1st nhs consultation.

[Lauren85]

Hi everyone.

Just looking for some feedback if anyone has been transferred to the nhs fertility clinic. What happens at the first meeting? Do they check weight and see if you smoke etc. My partners having the treatment but I smoke. Just getting anxious about our first appointment.

Any advice thanks

[Camkid12]

Hi! My husband and I have been trying for a baby for nearly 3 years. After 2 we called our GP’s to have some testing done. They did various blood tests and semen test which showed low sperm. We then got referred to gynaecology where I had some more blood tests and an ultrasound. Hubby was referred with me and he had another semen sample and more blood tests. They also did carbon monoxide tests on both of us to check we don’t smoke (or have stopped) I’m not sure where you are from, but in Scotland they won’t refer you for IVF if either partner smokes. We had both stopped smoking at the same time, but i failed my test so had to wait another month and test again! We got referred to ivf clinic in January and we first had a video call in feb where they asked about our history, any genetic conditions, previous pregnancies etc. Then we got sent loads of forms to fill in, and got a phone call with the consultant 2 weeks ago. I guess the short answer is that we got referred in December and have been told that it’s likely to be august or September before we get our first face to face appointment. Wishing you both the best of luck on your journey!! It’s a slow process but there’s loads of support and helpful advice on here.x

[MakingbabyN]

Hello! I agree with what Camkid has said. We had our first appt around June last year, on the day of the appt they took my weight and I had to do some swabs. If I remember rightly it was just a chat about us and the tests they’d do. I was then sent for day 1 and day 21 bloods and my husband had to do a sperm analysis. I was also asked to have a pelvic MRI scan - but I’m not sure why I was asked to have that. When the results came back we went back to the clinic (about October time). They confirmed that I was ovulating. Sperm was borderline. They asked if we wanted to have any other methods first like clomid etc or any further tests like a hycosy. We said no, we wanted to proceed straight to IVF and we received our first IVF appt a few weeks later. Frustratingly the sperm analysis had to be repeated and I had an AMH test to check egg reserve. We had our meds appt in December and egg collection in January. Our transfer was this week.

Good luck! As Camkid said, it’s a slow process and sometimes the wait is unbearable. Just take it step by step and don’t be afraid to call up to chase for results, chase for appts, check for cancellations etc. Doing all of these things made our treatment quicker by a few months xx

[Sukibubs]

Hi there, in England it was a long old process for us and it depends on the CCG your GP is a part of. We were lucky enough to get two free rounds but we had to have been trying for two years, the female had to be under 40, both partners had to have stopped smoking for at least 6 months and my BMI had to be under 30. Each CCG is different though in terms of how many rounds you get and the criteria. The last appointment at the hospital we had we went through a long application with one of the specialists and then it got sent to the CCG to accept or decline, we also had to pick a fertility clinic and I think we had about 3 choices in the area.

We had our appointment in Feb last year and then because of COVID didn’t find out we had been accepted until the clinics reopened in May and then had our first round in November last year.

I can relate to the anxiousness, but honestly everything will be ok and wishing you all the best of luck ❤️