We have our first appointment with a NHS fertility doctor tomorrow. We have had tests done through our GP and had to meet certain criteria before we could be referred.
We have now successfully been referred and we have our first appointment. I was wondering if anyone could shed any light on what happens at the first initial appointment and if anyone has any recommendations on questions we should ask?
We appreciate any guidance you can give! Thank you!🙂
At the first appointment (this is in Edinburgh) we went to they took my weight to make sure my BMI was under 30 - it wasn't - so I was asked to come back when it was - until your BMI is under 30 they won't put you on the list.
I'm close now but probably need to lose another 6lbs before I can go on the list.
Apart from checking height and weight they didn't do anything but maybe coz I wasn't at the right weight?
First appointment is I believe a lot of paperwork and they go through a list of questions about your health and what tests you've already had and might potentially book you in for scans if it's needed.
We had already done a lot of these things because our reason for needing IVF was clear but we were able to have a good chat with the doctor about what we needed to do etc.
I would make a list of the stuff you want to ask and any thing you're unsure about. Best to get these questions asked now when you're able to.
Good luck hope it goes well!
Hello,
I had my first fertility appointment in October. They first put me to the nurse for the height, weight and carbon monoxide test. Passed all that then we went to see the consultant. They took me for a transvaginal ultrasound and examined my uterus (I have Adeno previous diagnosed so they might have just been wanting a look at this) they counted my eggs on my ovary. We then did the discussion part and they take a full history so make sure you know your story and details as it then decided my next step. I asked for an AMH test so we did that that day as well and they referred me for a hycosy.
This might be quite the standard but I was quite direct about my concerns, what I thought might be wrong and went in with key things I wanted from the appointment which may have resulted in thing moving along. For my recent appointments I have made a list, printed it of everything I have found and want to discuss. I now have my laporoscopy date set for end of December.
Good luck, I was so nervous before ours.
We had a really positive appointment, was around 90 minutes. Nurse did BMI/BP first. Then saw the consultant. They went through both mine/husbands past medical history, re capped our TTC journey and reason why (PCOS) and recapped test results to date. From this, fertility treatment options were discussed. For us, it was ovulation induction or IVF offered with ovulation induction being the preference by consultant and us. Risk of this discussed and success rate, as well as it practically worked with medication regime and scans. I then have another appt in 6 weeks with the NS to discuss the treatment so you don’t need to remember it in detail.
I had a transvaginal ultrasound in the appt and they discussed this in detail which was really helpful and the most education of PCOS I’ve ever had! Plenty of time to ask questions and I felt really listened to.
We knew our reason for infertility and our treatment options so that made it easier to come prepared with questions. I had read a lot on PCOS protocols and fertility so I felt somewhat prepared and had some information to come with things I wanted clarified.
I’d write down any burning questions you have beforehand as can often be overwhelming in the appointment. It’s ok if you don’t ask them as you will see the team again.
We are now 6 weeks pregnant after our 3rd cycle of letrozole so there is hope 
Hello, here is a short timeline of how things happened for me, but this can vary depending on clinic.
12/10 First appointment lasted about 90 minutes, lots of paperwork, then they took bloods, swabs, water sample. They then referred me again for ultrasound and asked for partner for another sample.
20/11 - ultrasound taken
28/11 Dye test and semen sample
Feb 14th - consultation to conclude that ICSI was needed.
We then decided to go private just because of timelines offered but let me know if you any any further detail of the steps.
Thank you, I believe ICSI might be the route we have to go down. Can you please confirm how long the wait was?
Hellooo, it will differ from each place but mine was a 50 week wait x
That is ridiculous - especially as the process I have been through means I’m not allowed to talk to anyone unless I’ve been trying for over two years anyway! I’ll try and see what the average time is where we are today!
Thank you all so much for your messages and taking time out to explain in such detail, I really appreciate it!
It’s crazy how things vary from different areas isn’t it.
I first contacted my GP in September and I was sent for blood tests, an ultrasound on uterus and ovaries, BMI checked, and swabs too. All my GP appointments have been done via the phone - separately to my Husband and we have not been invited in. Also I have not been able to book appointments, I have to call from 8am and after a hefty wait out a request in to talk to the GP and will get a call at some point that day. I’ve had different GP’s most of the time however I found a good and supportive one but he only worked on a Friday so had to wait for Fridays to log a request to talk to him and to do the referral.
My husband was sent for a sample however the wait was over three weeks to drop this off so we paid privately for this to speed it up.
When all results were back, it was a case of being told yes they are fine for me (no further detail) and for my husband it was that he had low count and 2% morphology. It was then established we needed two samples 3 months apart (this would have been 26th December for the second sample). I was devastated as by this time we had not had any support around his results and just kept being told we needed to be referred to a fertility GP to discuss options.
The GP then looked at my husbands records following an ultrasound in 2020 were he was told a varicocele was not found (and the full ache was due to his boxers), to find further down the report a 3cm varicocele was found.
Luckily I had still booked the sample drop off slot (3 weeks away) as the GP sent him off for a sample. This time the count had gone up, but morphology was now at 1%.
The GP sent our referral off with an explanation of the varicocele and luckily we have been accepted.
So today’s appointment will be the first time anyone has ever discussed anything with us as the GP just kept saying “ask the GP specialist in referring you to”. We’ve had no recommendations on vitamins or supplements to be taken - I paid privately for a fertility nutritionist appointment to discuss how diet and supplements can improve both me and him.
During this time I’ve spent hours researching, reading, watching and become slightly obsessed about improving sperm and egg health (even though I haven’t had a AMH test) so we are 2 months into making changes, rather than waiting for todays appointment to tell us what to do.
Friends from a different town called the GP and got an appointment at their own GP directly with a fertility specialist, however we have spent the last two months purely collecting information to talk today.
I will update what happens today incase anyone else has gone through the process I have.
Thank you once again x
update from our appointment…I’ve posted the below on another post…
After waiting over a year to be referred by my GP, we finally had our first fertility consultation on Friday. All went well apart from when she pointed out that I had not had my AMH tested and this was something that determined whether we got funding.
I was booked in for 11th December however the anxiety and stress of what if was too much so I arranged for a private AMH test.
Luckily I did as my results have come back at 3.7. It has to be over 5 for the funding. My next appointment with my fertility consultant is on 20th December. I have emailed her my results from today. I still am booked in for a thyroid and HIV test on the 11th, however I’m now faced with no funding and now I need to go private.
I wish they just tested this a year ago and told me there and then because I would have explored other options rather than being told I’m fine for a year.
Can anyone please let me know what to look for when I’m choosing a clinic?
Should I still wait for my 20th December appointment even though I know I’m not eligible.?
has anyone been in this position before?
Any support will be hugely appreciated x
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