I've been married to my husband for 2.5 years now and we have decided to go down the fertility route. Over a period of 12 months my husband and I have had various tests in relation to fertility. We have at last finally been referred to the Hospital (and of course it is out of the area) and I would like to know what the expectations are. We have given them more blood tests (seems like for the hundredth time) and are now having to wait for a minimum of 8 weeks before an appointment will be set for us. My question to the community is what have your experiences been like firstly from the GP (as to me he didn't seem particularly concerned or in a hurry to help us) and the other once you have made it to the hospital what next? I have of course asked questions but nobody has comeback to me with an answer - just that everybody is difference which I appreciate but......? We have been looking at various information from books and the web but are not sure what to expect, what questions to ask and also how to set our own personal expectations. I would be grateful to hear your experiences and some advice as you can expect I'm getting a little down with it, my husband is very supportive - it just seems like this will never end....
Another first timer
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Hi,
I have been married for 5 years and have a child of 13 years from a previous relationship.
My DH and I have been trying for a baby for over 6 years but it never happened, so my husband went to his GP who did not really seem that interested, I also went and had a womans check but it all came back fine. I found that the only quick way is to go private. I was referred to a London fertility hospital and started my ICSI treatment. They found that my husbands sperm was swimming the wrong way? We started the treatment of drugs and injections and I did not find the actual drugs that bad, it was the waiting for the blood test to see wether it had worked that we both found very stressful.
When I went to have the blood test it came back BFP and we were so happy in fact I don't remember being that happy you could not wipe the smile of our faces and my son was so pleased to be getting a brov/sis.
The good news was short lived after 5 days of being pregnant I started spotting but everyone says it's normal but it started getting heavier and I had to keep going to the hospital for blood tests to see what the hormone level is but instead of going up it was going down. So i than was pregnant no more.
I am now waiting for my next period so that I can go ahead with FET.
I wish you the best of luck and try and not get stressed.
Take care
ERI
I have been married for 5 years and have a child of 13 years from a previous relationship.
My DH and I have been trying for a baby for over 6 years but it never happened, so my husband went to his GP who did not really seem that interested, I also went and had a womans check but it all came back fine. I found that the only quick way is to go private. I was referred to a London fertility hospital and started my ICSI treatment. They found that my husbands sperm was swimming the wrong way? We started the treatment of drugs and injections and I did not find the actual drugs that bad, it was the waiting for the blood test to see wether it had worked that we both found very stressful.
When I went to have the blood test it came back BFP and we were so happy in fact I don't remember being that happy you could not wipe the smile of our faces and my son was so pleased to be getting a brov/sis.
The good news was short lived after 5 days of being pregnant I started spotting but everyone says it's normal but it started getting heavier and I had to keep going to the hospital for blood tests to see what the hormone level is but instead of going up it was going down. So i than was pregnant no more.
I am now waiting for my next period so that I can go ahead with FET.
I wish you the best of luck and try and not get stressed.
Take care
ERI
Joined
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5,207 Posts
Hi Ewebster ans welcome to FF 
I suppose it all depends on what tests you've already had and how long you've been ttc. In my case my doc was great and referred us straightaway (although of course it was a long wait for the appt to come through!) She also gave me blood tests to make sure that i was ovulating.
When we finally got to the fetility clinic we had to answer a few questions covering how long we were ttc, sex life, health problems etc. It's been a while so i can't remember it all.......i also had an internal scan and DH got the results of his SA but i can't for the life of me remember whether this was the first or second appt. I was told the next step would be to have a lap and dye but of course that was based on the results that we had so it doesn't mean that is what they'd do in your case.
The NHS takes ages and you need to be prepared to do lots of very frustrating waiting or you can get a referral letter from your GP and go private if you can.
Hope this is some help to you.....meanwhile laods of luck,
Lizzy xxx
I suppose it all depends on what tests you've already had and how long you've been ttc. In my case my doc was great and referred us straightaway (although of course it was a long wait for the appt to come through!) She also gave me blood tests to make sure that i was ovulating.
When we finally got to the fetility clinic we had to answer a few questions covering how long we were ttc, sex life, health problems etc. It's been a while so i can't remember it all.......i also had an internal scan and DH got the results of his SA but i can't for the life of me remember whether this was the first or second appt. I was told the next step would be to have a lap and dye but of course that was based on the results that we had so it doesn't mean that is what they'd do in your case.
The NHS takes ages and you need to be prepared to do lots of very frustrating waiting or you can get a referral letter from your GP and go private if you can.
Hope this is some help to you.....meanwhile laods of luck,
Lizzy xxx
Hi ewebster,
Well my journey seemed to be going nowhere for a while, I have TTC for 5½years now, after a year of trying I went to see my GP who was very reassuring and told me to go back to see her for some tests if I still wasn't pregnant within a couple of months.
A month later I fell pregnant but was around 10 weeks gone when I found out and then m/c at 12 weeks.
So then another couple of years passes by - well I done it once so there was probably nothing wrong, or so the GP thought. So 2years ago my GP started the tests - and with my bits having a mind of their own trying to get the blood taken at the right time of the month was a nightmare! All the blood tests came back OK, I was referred to the local hospital the Dr there arranged for some more blood tests - I think I had to wait around 4 months before my first consultation. In fact it was over a year until I had my larp and dye, which showed one of my tubes were blocked and swollen and the other was partially blocked, initially they thought it maybe due to an infection, after taking loads of different anti-biotics until I was rattling - it turned out I never had an infection in the 1st place. But that they would not investigate it any further. I was referred for IVF on the NHS Feb of this year, it only became avail. in Wales in April, I couple of months ago I phoned to see what was happening it would appear that everyones referrals were sitting in an office waiting for a decision to be made down in Cardiff as to who is entitled to treatment on the NHS.
So, fed up of waiting I have decided to go Private, I am going to do the Egg Share scheme (all being well), and now I can go to the hospital of my choice, which has better stats.
I now have an appointment in Nov. for my 1st consultation, I cant wait finally the ball is rolling.
I also have been married for 2½ years now, once married you get a lot of people asking when you are going to start a family etc. I felt helpless and upset on many an occasion - seeing all my friends and some colleagues getting pregnant and having babies, and thinking when is it going to be my turn.
But now I feel much stronger and more positive.
I hope all goes okay for you.
Well my journey seemed to be going nowhere for a while, I have TTC for 5½years now, after a year of trying I went to see my GP who was very reassuring and told me to go back to see her for some tests if I still wasn't pregnant within a couple of months.
A month later I fell pregnant but was around 10 weeks gone when I found out and then m/c at 12 weeks.
So then another couple of years passes by - well I done it once so there was probably nothing wrong, or so the GP thought. So 2years ago my GP started the tests - and with my bits having a mind of their own trying to get the blood taken at the right time of the month was a nightmare! All the blood tests came back OK, I was referred to the local hospital the Dr there arranged for some more blood tests - I think I had to wait around 4 months before my first consultation. In fact it was over a year until I had my larp and dye, which showed one of my tubes were blocked and swollen and the other was partially blocked, initially they thought it maybe due to an infection, after taking loads of different anti-biotics until I was rattling - it turned out I never had an infection in the 1st place. But that they would not investigate it any further. I was referred for IVF on the NHS Feb of this year, it only became avail. in Wales in April, I couple of months ago I phoned to see what was happening it would appear that everyones referrals were sitting in an office waiting for a decision to be made down in Cardiff as to who is entitled to treatment on the NHS.
So, fed up of waiting I have decided to go Private, I am going to do the Egg Share scheme (all being well), and now I can go to the hospital of my choice, which has better stats.
I now have an appointment in Nov. for my 1st consultation, I cant wait finally the ball is rolling.
I also have been married for 2½ years now, once married you get a lot of people asking when you are going to start a family etc. I felt helpless and upset on many an occasion - seeing all my friends and some colleagues getting pregnant and having babies, and thinking when is it going to be my turn.
But now I feel much stronger and more positive.
I hope all goes okay for you.
Dear All
Thank you all very much for your kind words of encouragement and for sharing your experiences!!
I would firstly like to apologise for not replying sooner - unfortunately it has taken me this long to find the website after my computer at home crashed - plus I couldn't remember how I found this sight int he first place- then to look at the threads to reply to you
!!
Well it looks like we will be going private after all !! As the NHS in our area have said that they only have treatment available to women between the ages of 36 to 39 yrs - which is a bit of a joke - but there you go - so the next stage for us is to sort our finances and then proceed from there!!!
I will of course keep you updated and I hope to hear what's been happening to you all very soon.
Just think this time next year........
Thank you all very much for your kind words of encouragement and for sharing your experiences!!
I would firstly like to apologise for not replying sooner - unfortunately it has taken me this long to find the website after my computer at home crashed - plus I couldn't remember how I found this sight int he first place- then to look at the threads to reply to you
!!Well it looks like we will be going private after all !! As the NHS in our area have said that they only have treatment available to women between the ages of 36 to 39 yrs - which is a bit of a joke - but there you go - so the next stage for us is to sort our finances and then proceed from there!!!
I will of course keep you updated and I hope to hear what's been happening to you all very soon.
Just think this time next year........
Joined
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13,830 Posts
Hi ewebster
Hope your journey to becoming pregnant goes well - i live in Berkshire and our GP was really good and we went to him when we had been ttc for about 1 and a half yrs - he gave me blood tests to check ovulation and my hubby had a SA which was 100% abnormal.
The GP referred us to the hospital and said it would be a 4 month wait so i thought it would be in february then we got a letter in and saw the specialist at the hospital in middle of november, she was unhelpful - seemed to think that nxt time i saw her i would be pregnant somehow i couldnt see how as we had been trying for 2 and a half yrs by then! I then had a scan a week later and they found blood cysts so they said to have another scan when my period comes which was supose to be 4 days ago (i am putting it down to stress and not being pregnant) then they will do a HSG on me.
The specialist also told us that we would not beable to have IVF free as we are both overweight according to their charts!! I am 5ft 4in and weigh 10 stone! I am a size 12 so their charts are stupid - she said i would have to be about 8 stone!! I would look anorexic if i was that!!
Anyway keep us posted
Kate xx
Hope your journey to becoming pregnant goes well - i live in Berkshire and our GP was really good and we went to him when we had been ttc for about 1 and a half yrs - he gave me blood tests to check ovulation and my hubby had a SA which was 100% abnormal.
The GP referred us to the hospital and said it would be a 4 month wait so i thought it would be in february then we got a letter in and saw the specialist at the hospital in middle of november, she was unhelpful - seemed to think that nxt time i saw her i would be pregnant somehow i couldnt see how as we had been trying for 2 and a half yrs by then! I then had a scan a week later and they found blood cysts so they said to have another scan when my period comes which was supose to be 4 days ago (i am putting it down to stress and not being pregnant) then they will do a HSG on me.
The specialist also told us that we would not beable to have IVF free as we are both overweight according to their charts!! I am 5ft 4in and weigh 10 stone! I am a size 12 so their charts are stupid - she said i would have to be about 8 stone!! I would look anorexic if i was that!!
Anyway keep us posted
Kate xx
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