Birmingham IVF referral time

[RedFox23]

Hi everyone,

After a year of tests our consultant has finally agreed to refer us for IVF!

He has said that we will be accepted for treatment, which is a relief, but when I asked how long it would take to start treatment he said couldn’t say.

Can I ask if anyone has also been referred for IVF from Manor hospital or Birmingham / Walsall area.. how long did it take for you to hear from the IVF clinic? I think he said it’s Create fertility

Thank you!

😊

[Ivfgotadream]

Pre covid - we are talking 6 years ago - I was at Bham Womens and the referral time to actually being giving go ahead to start was 12 months (ended up falling pregnant naturally)

I was a private patient though with Create and had twins - zero wait list for private paying and don’t think it’s much longer for NHS patients - it takes about 3 months or so though to get the letter confirming you have the funding granted - Create only do mild or natural modified IVF though so no down reg which means you can start much quicker

Last person I know who was NHS At Create I think it was about 6 months by the time the referral went through the system but that was from the point of seeing her GP

[RedFox23 in reply to Ivfgotadream]

Thank you! Praying for a shorter wait, 3 - 6 months would be wonderful. I’m hopeful that the COVID back log isn’t too extensive 🤞🏻Can I ask, would you recommend Create? Xx

[Ivfgotadream in reply to RedFox23]

I really liked them which is why I struck with them for 5 rounds and obviously I got my twins at the end of it (and have 2 more top quality embryos frozen)

I liked that they were more relaxed than other clinics I’d been to see and friendlier - I didn’t feel like a walking cheque book and it felt like they genuinely cared about us having a baby (in fact the nurses were really emotional at my viability scan).

I do think with any clinic you get out what you put in so I questioned everything and did lots of my own research.

It’s the little personal touches for me. I had lots of direct contact with the embryology team when discussing what embryos to transfer which you don’t get at many other clinics.

After one of my transfers I was fobbed off by Heartlands hospital even though I knew I was having an ectopic (id already had one ectopic and lost a tube) I rang create in a panic they scanned me within 15 mins and they called an ambulance and I was operated on that evening.

Another time I got pregnant naturally inbetween transfers - even though I was a patient at the heartlands miscarriage clinic they refused to do anything but create stepped in and gave me progesterone and clexane etc to try and prevent another loss. It didn’t work that time but my friend who had also had a failed transfer with Create she did have a healthy naturally conceived baby after Create stepped in to give medications that the NHS wouldn’t

[RedFox23 in reply to Ivfgotadream]

Glad to hear about the safe arrival of your twins! Thank you for your reply, sounds like a wonderful clinic x

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK]

Hi Rebecca. Good to hear of your referral. Keep in touch with the clinic and explain that you are willing to accept a cancellation. This may push you the list a little. They should be able to hopefully keep you informed of waiting time. Good luck! Diane

[MissJ85]

Hi Rebecca,

I was referred by Manor hospital to Create but we were slightly delayed due to the Covid lockdown backlog. The longest time was getting the referral, following that Create move quite quickly. Our referral was made in January 2021 and we had our first appointment in April. I had a further delay due to some additional tests needed but even then my first cycle was completed in July. Im now continuing with Create privately (I wasn't successful) and restarting next month. Ive just joined this forum for some support but if you have any questions please ask. Writing this response already feels therapeutic! Good luck anyway x

[RedFox23]

My consultant told me it might be a year til I heard anything. So hearing much shorter time scales is really positive!

Sorry to hear that your first round was unsuccessful - best of luck with your second try.

We’re totally new to it too. My husband’s sperm count is super low, just 4%, so from what I’ve read online I imagine we will be having ICSI. But other than that we’re pretty clueless!! Xx