Donor plus potential pregnancy difficulties

[CrochetAddict10]

I'm looking for advice on where to start and whether I have many options. I'm in England.

We're starting to look at having children in the next year. I'm 35, have health issues that make me a high risk pregnancy and was recently told I have PCOS. My partner cannot have children (sport injuries) so we'd be using a donor.

Everything I read says 'once you've been trying a year' you can seek help... we can't 'try' as he can't have kids, so we won't know.

Is there help available or do we just have to throw money at donors and hope for the best when the chance may be minimal but we cannot know?

Googling has got me nowhere so I'm hoping there are people who have already gone through this that may have some advice. It feels like if there's a problem with one person it's more clear cut but combine both and there's no straight answer as no way to test if my fertility is compromised.

[StarsAllAround]

Hi Crochet have you spoken to your GP? You might be entitled to NHS treatment (depending on what the CCG criteria is in your area) there may also be some fertility test you can get on the NHS. I would start there. Good luck 👍

[Rhubarb5]

Hello,

Speak to you gp. We got one round of ivf on the nhs with donor sperm. We’ve had to pay for rounds after that but it depends on criteria for your area - where you live, your bmi etc. You might be entitled to more. After our nhs round we bought a package deal of ivf cycles but had to pay for sperm donor each time. Have since found out we are also dual factor. Hope that helps. Xx

[JA-fnuk Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK]

Also take a look at Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority [ Fertility Regulator for the UK] hfea.gov.uk for more information about all aspects of fertility treatments etc

Good luck for the future

Janet

[CrochetAddict10]

No, I havent spoken to GP as its early stages. I have t1 diabetes and need to get my glucose levels down before my diabetes team would support it (for readers without t1/knowledge of, the recommendation is basically impossible), I'm just trying to work out the way forward.

I'm in West Sussex and have now seen they changed guidelines last november to include sperm donors for funded help but unclear on this, as anything I've found makes reference to it being lesbian couples.

We don't know if I will have trouble, it's just likely. Unfortunately since, GP confirmed PCOS from blood tests then hasn't ordered any further scan as said 'we can't do anything anyway'. Currently arguing it doesn't matter if they can't, I'd just like to know...