IVF Through Nhs: Hi my name is Silvia... - Fertility Network UK

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IVF Through Nhs

Silvia35 profile image
20 Replies

Hi my name is Silvia and I’m very grateful to share my story with all of you, I’m new on my adventure with IVF through NHS, my GP just referred me to a specialist last week and today I received a message to book my first appointment but the earliest is on 16 th August and the appointment information is said that during the pandemic the visit might be via telephone I don’t understand anything, anybody know how long it will take to get ivf done with nhs? any of you have run into this problem? I don’t really want to wait 3 years before someone will see me 🤦🏻🤦🏻🤦🏻🤦🏻🤦🏻

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Silvia35 profile image
Silvia35
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20 Replies
en3123 profile image
en3123

Hi Silvia good luck to you on your Journey , after all initial checks there was a 6month waiting list to been seen by NHS fertility Centre , this then taken us to around feb/march 2020. due to the pandemic we couldn’t be seen physically until february 2021, we had out bloods taken in february and started the IVF cycle in april 2021 , Egg collection in May and due to risk of OHSS i’m currently waiting for a Frozen embryo transfer currently ! so over all it has taken a very long time due to the pandemic and back log of patients . my partner and i regret not going private now. xxx

Silvia35 profile image
Silvia35 in reply to en3123

Omg that’s to long 🤦🏻 if I have to wait so long I run the risk of never being able to have children again, I can’t believe it, now I feel very very disappointed with NHS, I have to think of something else

SianyS profile image
SianyS

Hi Silvia. It varies on wherever your treatment is to take place. I went via nhs and initially an nhs hospital was commissioned for the treatment which was a long wait, commissioning changed in that time and a private clinic was being used and was treated pretty much the same as private patients so hardly any wait. After the first consultation the ball was rolling fast. August appointment seems quick so that’s brill! Best of luck in your treatment 😘

I think it very much depends on your local NHS. We had initial checks just before the pandemic hit last year, I was over the BMI guidelines so was sent away to loose the weight. I went back in Oct and had egg collection in Feb. Would have been Dec but the clinic was closed over Christmas. We were given a choice of two hospitals and they were able to tell us that one didn’t have any waiting list. I have a friend that was just over a year between her initial consultation and giving birth to her little one so it can be very quick sometimes. Don’t give up just yet would defo be worth asking some questions before you start making other plans. Good luck.

BabyM2021 profile image
BabyM2021

Hi Silvia, I wish you loads of luck with your IVF. I was referred to the fertility department at the hospital in Sep 2020, had my 1st appointment with the consultant in October. Then went on to have loads of tests, scans & blood tests. Once they where all completed my paperwork was sent in January this year & I received confirmation of funding on 4th February.

The same month I received my initial consultation appointment with my clinic for 22nd March. I then started my IVF on 26th April, had my egg collection on 7th May, had 1 embryo transferred on 12th May & I’m now nearly 9 weeks pregnant with my little miracle.

I have found that things tend to move faster than what the hospital advised me. I know the feeling of just being desperate to start as you feel your life is on hold in a way.

I was with Care fertility in case you would like a recommendation. They have been brilliant!

Katieloubo12 profile image
Katieloubo12

Hi Siliva. We had our first consultation with nhs ivf in May. If im honest I started of hopeful but that soon faded. I got told my FSH level was to high and that there is nothing to could do to change it. They said they wanted to retest. Then suddenly I got a call a week later from the same Dr saying that the FSH didn't now matter however you have to be trying for 3 years so we have been given another appointment for November ( this was never mentioned before). I'm sure they will test again and find something else irrelevant say they can say no. I have low AMH so I understand im not their ideal person. I got the impression he was doing and saying anything to get out of it. This is just my experience other areas may differ.

Jane8412 profile image
Jane8412

Hi Silvia- As others have said it depends on your area. I am in south west London and it was about 6 months from first seeing my GP to starting my one (and only) NHS round of IVF. Before seeing the gp we had been trying for 6 months. I was over 35 and had low AMH and AFC on my initial scans at the fertility clinic so I wonder if this is why I didn’t have to be trying for 2 or 3 years like a lot of other people seem to. They said I needed ivf ASAP if I were to have any hope of it workingGood luck to you x

Ivfgotadream profile image
Ivfgotadream

Over 35 and if you are close to the age cut off on your area you may be rushed through otherwise the standard wait is 2-3 years Also I picked up you said run the risk of “never being able to have children again” - do you already have a child? If so your referral will just be for basic fertility testing....you wouldn’t be eligible for full Ivf treatment on the NHS

Of course private IVF is always an option and their wait lists are much much smaller

Sukibubs profile image
Sukibubs

Hi Silvia

It took us about a 18 months to go through all of the tests before getting to the stage of filling in the application forms. We got to the stage of application in February last year and was accepted for NHS funding in April. We had our implications meeting in July and our first round in November last year.

Wishing you all the best of lick on your journey ❤️

KLADY123 profile image
KLADY123

Hi Silvia

Got referred in July 20, tests etc Aug, referred for lap Oct 20, First Cycle Apr 21 (my choice could have started Feb), FET in 2 weeks so I think it does depend on the trust. Also I called every day for cancellation for my first appointment. I have been really happy with the pace if I am honest so dont rule out the NHS based on timing until you have asked them specifically.

They do have strict criteria so it is worth checking out the policy for your NHS trust to make sure you would qualify (in theory), many things like weight, prior children, AMH levels etc can mean you will not get funding.

Good luck x

HaveFaith1 profile image
HaveFaith1

Hi Silvia,I feel your frustration! We've been unlucky with the wait because of various complications and admin errors. Since being referred to the clinic from our GP, its taken us 18 months to start our first round of IVF.

My advice would be:

1) if you need to get referred elsewhere for treatment (I needed my cervix dilated), don't just accept the appointment you're given if it's really late. I phoned directly and asked if there was anything earlier and my slot went from 3 months to 3 weeks in the space of a 5 minute phone call!

2) we kept having months long gaps between telephone appointments. Then when we got the call, we'd have the exact same conversation as last time - so frustrating! If you can, ask them what the next telephone appointment will specifically be about. If they can send of the request for funding before your phone call, ask them to get on with it!

I hope you get your treatment soon. Good luck, I wish you all the best xx

Silvia35 profile image
Silvia35 in reply to HaveFaith1

Thank you for your reply I will keep on eye 👁 to your advice, did you had your first round of ivf ?

HaveFaith1 profile image
HaveFaith1 in reply to Silvia35

Good luck, I'm sure you'll be fine :) I'm currently undergoing my first round of IVF. I keep praying that each stage goes well, I want this so much (like all of us I imagine). This forum is a real help xx

Silvia35 profile image
Silvia35 in reply to HaveFaith1

God bless you and I wish you all the best, yea this forum is very helpful, hope you coming back with a very good news 😍🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

Chiefy profile image
Chiefy

We initially saw gp in Oct 2019 (I was just 37). Our initial consultation with local NHS hospital was supposed to be the day after we went into first lockdown in March 2020. The appointment was cancelled and all fertility treatment stopped until June 2020. We visited a private clinic when they reopened who said that as we were entitled to nhs funding we could do 2 nhs funded cycles through them and that we could start immediately if private or wait until Oct 2020 for nhs treatment. By December 2020 we still hadn't started and they couldn't even give us a date to start nhs treatment as our local CCG had cut funding by 70%. We ended up biting the bullet and going private, which meant we could start Immediately. Yes it cost a lot of money, but we are now 25 weeks pregnant with 3 frozen embryos on ice. It was the right decision for us ultimately.

Wishing you all the best x

Silvia35 profile image
Silvia35 in reply to Chiefy

Oooo congratulations for your miracle, I think same with my husband I just wanna wait august 16 when I have my first appointment by phone and I just curious what they say and then I hope to take my next decision, tell me something which fertility clinic you’ve been and ruffled how much it cost you on private?

Bluedestiny profile image
Bluedestiny

Hi Silvia just wanted to give you another story as it really is dependant on your area. I had my first telephone consultation with my clinic (nhs funded) in March 2021 and treatment was in June would have been earlier but we had to have additional tests for male factor. It was very quick for us xx good luck with everything x

Silvia35 profile image
Silvia35 in reply to Bluedestiny

Hey hi, ooooo that was really quick for you I hope to be lucky like you, I leave Kent side more exactly in Gravesend I hope not to wait that long as others ladies, so did you have your embrio transfer?

Bluedestiny profile image
Bluedestiny in reply to Silvia35

Unfortunately we didn’t make it that far so I would say be prepared for things not going to plan. I only got a few eggs and none of them fertilised x

Silvia35 profile image
Silvia35 in reply to Bluedestiny

Ooo sorry to hear that but don’t lose your hope never ever keep trying and be positive 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏 I will pray for all of us good luck dear 😘🙏

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