We have been struggling to conceive for 16 months now and have just finished all of our required testing.
Mine seems clear but my husband’s results showed low morphology of 3%.
We are now looking into IVF and ICSI. I’m wondering if anyone else has any experience of NHS funding and whether we would still be made to wait for the standard 2 years of trying or if they would progress things sooner because of the results?
Would be so appreciative of any insight through the painfully long wait until my next appointment! 😊
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04purple
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Hi. I think it might depend on where you live. I know in lots of the UK ivf in general can be a postcode lottery at times!
I am in NI and had initially been told that we would need to wait 2 years before we could even get initial tests never mind get an ivf referral, but then I changed GP and she was so supportive. We were sent for tests and when all the results were in, we were referred on straight away and weren’t at the 2 year mark. But then there’s the waiting list…
I would suggest speaking to your treating doctor to see if it’s possible to get referred now and also see if you can find out what the waiting times are for treatment (if there are any). Is your next appointment far away?
hiya, depending on where you stay times seem to be different. I would honestly say though none of it goes fast. Be prepared to wait along time between appointments and rounds. We ended up going private because it took sooo long. Xxx
I think it will depend on your actual diagnosis. If your diagnosis says you can't conceive naturally regardless of how long you have been trying then you don't have to wait for two years. My advice would be to clarify that with your GP or whoever else is in charge of your case at the moment.
My understanding is that slightly low morphology isn't of great concern especially since normal morphology is as low 4% . I think it only helps the clinic decide between icsi/ivf. In my husband's case the standard NHS sperm analysis prior to treatment that lead to our diagnosis didn't even include the morphology. So I think if it was something they considered important they would have checked it and named as a factor. We discovered later that it was slightly lower than normal and it didn't change our diagnosis which was unexplained.
I might be wrong but the sperm parameters are very, very variable from analysis to another. My husband's morphology did go to 4% in later testing. He was only taking the basic pregnacare supplement.
Unfortunately, perhaps because of this, the majority of fertility specialists do not tend to pay much attention to the male factor (wrongly in my view as in here you will read about many cases that after several attempts they discovered there was something wrong with the sperm which helped them).
All this is based in my experience within NHS in our area (Scotland). Your circumstances and area might be different.
As for the waiting unfortunately with the NHS is a given. It might help using the time to focus on preparing your body if you need to take supplements, lifestyle or diet changes. It might give you the feeling of doing something. But you might already be healthy anyway.
Check with your CCG what the requirements are for NHS IVF treatment as every area has a different criteria. Below is a link to the NHS CCG directory find your area and look into what is available. Be prepared as not all areas offer NHS funding for IVF it is a postcode lottery. Good luck.
I think it depends on a few things - your gp, your hospital trust and your results. For us it was actually really quite quick - 18 months from initial tests to the birth of our daughter, but then that was probably because my husband has a zero sperm count due to a CF diagnosis (by our fertility doctor!) so there was absolutely no way whatsoever that we would be able to conceive naturally. I also think it might depend on your age as with other friends I have that have gone through it, they do seem to get a bit of a wriggle on if you’re getting older. Good luck!
Like other ladies have said, unfortunately everything does seem to move very slowly on NHS and really does depend on where you live....
I'm in SE London so got referred to the gynae clinic at my local hospital in July (after having all the standard blood tests via the docs and TTC for 12 months, I was 38 then)
It became apparent during this process my partner has low sperm count. We were told for him to take Wellman and to retest in 3 months, which we did. As results were still low we have now been referred for IVF ICSI at the main hospital within our area. This was at end Oct.
The referral paperwork took 3 weeks to be sent, and since then have been chasing the Assisted conception unit (ACU) for wait times. So far I have managed to ascertain that worst case my first consultation would be 18 weeks from referral but that all referrals are vetted and dealt with on their own merit. So I'm hoping that because I'm 39 and OH sperm count is low that we might be able to be seen sooner. Treatment then starts within 2-3 months after consultation.
My partner and I have decided that once we get our first appointment date, if it is the full 18 weeks wait - we are going to pay for one round first (only 4-6 weeks wait privately in the same ward!) as we have been told we will still qualify for the NHS funding if we are unsuccessful.
I think that the lovely ladies above have said it all really. The wait is difficult, but there are things you could start doing from now that will potentially help. Vitamin supplements for you both (we were told to take Impryl which is costly) are a good start.
We are based in Cornwall and I think it took us 6/7 months from our first consultation to our first egg retrieval on the NHS. I also did reiki and life coaching which massively helped me.
You could also putting money aside now if you are able to which would help you with a second round etc if it were necessary. Otherwise it is a lot to cough up if you want to go into a second round relatively quickly. We managed to get our second round in place just three months after our first failed round. (Sorry, that sounds very negative but sadly the reality for many that the first round doesn’t work and finding the money was tough).
Everyone has a different story. Good luck with yours xxx
I think it depends on your boroughs CCGs but possible you’ll have to wait 3 years - they should have advised you though. If they class the morphology as a problem then it might be enough to sign you off for nhs funding. If they put that as unexplained fertility then you may have to wait. I know it sounds odd as you think you have an explanation but my partners sperm quality was changing all the time and something always borderline and they often say that is unexplained. However they said since it had been 2 years and borderline they accepted us for nhs funding. So we felt lucky. You’re very young (I was not) so I wouldn’t worry about the wait if there is one and just keep trying as it can still happen.
Hi All, thank you all your helpful and kind responses. From further research it definitely does seem to be a postcode lottery!
I’d been waiting several weeks for an appointment today to discuss everything as we’ve just completed all the tests that had been requested so far.
Had really been trying to remain positive looking towards today’s appointment for some clarity but unfortunately I’ve this morning had a message to say that due to unforeseen circumstances the appointment has been cancelled.
When I phoned to discuss they said the next appointment to rebook would now be mid February. So it looks like it will be a while longer now before we can get a better understanding unfortunately. Feeling quite low now.
Anyone else dreading Christmas a bit?! Thinking of you all xxxx
my overriding advice is that success rates are better the younger you are so if you can afford private you won’t regret it. Under 35 years have best results then egg quality deteriorates with age quite significantly to 40. 40 + is the warrior group. Wish you all the best x
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