New here - advice please

[msl30]

Hi all I'm new on the forum and was hoping for some advice. Feeling really dejected at the moment. Did any of you get a second opinion while waiting for nhs referral to an ACU clinic? I really want to try Clomid or injectables first but was told that the London ACU would be the best place to discuss this as they'll need to do follicular monitoring. Is that right? What was your experience at the first IVF/ACU clinic appointment? I'm worried that they've pushed me down the IVF route without trying anything else first. Now facing another wait of 'a few months' and when I rang up the hospital today was told they had no record of my notes. I'm wondering whether to just get a private consultation as I've been in and out of appointments for a year now and have no diagnosis. Any thoughts?? Thanks

[Hols969]

Most GP's won't prescribe clomid as you do need to be monitored as we can over stimulate so it can be quite dangerous. My gp didn't do anything, it was all done via the ACU clinic, I had my a laparoscopy first so tubes were checked and cysts were zapped (hubbies sperm was checked and was rubbish), then tried clomid (there is a time limit on clomid so you shouldn't have this until your tubes have been checked otherwise it is a waste of the drug if your tubes are blocked) and then did IUI, we were offered 3 IUI and 1 IVF, we conceived Noah on 2nd attempt IUI which was a 13% success rate - he is now 11. You are being sent the right route and it doesnt mean IVF, it just means further fertility assistance prior to IUI / IVF.

I would get your partner on the Boots Vit C and zinc tablets just to give his wrigglers a boost as my hubbies improved by over 100% in a year and as 1/3 of fertility issues are now men then it is worth his having a boost just to be on the safe side.

What tests have to done ? I would also start charting your temperature to see if you are ovulating (as a period doesn't mean you are), it can be a bit of a faff but will be extremely useful when you go to the ACU as it will give them a good indication of what your cycle is doing which should help in the long run.

You have to have patience with the TTC - it took me 3 years to conceive Noah but actually before I wasn't that patient but now I have the patience of a saint !!

[msl30 in reply to Hols969]

Thank you for all the advice, I think I panicked when they said I was referred to the IVF clinic but it sounds like they'll be able to offer other options too. The waiting is definitely the worst part and you're right, it does help to be patient! X