NHS v Egg Share

[beauty]

HELP ladies i need some advice

After being referred for IVF in december and doing some investigation work I found out that my PCT only fund one cycle.. And that they have no money for new patients until April new tax year where we will be referred for tests and treatment..

Please note no correspondance has gone out to any patients telling them that there is no money this is all facts cause of me chasing them!!

I thererfore past few months been thinking of egg share, but i know that if you do this i think i would loose my NHS one free cycle go, but as you can imgaine the ball gets rolling quicker compared to NHS

Should i bypass NHS and jump to egg share or should i wait and see if I get the funding in April?? You may say its only few months away but please ladies as you and i know them months have been passing and passing for me and OH and were no nearer than we were when we set off TTC all them moons ago..

I just confused, do i wait or do i not and egg share, and at a small fee as NHS would be free egg share around £2000

CONFUSED.com i am.. any views would be helpful
xxxxx

 

[Beckic]

HI hun,

Fully understand the need to get moving - the wait is so hard.

I also considered egg sharing when I was put on the waiting list for NHS IVF cos I just couldn’t bear the wait - but I ended up having to wait for the following reasons that you do need to consider:


1. You have to pay for the egg share consultation
I went to the London women’s clinic in Harley street for an appointment to discuss egg share - it cost me £380 for an hour consultation - at which point they told me I wasn’t eligible for egg sharing - so was money entirely wasted.

2. You have to have FSH under 8
Mine was 8.7 which whilst the NHS think this is in the normal range they would not consider me for the scheme.

3. You have to produce at least 8 eggs.
If you don't get 8 eggs then you have to either abandon the cycle OR pay to change it to a private cycle and keep the eggs you do have. Having gone through IVF since (NHS funded) to go through all those drugs and the hope and the excitement to then cancel the cycle would be heartbreaking - or you face the horrible decision of trying to fund the cycle yourself - which if you could afford it wouldn’t be doing egg share in the first place.

4. Costs of tests
You do have to pay quite a lot for all the tests they want you to have first before you can be allowed on the scheme - genetic tests ect.. Which again if you fail any of the tests you don’t get your money back and don't get the IVF.

5. Costs on top
There are a lot of hidden costs on top - such as ICSI, freezing etc.. so you need to make sure you are prepared for this. Also - i think you are only allowed x amount of drugs - and if you need higher doses and go over the allocation you will need to pay for more.

SO - i wasn’t allowed on the scheme anyway cos my FHS was too high - but I am not sure what I would have done if they had accepted me.
Hell - thats not true - i was so desperate at the time I know I would have done it - but you do need to be prepared hun that there are alot of extra costs and you have to prepare yourself for the disappointment of having to abandon the cycle if you don’t respond well enough.

I think egg sharing is perfect for couple who only get one free go on the NHS - they can have the free go – see how they respond - and if you do get loads of lovely eggs but are unlucky with the NHS go = you can go to egg sharing - safe in the knowledge that you respond well and that there will be more than 8 eggs and that you wont have to abandon the cycle.
But for couples using it for their first go - you need to be prepared for paying out a lot of money and not getting anything at the end of it.

I wish you all the luck in the world hun - and we will all be on here supporting you whatever you decided - but just wanted to give you a heads up on all the facts.

The clinics all have open evenigns - so cheaper to go to one of these than forking out for the intial appt. till you are sure.

Bx x x

 

[beauty]

Thanks so much for the response..
I actually totally understand what you are saying.. if i knew how i responsed then giving egg share a try next time is really good but considering i dont know how i respond it may be worth waiting on my one free NHS go..

I just hate the wait, i mean no funding till April they wont even run tests the hospital until they get the funding i find that terrible.. i just feel like im waiting and doing nothing when i could be at least trying to do something if that makes sense..

I did attend the open eveing at Care Manchester and have all the price list included etc on egg share, but like you mentioned not having been through it before to have an outcome where i would have to abandon the cycle if i didnt get 8 or more eggs would be heartbreaking (we wouldnt have the extra fees to pay for the cycle) otherwise like u said we wouldnt do egg share in the first place..

DAMN dont you just wish money grew on trees.. lol
Thanks for your adivce xxxxx