Anyone had tests on nhs??

[Fezzle]

Good luck with the HSG!

 

[Kaychikan]

Just had my hospital appointment. Dr was confused that id been prescribed 6 rounds of clomid with a hsg and so has referred me. How long do u wait till u get an appointment through? Im in the northwest. Dr said if all clear with hsg she will refer fir ivf as been trying for 2 years and had 2 early mc. And clomid has not worked. I hope hsg is clear and the last 8 months of ttc with clomid was not a waste of time that could have been avoided
Gl x

 

[Fezzle]

Good luck with your HSG too!

I haven't got to that stage yet so not sure how long it takes to get an appointment. It does seem to make sense to have people get an HSG (and a SA) before trying Clomid so you aren't wasting your chances. Hope yours is all clear!

 

[JJKCB]

I was referred for HSG and tried too book it 4 times (4 cycles) and kept getting ignored, so I got disheartened and quit trying, left it 5 months and dr said I had to have it as its all they will do... I refused to take no as an answer this time and phoned several times a day, strangely after a week of telling me the had no spaces at all and a week of constant phoning they could suddenly fit me in lol

 

[DBZ34]

I got my HSG appointment fairly quickly. I got booked in for the next cycle after my appointment. But, there wasn't a waiting list at my hospital.

I hope it all goes well for you and you get your answers quickly!

 

[susan_1981]

I know this thread started a while ago but I had lots of tests done on the NHS because we were struggling to conceive. We fell pregnant pretty quickly when we started trying but I miscarried. I then miscarried very, very early on a year later and from then, it took us 2 years (so over 3 in all) to conceive our first child.

My doctor referred us for testing. My husband had a sperm analysis, I had everything they could think of. First was CD21 blood test, second was CD3-5 blood test, I had an internal scan of my ovaries, an HSG which was painful but only for about 30 seconds and then I had a lap and dye. That was done under general anaesthetic. Recovery from that was fine. They didn't find anything wrong with me. We were put on the IVF Register and were coming up to the beginning of the whole process when I fell pregnant naturally. So sometimes it can be just a case of taking time I guess. For us, it was quite a long time.

A lot of people said that we probably conceived because I relaxed because of the IVF. But that wasn't true for me. I really didn't want to go through IVF so we tried harder than ever leading up to it. I think we got lucky. Then with my second, we got lucky the first month of trying and he's now 4.5 months old.

Good luck with all the testing. It takes a while to get through it all but at least once you get some answers (for us, we didn't really get any - but at least we knew), then you are one step closer to your baby xx

 

[Jomojo]

Hope you don't mind if I join you on this thread. I'm also in the process of infertility testing through the nhs. I have had day 3 and 21 tests through GP to check I was ovulating and they came back fine so we were referred to the fertility clinic. At our first appointment in January I had swabs and more bloods taken, told to book an HSG and DH to provide SA. I have had to go back for further bloods as my prolactin was 868. I am waiting for the results of second test but in the meantime has anyone else had issues with prolactin? We are back to the clinic in April, this time to see the consultant to discuss the results. I do know however that my HSG was apparently fine.

Tyler85- I also have mid cycle bleeding (as well as pre-af spotting)- sometimes there's none or hardly any but sometimes I can bleed from a day or so after ovulation up to when af starts! I have also been told I have a cervical ectropion but that it will not affect ttc and that having it cauterised may effect ttc. I'm starting acupuncture soon to see if that helps and I will let you know.

It's great to find others on this forum who are going through similar journeys as ttc can be so lonely sometimes especially when everyone around you seems to be up the duff these days!

GL everyone!

 

[lady124]

Hope you don't mind if I join you on this thread. I'm also in the process of infertility testing through the nhs. I have had day 3 and 21 tests through GP to check I was ovulating and they came back fine so we were referred to the fertility clinic. At our first appointment in January I had swabs and more bloods taken, told to book an HSG and DH to provide SA. I have had to go back for further bloods as my prolactin was 868. I am waiting for the results of second test but in the meantime has anyone else had issues with prolactin? We are back to the clinic in April, this time to see the consultant to discuss the results. I do know however that my HSG was apparently fine.

Tyler85- I also have mid cycle bleeding (as well as pre-af spotting)- sometimes there's none or hardly any but sometimes I can bleed from a day or so after ovulation up to when af starts! I have also been told I have a cervical ectropion but that it will not affect ttc and that having it cauterised may effect ttc. I'm starting acupuncture soon to see if that helps and I will let you know.

It's great to find others on this forum who are going through similar journeys as ttc can be so lonely sometimes especially when everyone around you seems to be up the duff these days!
G
GL everyone!

Hi, Jomojo,

I have high prolactin too. Mine was slightly higher than yours, about 1000, and didn't ovulate on my own. I was given bromocriptine, and got the prolactin low enough to ovulate and get pregnant. Sadly, I lost the pregnancy and I am trying to get the prolacin low again.

It is my understanding that high prolactin can affect the amount of progesterone you produce, therefore not allowing the lining of your uterus to develop properly to sustain a pregnancy. However, I seem to have produced good levels of progesterone this month, but still no pregnancy...

I too am starting acupuncture this month. I am trying to see if I can bring ovulation forward (currently ovulating on day 21) and lenghthen my luteal phase (currently 10-11 days) I'd be interested to see how you get on with it...

 

[JJKCB]

I had high prolactin but it sorted itself out, ever since the prolactin went back to normal ive had very high estrogen though and I have low progesterone too - the breast leakage and headaches was my first sign that things where wrong (I didnt even produce milk when my son was born so it was very odd) but they have stopped now but with the high estrogen I have horrible acne and several tumors (including 1 that is 6cm and golf ball shaped and still growing )

 

[Kaychikan]

Any one know how long it takes for hsg appointment in Warrington?

 

[Fezzle]

Update from me: my Day 3 tests came back with low iron (ferritin), high testosterone and high LH. I didn't get the actual numbers but was told they were all slightly out of range, but my Dr thinks that from that hormone profile and my irregular/ anovulatory cycles I might have PCOS (even though I don't have the cysts). So she's prescribed Metformin, which I started taking yesterday, and also iron pills. I'm waiting to see the side effects of the Metformin before starting the iron pills. So far just one bout of diarrhoea. The iron pills might cause constipation so that should be a fun combo!

I have to go back in a month to see how it's been working.

I was quite relieved as I thought it would be an issue with my FSH since I'm 38. FSH, oestrogen, prolactin, thyroid & glucose were all 'normal'.

 

[Jomojo]

So we had our appointment with the consultant yesterday- DH has 'excellent' sperm, I am clearly ovulating and have open tubes and all the blood tests came back fine, including the repeat prolactin test. We have therefore been diagnosed as 'unexplained infertility' and have been referred for IVF. I have rang the clinic (QE in Gateshead as Durham don't offer ivf) and hav been told the first appointment is likely to be in July and treatment will start shortly after. Yikes!

 

[DBZ34]

Wait...What? You got referred for IVF for an unexplained IF diagnosis? How does that work?

(I'm clearly a little bit jealous...I've got wait another 10 months before my PCT will pay for IVF (and I think I have to do 6 IUIs)...and if I have a natural BFP but m/c again, the clock restarts on the 3 years of IF!)

 

[JJKCB]

Wait...What? You got referred for IVF for an unexplained IF diagnosis? How does that work?

(I'm clearly a little bit jealous...I've got to go through 6 IUIs before my PCT will pay for IVF)

I am too... if im not pregnant in the next 3 months im being refered for IVF due to unexplained infertility... its standard protocol apparently and they wont allow me IUIs or anything like that

I have to pay for IVF though and cant afford it which is painfully ironic because im at university studying for a career in IVF/development genetics

 

[DBZ34]

Why won't they allow you to do IUIs? Could you qualify for NHS funding for IVF, or no because you've already got a little one?


Yeah.... Invasive and uncomfortable as it seems, I'd be willing to do IVF now. I think it would improve my chances. The sticking point is...I don't really want to pay for IVF...but at 600 pounds a pop, IUIs are expensive too. I think if we don't get lucky after our next two IUIs, we're just going to save up for IVF and hope we fall preggo in the interim.

I mean, the first IUI worked, but I m/c'd. Maybe the next one will work and I'll get a baby at the end of it...Got to keep my fingers crossed on that one. Next IUI is in June.

 

[Jomojo]

I think the NICE guidelines were updated last year and recommend referring ppl with unexplained IF straight for ivf after 2 years ttc as iui was found not to be very effective in these circumstances. I guess not all PCTs follow the guidelines which is rubbish. Does the clock really start ticking again after a m/c? That seems really harsh!

JJKCB- have you decided which clinic you will go to if you need ivf?

 

[JJKCB]

I think the NICE guidelines were updated last year and recommend referring ppl with unexplained IF straight for ivf after 2 years ttc as iui was found not to be very effective in these circumstances. I guess not all PCTs follow the guidelines which is rubbish. Does the clock really start ticking again after a m/c? That seems really harsh!

JJKCB- have you decided which clinic you will go to if you need ivf?

yeah thats right, we where told its because at our next check up it will be over 2 years so we dont qualify for anymore help

we are looking at going abroad, found some good hospitals in the EU that have great reviews and its 1/3rd the price of what ive seen here and we literally just do not have the money

in response to the earlier question yes we have a 5 year old so dont qualify for NHS funding which means it will cost on average £5000

 

[DBZ34]

I think the NICE guidelines were updated last year and recommend referring ppl with unexplained IF straight for ivf after 2 years ttc as iui was found not to be very effective in these circumstances. I guess not all PCTs follow the guidelines which is rubbish. Does the clock really start ticking again after a m/c? That seems really harsh!

JJKCB- have you decided which clinic you will go to if you need ivf?

Oh, I know about the NICE guidelines...but those are just guidelines and so the PCTs get to decide who and what they fund and the treatments offered first. Which kind of sucks.

So, for me, because I was under 30 (my PCT won't consider funding before 30) and it hadn't been more than 3 years from my last natural miscarriage, we had to wait anyway.

My FS suggested IUI, but medicated IUI with Clomid + injectibles, since the studies suggest that those work better than natural IUIs or IUIs with Clomid for women with unexplained IF. I suppose it did work for us...just not completely.

But as for IVF, my PCT says that IVF won't be funded unless there haven't been any natural pregnancies within three years (which is apparently "proof" of infertility) or if you have the 6 IUIs (also "proof" of IF). So, yeah, if we get pregnant naturally but m/c, we have to start over proving we're infertile again. Well, that is if my doctor gets wind of it...I'd probably just keep another m/c to myself and get funding in 10 months...if I'm lucky.

But the other kicker is that they'll only fund one cycle, while the NICE guidelines say three...my PCT kind of sucks, but I suppose that's what I get for living in a place where there is a high birth rate.

 

[Fezzle]

I'm not at the stage of IVF yet as my Dr has just started to see what will get me to ovulate (I'm on Metformin but only 500mg now), but with the guidelines, my problem (as I understand them) is by the time I've had 2 years of no luck, I'll be 39.5 so really pushing it with how many cycles I can have due to my age- just one once I'm over 40.

 

[Gkmk]

I took a break from TTC and tracking cycles, hoping to implement a relaxed approach to get pregnant. However, no luck yet, I got my period today and booked HSG appointment for Wednesday. heard some people get pregnant after HSG, hope I get lucky. I am in 'Will I ever get pregnant' mood. I hate my situation