerdan

congrats. did u both actually quit. we have our first appointment next week friday and believe they'll be doing there nhs eligibility checks we no were covered it's just the smoking that's got us worried.

Buttonboon profile image
Buttonboon in reply tobarkerdan

Thank you! No I was already a non smoker but my partner had been smoking for 20 plus years and he quit. He’s had the odd slip up now and then (never brought any) usually got one of someone else, but generally he’s been very good. It was obviously enough for him to pass! So I’m sure you’ll be fine. We’re you both smokers?

barkerdan profile image
barkerdan in reply toButtonboon

yhh both smokers had an education evening at the clinic and going for our first appointment friday worried they'll test on this date! gonna go 24 hours without see what happens but if i ever needed motivation to quit this is the perfect one so we'll see how it goes

Buttonboon profile image
Buttonboon in reply tobarkerdan

I think a lot of it depends on the clinic. We were lucky as we were referred over from my local hospital and was warned prior about the smoking test. A nurse advised we wouldn’t be eligible if either of us smoked, so it gave him the motivation to quit. We had our smoking test at our first appointment at our chosen Centre, but it was about a month after the referral. We did speak to a nurse before the appointment who said that if for any reason we failed, they would postpone the treatment until we had quit. I hope it all goes okay for you at your first appointment. I have heard a lot of people don’t even get tested, so you may be fine.

Pipergirlie profile image
Pipergirlie in reply toButtonboon

Hey, Sorry to jump onto an old post - My partner and I found out today our funding has been accepted by CARE fertility Northampton, so excited for the journey to start, however. Both my partner and I have been smokers for about 10 yrs. We have hugely reduced our smoking and at one stage fully quit, with a tough family loss recently, we both started up smoking again, minimal but we have been smoking... I am so scared about this test, could it be a blood test or the breathe test? I would like as much info as anyone can share with me please... Your post caught my eye as we are at the same clinic. Funding accepted this week, when should I expect to hear from them, shall I chase them? What is involved with the 1st appointment there, is this when the test will happen? Thank you sooo much for your help in advance! X

Suzannah1985 profile image
Suzannah1985

We were treated there and both had a breath test at our first consultation. Good luck x

barkerdan profile image
barkerdan in reply toSuzannah1985

where was your treatment? ours will be homerton

Suzannah1985 profile image
Suzannah1985 in reply tobarkerdan

At Care, I have only just realised that the OP was a month old.

TTCtiverton profile image
TTCtiverton

hey

sorry to jump this this so late , can i please ask do they do test at the hospital when you sign your IVF forms or does this happen at your IVF appointment. thank you

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