Hoping for some advice from members based in Northern Ireland

[Peace-Lilly]

Hi everyone, new on here but have been so heartened reading all the posts and the wonderfully supportive replies. Lovely to not feel so alone! I am 37, TTC for 3 years and was receiving NHS treatment in Northern Ireland pre restrictions. Clinic still closed and now considering private options. Wondering if anyone in my area has any advice or tips? Wishing you all well in your journeys xx

[Poppy_F]

Hi, we had a very good experience with GCRM Belfast, think it's now called Belfast Fertility. Very experienced staff, good communication and compassionate empathetic care. And our ICSI was successful, my little boy is now 6 months old We used Access Fertility to pay for it, took some of the anxiety out of the process for us.

[Peace-Lilly in reply to Poppy_F]

Hi,

Thankyou so much for replying and congratulations on the safe arrival of your little boy, you must be over the moon! Do you mind me asking was it your first attempt at ICSI? I’m very confused at all the terms and wondering if you have one egg retrieval and one fresh embryo transfer followed by perhaps FET does this count as just one round of IVF or a few? Don’t want to make myself ineligible for my NHS round.

So I spoke to Belfast Fertility and there is a month’s wait for consultation and 6+months wait for treatment. Not sure I can wait that long anymore! The Royal haven’t even opened up to new private patients due to the backlog but there is also a brand new clinic with no waiting list. I’m tempted to go for the new clinic but nervous as no previous success rates to consider. My NHS clinic is just opening again but can only offer me medication, not the IUI as the labs aren’t open.

So hard to know what to do, sorry for the long message!

[Poppy_F in reply to Peace-Lilly]

So sorry you have got stuck in the middle of all this pandemic stuff, I'm sure so frustrating for you! Months can seem so long when you are waiting for ivf. Not sure if Belfast Fertility are still doing information evenings, they are very informative and would highly recommend going to one . ICSI is similar to normal ivf only the sperm and egg are put together differently and its more expensive so will depend on each individual case as to whether its required. Don't know how you would feel about going to a new clinic. You would want to find out as much about them as possible, what experience their consultants have etc. All I can say is fertility treatment can be stressful and confusing at times, things need to be planned precisely, drugs taken at right times, scans and procedures done on time. It helps to have a reliable clinic knowing you can pick up the phone at any time if you aren't sure about something and knowing they have a good history and will guide you to the best treatment options for your situation. I would personally be nervous about a brand new clinic. You don't want to waste time, money and emotional energy in failed cycles by not getting the best care/treatment.

[Peace-Lilly in reply to Poppy_F]

Hi, thanks so much for your reply. I have learnt so much for being on here. My nurse advised to contact the regional administrators on here which I have done, so just waiting to hear back to see if they have any opinion on the new clinic. She did say they wouldn’t be registered if they hadn’t passed assessments from HFEA which made me feel a bit better. Although I’ve been waiting a week on a call back from them so guessing they are flooded after opening!

[Poppy_F in reply to Peace-Lilly]

Wishing you all the luck in the world with your journey! x

[RhinoCat]

Have you read the message on the regional fertility wall? I asked for a sept update and they have put one. You must be nearly getting your turn if you were mid treatment ?!?!?! Go read their message.

I was top of list but got a letter mid covid to say they couldn’t offer appointments at minute due to covid.

Girl on phone told me they were still working through their March April people. Maybe your turn is soon. Defo ring them again .

I’ve one frozen embryo at private clinic but still riding the MC storm so can’t get in to planning that. I fear my nhs turn will never come 😳 cannot believe there is a wait now at the private clinic as id considered forgetting about my nhs turn and trying to do two more access fertility rounds!!!!!! But 6 months waiting list 😖 this is horrific!

I can’t find any info about that other clinic that comes up on the hfea website. Have you called these guys?

[Peace-Lilly in reply to RhinoCat]

Hi,

Thankyou for replying and firstly I am so very sorry to hear about your loss. It must be so incredibly hard with the added pressure of closed clinics.

So I was having treatment at my local centre (IUI) which is reopening but no labs so no IUI just medication. Couples who were on rounds 4/5 out of 6 are being contacted first. As I had only had 1 round it will be a while. I was awaiting my first NHS IVF consultation appointment in May at the Royal so all the couples on treatment are being contacted first so I will be a while then due to the backlog probably a year until actual treatment.

If you google the new clinic the contact number comes up but I have been waiting a week on a call back so they must be so busy with new requests!

So with you, when you feel ready, I’m assuming you would get priority at the private clinic as you are a current patient?

[Peace-Lilly]

Hi Diamond,

Of course not, it’s always lovely to hear from anyone on this group!

So we have had all of our tests (I know it’s private but they have been very thorough and swift, which is reassuring as you would assume you’d get recommended a very tailored treatment plan) and we expect our results back next week followed by a review with planning for the way forward. Have been advised treatment should then start on my next cycle, which is what we were hoping for as like you we have been waiting for too long now. We have been very impressed with the clinic so far, the consultant, lead nurse and embryologist are very experienced, having all worked in leading clinics , which is comforting.

Have you linked up with the local closed Facebook group, very lovely supportive group of ladies. Would highly recommend joining if you feel you would like more support.

Let’s stay in touch and do let me know if you need any other info

Xx

[Peace-Lilly]

Hi,

Sorry I’m only just replying.

Yes that’s the one, lovely supportive group of ladies and great for local knowledge. Have you need accepted yet?

We have a date for review next week so looking forward to finding out a bit more.

I hope your appointment comes around quick. This waiting is the worst isn’t it.

Xxx

[Mar202035]

Hi peace-Lilly

Sorry to jump in, we are NI based also an just had my failed NHS cycle at the royal so keen to look at private options, can you just let me know the name of the new clinic?

Thanks

[Peace-Lilly in reply to Mar202035]

Hi, so sorry I am only just replying. I am so very sorry to hear about your cycle, this journey is so tough xxx

So as far as I am aware there is Belfast Fertility and an option to see the NHS consultant privately (perhaps you already knew this?) When I was looking around in Oct there was a month wait for appointment at BF, then 6 months plus for treatment. The new clinic in ovo were literally just opening so I got seen very quickly and hoping to start treatment in Jan. If you google them their website should come up and I would ring around some others to see what suits you time wise/cost etc. Then there are options in the south but from what I found talking to them 6 month wait again. Are you linked up with closed Facebook group for NI? Very lovely, supportive and knowledgeable group of ladies xxxx

[Peace-Lilly]

Thank you, you too. I am due to start in Jan. Nervous and excited at the same time! Keep in touch xxx

[Peace-Lilly]

Exciting! Glad to hear you have a date. Yes stay in touch xxx

[diehardbear]

Hi, I am also from Northern Ireland. We are at the very early stages of testing / treatment options which has also been held up due to covid x

[Peace-Lilly in reply to diehardbear]

Hi,It’s all so difficult isn’t it due to covid. The journey is hard enough. Are you linked up with the closed Facebook group for NI? Really lovely group of supportive ladies with a wealth of local knowledge xxx

[diehardbear in reply to Peace-Lilly]

I did request to join it on Monday but haven't been accepted yet x

[Peace-Lilly]

Hi, good to hear from you!I def felt calmer once everything was underway with my injections. We had our collection and transfer mid jan and I am now nervously awaiting my viability scan this week after a positive blood test. Did yours have to be slightly delayed, I think you were due to start in Jan? Wishing you all the good vibes for your cycle!! Xx