Finance in UK vs fitting treatment abroad around work? 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Darcy1996]

Hi all, hope blue Monday isn’t too blue!

I’m currently waiting for 2nd biopsy results from the Tommy’s clinic in Warwick to know what treatment they might recommend for my “robost womb” (charming!) to then be ready to go go go!

I have logged into my Gaia account today to check that’s all ready and….i’m no longer accepted. I’ve not had a birthday since I applied and I’ve emailed them, but I assume they’ve changed their criteria. They replied to say this IS due to my age (42).

so, back to the drawing board! 🤯

I really liked that their packages include medication costs. Access hasn’t been attractive to me before simply as they don’t work with either my preferred clinics or the nearest one to me that would make appts easier around work.

my preferred clinic doesn’t have a package I could afford & I’ve borrowed as much as possible.

I hopefully get a bonus from work in April but that means waiting even longer and would likely still only cover the cost of 1 round in the UK.

So I’m back to looking at IVF treatment with ICSI overseas (likely Greece or Cyprus for cost) which I’d previously researched at the fertility show, with Emma Haslam’s podcasts and via FNUK, but my concerns are:

1) fitting in around work if I don’t stay the whole time of the treatment as work is tricky & busy plus using up all leave/balancing WFH with an unsupportive boss

2) sourcing scans & tests here in UK if I don’t stay the whole time

3) My partner doesn’t get much leave (although appreciate he can freeze his ….“contribution”)

4) I was looking at doing some freeze alls to bank my embryos now at 42 which some overseas clinics don’t seem to offer and would extend my travel/number of trips.

I know we all have so many questions and this is a lot more…I just feel like the uk finance rug has been whipped away & at 42 and TTC since 39, I’ve no more time to wait/waste.

As ever, appreciate all thoughts/sharing.

[Doodlebug23]

I’m with a clinic in Spain on their refund guarantee program, although acceptance criteria at my age was with DE. Doesn’t include my meds but does for the donor. Scans I use Window to the Womb £95 and 1 scan per transfer usually. Home pregnancy teats or I paid private once for a blood test. Trips to the clinic are for transfers only (I could go for free scans but not practical). I usually fly day there the day before and home the day after. X

[Darcy1996 in reply to Doodlebug23]

Hello, thank you that’s great to know as I was getting quotes for £200+ for scans. Thank you x

[Cinderella5 in reply to Darcy1996]

I used ultrasound direct for scans, really easy to book and not expensive.xx

[Darcy1996 in reply to Cinderella5]

Thanks so much Cinderella5 💜

[Always_Worried]

Hi

I’m using the same clinic as Doodlebug and they are great. I went for three weeks the first time to do the whole process (ICSI as we also have male factor issues) because I was so scared of missing appointments and not really knowing what was involved. I’m now going back this month for my second egg collection and due to low ovarian reserve, they’ve suggested double stimulation to bank some eggs. I’m having my scans where I live until a time the follicles are almost good to go and then flying out a couple of days before for egg collection. You then have a few days of nothing, another few days of stims and then another egg collection so you could fly back and forth if you couldn’t be there for the whole time?

I think the whole process is between 2 and 3 weeks but that’s because I’m a slow responder to the stims. If I was quicker then it would be shorter - easyJet flights only go once per day at this time of year (we fly from Gatwick) but the clinic are great for working around your timings and if you’re only going for a few days at a time then you wouldn’t need to spend a load on the extras for bags etc.

They do offer a programme there too and to be honest, I wish we would have chosen it the first time round.

Happy to private chat if you wanted any more info - I wish you all the luck in the world for a successful outcome x

[Darcy1996 in reply to Always_Worried]

What a wonderful message! Thank you so much 💜

[olabode]

I'm 44. I was not rejected by Gaia...

[Darcy1996 in reply to olabode]

May I ask if that was recent @olabode ? I was ok a few months ago, logged in and it showed I was no longer able to have a plan with them. I messaged them, as in my head I was good to go, and Gaia was the way I was set, sorted, and good to go and I really want to start NOW (or yesterday as we all do!). Unfortunately the reply was: "Unfortunately, the main reason we are unable to offer you a plan is age. As a kind of insurance company we are bound by strict eligibility thresholds dictated by our underwriting partners. This is not an indication of whether the treatment will work or not, as we know many people who have gone on to have successful treatment."

Although it says "main reason" it doesn't give any other detail on what another reason might be.

[olabode]

Yes it was recent. It was on Friday. I understand they have a BMI limit of 35kg. Women over 40 must be using donor eggs. I suggest you create a new email address and reapply. Good luck!

[Darcy1996 in reply to olabode]

Very recent! Thank you so much. It’s probably that I said own eggs, that would make sense. Thanks so much olabode 💜