Home or Abroad? So many difficult decisions to make when starting IVF.

[FrancesC90]

Struggling with how many decisions we need to make in preparing for IVF with what seems risks involved with every option. We’ve currently got dates booked in to start a cycle with GCRM Glasgow and while they haven’t done anything that concerns us, it also doesn’t feel very personal with just a standard process being recommended and little discussion about how the plan is bespoke to us. Does anyone have any personal experience with them?

I wanted to do my due diligence and so have also looked in to abroad clinics. Someone rightly so challenged why I would simply choose the clinic closest to me other than it being convenient? I’ve had consultations with abroad clinics and they seem much more positive about my prospects and keen to do further tests and investigations before jumping in to treatment. Waiting times are also shorter and success rates appear better (although I appreciate there are lots of scrutiny over these).

Has anyone had treatment in UK and then went abroad, or went straight abroad without trying the UK first?

Any personal experiences shared would be much appreciated. My head is frazzled!

[Weareback2]

Hi i don't know your circumstances but i think i would get all the tests done first to ensure that ivf is the right treatment required. In scotland if you meet the criteria you will be offered three rounds of ivf. If you don't meet the criteria then obviously you would need to go private. If private is what is needed i would personally try Glasgow first.. just for pratical issues and convience. I had my treatment at Edinburgh for my nhs round and when i had to pay went to Edinburgh too. I found the great. All the best of luck!

[FrancesC90 in reply to Weareback2]

Thank you. Our only challenge so far is my low AMH (2.2) as far as we’re aware so I think we will be ok for the NHS but don’t want to wait - another year before we can even get a consultation. Glad to hear your experience at home was positive!

[Kmcdon]

I have used GCRM so let me know if you want me to send a pm. I also used Edinburgh nhs for a round but had the opposite experience. Xx

[FrancesC90 in reply to Kmcdon]

A PM would be amazing if you’ve got time, thanks so much!

[Tnthketnf]

Currently looking into treatment abroad after failed treatment in the UK. Previous treatment abroad.

The main reason to go abroad is the difference in costs. However sometimes flights and accommodation can easily make up the difference. For example if you choose Spain, I think isn't that much cheaper.

My experience of IVF in Scotland

is from NHS so I can't really compare an overstretched super busy clinic treating thousands of women with a private fertility clinic.

I have had experience with private health care in Scotland for a hysteroscopy/polypectomy with one of the big healthcare providers in UK, not a fertility clinic. They were not able to perform a simple procedure, I was charged thousands for absolutely nothing. So this made me very wary of private health care in UK in general and one of the reasons I opted to continue abroad.

[Boo718]

hello we went abroad for ivf and I honestly haven’t looked back. The quality of the care we received was sooo much better than at home Scotland. They were very easy to communicate with and updated us often xxx

[FrancesC90 in reply to Boo718]

Thank you, would you mind if I PM’d you for more details about where you went?

[Boo718 in reply to FrancesC90]

absolutely that’s no problem xxx

[Jumpppy]

You can only read so much into "success rates" - GCRM gave me a success rate of 30% at 28yo and at 35yo another clinic said 40%-50%. They'll all have a standard spiel...it won't necessarily apply to you personally. You won't actually know until you start. Do what feels like the right thing for you - no regrets is the best feeling 😀 (Not that I've experienced the "no regrets feeling" on this journey but it's what I'd tell my 28yo self if I could go back in time.) Also time is money, in fertility world saving time once you've reached a certain age is equivalent to saving money.

Best of luck!

[FrancesC90 in reply to Jumpppy]

thank you. How was your experience with GCRM, if you don’t mind me asking?

[Jumpppy in reply to FrancesC90]

It's been 15yrs to be fair, I've put a lot in my profile. They were nice enough, but we didn't get the kind of "advice" and information we really needed to make sound decisions. In terms of treatment I didn't get farther than tests really as the wait list was 3yrs at that time and it took me a while to drop weight to even make the waitlist. Then life happened when I got to the top and we emigrated. It worked out well waiting, but I would advise "future me" just to go private and pay out of pocket rather than waiting for NHS or expecting private and NHS to be equivalent. Private in UK does give you more say in your treatment...the NHS is just trying to meet their objectives with the resources they have. Not to say this is always the case as who your consultant is matters a lot.PM me if you want to chat more.

Good Luck!