Hello
A little while ago Aflight posted about a clinic that offers free IVF in return for egg donation. Anyway - I gave them a ring today (AF turned up this morning so no xmas BFP for me and I needed to do something proactive to cheer myself up) and i chatted to one of the nurses there. So i thought i would post what they told me for 1. others who might want to consider it and 2. for the views from those currently going through IVF....
So basically how it works is that you have to pay for the initial consultation where they discuss whether you are eligible for the egg sharing programme and to give you more info on it. This costs £225 (or £125 if I attend their open day in January).
You then have to have blood work done (day 2 /3 test, infection screening and genetic screening) i have already had the day 2 /3 and they said that you can usually get the infectious diseases screening on the NHS. However the NHS dont like doing the genetic screening - so if they do it for you privately it will cost £550. (have left a message with my dr asking whether I could get this done on the NHS).
AFter this - providing you are ok - you then get matched to a recipient - they said that there is no waiting list as they have alot more recipients than donors. then you have to get into the same cycle as your recipient - which can take up to three months - and then together the two of you start the medication.
At the egg collection stage you have to produce at least 8 eggs.
if you dont the ivf is either abandoned OR you can pay £4000 and keep all the eggs for yourself and can carry on with the IVF.
If you do - they are shared with the recipient 50:50 - ie 4 each if you produce 8. This is apparently done on an equal basis - so the recipient does not get the four best ones.
You also need to pay the HEFA fee of £104.
If the first cycle fails you only ever need to pay the HEFA fee each next cycle that you share your eggs - you dont need the blood work done again.
It does sound quite promising - but I obv have loads of questions and was hoping some of the IVF girls could help me:
1. is it normal to produce at least 8 eggs?
2. of the 8 how many on average are good?
3. does my OH have to have some bloodwork done as well - as obv. this would increase the cost (aside from the SA's he has had on the NHS).
4. does anyone think this is a stupid idea and I should just wait for the NHS free round?
I basically have unexplained infertiltiy - all tests have come back great but no BFP after 2.5 years - but I have to wait another 6 months before I can even go on the NHS IVF waiting list - so am so desperate to just do something proactive - but cant justify paying the £4500.
I dont have a moral problem with the egg donation - but I am just worried about getting my hopes up and then not producing enough eggs and having to abandon the treatment.
Any thoughts girls'?
Bx x x x
A little while ago Aflight posted about a clinic that offers free IVF in return for egg donation. Anyway - I gave them a ring today (AF turned up this morning so no xmas BFP for me and I needed to do something proactive to cheer myself up) and i chatted to one of the nurses there. So i thought i would post what they told me for 1. others who might want to consider it and 2. for the views from those currently going through IVF....
So basically how it works is that you have to pay for the initial consultation where they discuss whether you are eligible for the egg sharing programme and to give you more info on it. This costs £225 (or £125 if I attend their open day in January).
You then have to have blood work done (day 2 /3 test, infection screening and genetic screening) i have already had the day 2 /3 and they said that you can usually get the infectious diseases screening on the NHS. However the NHS dont like doing the genetic screening - so if they do it for you privately it will cost £550. (have left a message with my dr asking whether I could get this done on the NHS).
AFter this - providing you are ok - you then get matched to a recipient - they said that there is no waiting list as they have alot more recipients than donors. then you have to get into the same cycle as your recipient - which can take up to three months - and then together the two of you start the medication.
At the egg collection stage you have to produce at least 8 eggs.
if you dont the ivf is either abandoned OR you can pay £4000 and keep all the eggs for yourself and can carry on with the IVF.
If you do - they are shared with the recipient 50:50 - ie 4 each if you produce 8. This is apparently done on an equal basis - so the recipient does not get the four best ones.
You also need to pay the HEFA fee of £104.
If the first cycle fails you only ever need to pay the HEFA fee each next cycle that you share your eggs - you dont need the blood work done again.
It does sound quite promising - but I obv have loads of questions and was hoping some of the IVF girls could help me:
1. is it normal to produce at least 8 eggs?
2. of the 8 how many on average are good?
3. does my OH have to have some bloodwork done as well - as obv. this would increase the cost (aside from the SA's he has had on the NHS).
4. does anyone think this is a stupid idea and I should just wait for the NHS free round?
I basically have unexplained infertiltiy - all tests have come back great but no BFP after 2.5 years - but I have to wait another 6 months before I can even go on the NHS IVF waiting list - so am so desperate to just do something proactive - but cant justify paying the £4500.
I dont have a moral problem with the egg donation - but I am just worried about getting my hopes up and then not producing enough eggs and having to abandon the treatment.
Any thoughts girls'?
Bx x x x
