IVF consent

[Bueno_]

Getting ahead of myself as usual but…

My husband and I are due to start ICSI within the next few month on NHS, we’ve accepted our treatment offer and are just waiting on the consent documentation. Everything seemed to start happening really quickly all of a sudden but does anyone know roughly how long this process takes?

We have a few trips planned and are willing to cancel them as this is obviously much more important but I’m just trying to prepare myself for what’s to come!

Currently feeling all the emotions and hate waiting for appointments! Any advice is appreciated X

[Allotmenteer16]

Are you being referred to a specific fertility clinic? Both clinics I have been to in the last couple of years used online consent procedures, both parties have to go through the various modules, where you watch videos or read info in order to help you manage the consent process. So basically as soon as we were accepted for treatment following an initial consultation (with a fertility nurse or doctor) we were sent the link to do the consents within a day or two.

It's run differently in different places, so it's hard to gauge what to expect. Maybe ring the consultant's secretary and see if you can find out?

Wishing you all the best on your fertility journey.

[Pmawarrior in reply to Allotmenteer16]

Hi we are just a little ahhead of you but went private so not sure if there is a differnce in time scales. 2 weeks ago we watched the modules ,signed the consent forms then the welfare of child forms . Next step prep app with nurse tomorrow morning and with hopeful start 6th ! Eek. 🤪🥰

[Pmawarrior in reply to Pmawarrior]

Next stems stim injections 6th and 3 or 4 scans in between the two weeks to travk progress of follicle growth. Its all go now but all very exciting !

[Bueno_ in reply to Allotmenteer16]

It’s an NHS clinic so just waiting on the link to do consent procedures online, I’ll maybe give them a week or two and if I don’t hear anything I’ll get back in touch! But if you’ve got yours so quickly hopefully we’ll get it this week 🤞🏼

[Mp37]

My husband and I have been waiting 12 months since the first referral. We had our appointment with the consultant just last week and told we would begin on the first day of my next period.

We’ve gone from waiting a year to starting in 2 weeks. Like you it’s all happened so quickly. I feel overwhelmed and terrified!

Wishing you all the best with it all and like you we have had to rearrange trips etc but totally worth it of course xx

[Bueno_ in reply to Mp37]

Best of luck with your journey ❤️

[emma_g87]

With my first round (which was NHS) we had around 7 or 8 months on the waiting list before we had an initial appointment at the clinic. Once we had the initial appointment, things happened quite quickly - had a couple of tests which included AMH, a follow up where they gave the AMH results and told me what protocol I’d be on, then the online consents, then a virology appointment. Once all that was done we were told we could book in for treatment with my next period. So from first appointment to starting was something like 2 months? My understanding was that, there was no obligation to start on that first period. If I’d wanted to wait until the cycle after, I could have, so if you do have trips planned you might be able to work around these. That said, best to check how things work in your clinic. Also, if your planned trips are to any areas where Zika is present, you should also check that with your clinic as you may not be able to go?

[Twiglet2]

Assuming you are top of the waiting list for whatever treatment you’re having (ivf or ICSI) and already had a consult about that and protocol and been told that then it really depends on your clinic, at ours after online consents there’s an appointment on zoom for any questions about them and to go over them. Then there’s another appointment for up to date swabs BMI etc before you can actually book in for treatment so a few months from consents until actually starting treatment then it depends if there is space for treatment that month for you when your period comes, but every clinic is different. I found a closed facebook page for patients in my local area that was really helpful for things like those finer details in case there is similar for yours xx

[Pickle2025]

I’ve found I’ve had to chase everything in the last 18 months, if you had expected to hear from the clinic/received a link, then you could contact them to chase it up.

[Autumn_Rain]

good luck with it all - I went privately for my first while waiting for the NHS treatment. With the NHS why not phone up and check with appointments admin staff or a nurse just to give you peace of mind? I think you need to have appointment with a nurse regarding the consent forms (and showing you how the injections work)

Generally it should start from your next period post the consent forms - but just to warn you the consent videos and docs themselves can be quite stressful! I was already feeling overwhelmed before I started it then I got the consent stuff and it goes through the worst case scenarios. I wished someone had warned me before I did it - so thought I’d say here.