IUI on NHS?

[Brambletess]

Hi Girls!

Happy New Year, hopefully this will be our year...

Question for the Brits really - I have been wondering if you can get IUI on the National Health and if so how many goes (I guess it varies depending on PCT).

I have been TTC for 2 and half years and am in testing process. I am ovulating regularly and have high progesterone levles. I am waiting for my lap and dye so if that comes back clear, they will not put me on clomid as everything with me seems ok. My DH has 7% morphology but good count and motility so it is only a mid sperm problem.

I suspect the best option for us at the moment is IUI but am not sure if i will need to wait 3 years for this and if this is offered on the NHS? If mild sperm problem is identified does this mean we will go straight onto the waiting list or will we be have to wait three years as with unexplained fertility.

Also wondering if we get IUI privately before the three years will we still be considered for IVF on NHS if this doesn't work.

Any experience or advice around this would be very welcome. You have all been brilliant fountains of knowledge so far x

Thanks

 

[maz]

Hi

We have been ttc for over 4 years now and have unexplained subfertility. I was prescribed clomid by one consultant and then referred to another who immediately told me to stop. I ovulate every month so the consultant said there would be no increase in chance of success by me putting chemicals in my body - his words!!

Here in NI I believe we get three goes at IUI, but the consultant I saw didn't recommend it as he doesn't rate the increased chance of success over going au naturale. Also he said that due to the low success rates he didn't recommend it to anyone over the age of 25, so that definitely rules me out!! You might find that if your DH has a mild sperm problem they'll recommend going straight to IVF anyway...

We have gone to a private clinic for IVF while waiting for our NHS slot. Going private shouldn't affect your position on the NHS waiting list or cause any prejudice against you being allocated an NHS slot. In NI we only get one NHS IVF treatment instead of the three that NICE recommend - stingey gits - so most of us here will need to go private.

Hope that helps. Good luck with your lap & dye, and hopefully you'll get your very soon.

xx

 

[Brambletess]

Thanks Maz for that, we only get one goes as well in Somerset. I appreciate it may take more than one go though and don't want to have to wait until the end of the year for this as i am 36 now and the fertility is starting to decline I guess. If we can fit in a private one before would definitely go for it. Seeing FS Jan 19 for the first time so will see what happens.

 

[Brambletess]

Oh Maz forgot to wish you luck with the IVF, what stage are you at?

 

[CurlySue]

I was not even offered IUI. I was given Clomid and will go on IVF waiting list since it has not been successful. My doctor did not rate IUI either, said that if we'd been off the pill for this long, having regular sex at all the right times and there was nothing wrong with sperm OR egg then IUI would not give a better chance at all.

 

[Brambletess]

Curley Sue - hope your wait is not too long for IVF.

 

[maz]

Oh Maz forgot to wish you luck with the IVF, what stage are you at?

I've had one cycle of IVF - got a but then started bleeding the following day, and MC was confirmed 2 days later. I am due to go for my review appt on Wednesday, although I'm not expecting them to say much other than we know the treatment works, we'll not change your protocol, and when do you want to go again. I think the question will then be when will we medically be allowed to go again?

So - on the one hand my treatment has been successful, but on the other it hasn't.

xx

 

[Brambletess]

So sorry to hear about the MC - its so unfair isn't it. I know how you must have felt. I hope the review goes ok and you won't have to wait too long before your next go. Best thing is to plough on isn't it and have something positive to focus on. Let me know how the review went.

x

 

[CareBear]

I think how many goes on IUI is dependant on your PCT and as the others said above if your consultant thinks its worth it. Mine offers 3 goes.

 

[Arcanegirl]

I got IUI on the NHS.
We got an unexplained infertility diagnosis and got offered IUI, we were originally offered 4 goes of it but this went down to 3 betwen appointments as the guidelines for my area had changed. They said that if it hadnt worked by the 3rd attempt then the chances for a 4th was alot lower (cutbacks probably aswell)
The waiting list for us was only a few months but we had been with the assisted conception unit for a year by that time and 2 years from original referral from my GP and they took that into consideration when putting us on the list.

I think you can still go onto the NHS list whislt going private. A friend of mine did this for IVF. She got put on the list and went private in the meantime.

 

[CurlySue]

Curley Sue - hope your wait is not too long for IVF.

Is supposedly three to four months but you never do know with the NHS. Different areas are different, though.

 

[HAYS]

Hey

I have been told that I can go on the waiting list for IUI NHS, not sure how long it is, but my friend who lives about 20mins away waited 4months, and gets 6 free shots at IUI and then one shot at IVF at the end of the 6months, I guess it varies tho depending on where you are.
xx

 

[Trying4ever]

Hi Girls!

I suspect the best option for us at the moment is IUI but am not sure if i will need to wait 3 years for this and if this is offered on the NHS?

WTF...the waiting time is 3 years on NHS for IUI??? Is that at your first fertility appointment...after they have done all the tests or you mean 3 years since you have been TTC?

 

[Brambletess]

Hi Tryin4ever

I mean 3 years from TTC. Saying that I am now 2 years and 5 months so it would not be a long wait until 3 years anyway. Just hoping I will not have to wait until the full 3 years before going on waititng list which will be a further few months afterwards.

 

[Tory123]

Hi

I have got my appointment next week to see what the next stage for me will be. I have been trying for two years and 4 months. I have had 6 rounds of clomid no luck. FS said if sperm test is ok then can have 3 rounds of IUI and if unsuccesfull 3 rounds of IVF.