Will going for an HSG privately mean I can't get fertility treatment on the NHS?

[mk8]

Hello ladies

I was wondering whether there are any TTC ladies in the UK who can help me with my question.

My GP refuses to send me for an HSG on the NHS until we have been trying for 2yrs because that is the policy for my PCT. He has however prescribed me 3 months clomid without monitoring. I am now on cycle 3 of clomid and hoping this will be it. Cycle 15 now. I do not want to wait that long and am finding it incredibly unfair that my wait is 2 years when I know people in other parts of the UK do not have to do that. My husband and I have saved some money for the HSG to be done privately but I am concerned that by getting an HSG privately, I will not be eligible for any fertilit related treatment. I am pretty sure IVF won't be funded but I wonder whether IUI or tubal surgery (if required) are. If they are, then by going private now, will that mean I will not be allowed to go to the NHS for further treatment? If anybody knows the answer, I would be grateful. Thank you for reading and babydust to all of us.

 

[MrsHY]

Hi mk8
Hugs from another LTTC-er! It's always worth checking with your PCT - but I don't see that going privately will affect your NHS-funded treatment. I'm having a cycle of IVF this year and depending what the wait is at the hospital, we may choose to have a private one first, and have been told this is fine. Just make sure that any treatment/investigations you have done privately are written up into notes/a letter you can take away with you - so you can show them to your NHS consultant and they won't waste your time doing them all over again. PS I had a HSG a couple of months ago and was sh*t scared - but it was actually fine - a little uncomfortable but fine x

 

[mk8]

Thanks Mrs Hy. Good luck with your IVF cycle. Have the docs been able to find out what is "wrong"?

 

[cooch]

I asked this question at my second NHS specialist appointment. Glasgow Royal does not let it affect your entiltlement but other areas in Scotland it does as this was confirmed by the specialist we saw. I would definitely check your area out as they are all different, and will do anything to save money. x

 

[_Nell]

All PCT's are the same for tests, no private tests affect your eligibility for NHS treatment.

But be aware that due to red tape you may then be asked to repeat those tests, ie the nhs will want to do there own HSG possibly (bonkers isn't it?!)

Be careful with provate treatment though, ie IUI / IVF - sometimes paying for that will affect your entitlement to an nhs go, that does vary by PCT.

Lastly, have you googled and found your PCT fertility policy......I'm sorry to say from reading on these forums people do not always get accurate and fair treatment from their GP. I'd hate for you to be eligible for testing now but paying OOP.

 

[pink80]

Mk8 where in the country are you?

As Nell said have you checked your PCT rules - if not this website is good https://to-hatch.co.uk/fertility/find-a-clinic/england/

Click on your area and you should be able to find the rules x

 

[mk8]

Thanks Nell and Pink. I have checked my PCT rules- the website is a bit hazy so I called them. They were useless to be honest. They said that they merged two boroughs together to be "managed" by one office but one of the boroughs gets 1 free IVF cycle and the other one doesnt. I happen to live in the one that doesnt! Though she did say it depended on my GP as my GP can refer us. I have my appointment on Thurs with my doc so I will ask him whether going for an HSG privately would mean any required fertility treatment on the nhs would be impacted. Will keep you all posted in case anybody is curious. I just hope that my doctor helps me... Telling me to calm down is fair enough but there comes a point when you start to think that it might not just be stress.

 

[BettyBoopster]

Have you looked into a consultant that does both private and NHS? I had investigations done privately but with bloods for example on NHS and he said that for the next stage (IUI or IVF) I can either pay privately through him OR wait until I meet NHS criteria.

He also said that I could have IUI and two cycles of IVF privately then one IVF on the NHS any more than two and they won't do it. Or wait to meet NHS have the one then go private.

I'd find a good consultant that works for both and they'll be in the best place to help you decide.

 

[SazraD]

Hi MK8, what was the outcome with your GP?

 

[charbaby]

Hello ladies

I was wondering whether there are any TTC ladies in the UK who can help me with my question.

My GP refuses to send me for an HSG on the NHS until we have been trying for 2yrs because that is the policy for my PCT. He has however prescribed me 3 months clomid without monitoring. I am now on cycle 3 of clomid and hoping this will be it. Cycle 15 now. I do not want to wait that long and am finding it incredibly unfair that my wait is 2 years when I know people in other parts of the UK do not have to do that. My husband and I have saved some money for the HSG to be done privately but I am concerned that by getting an HSG privately, I will not be eligible for any fertilit related treatment. I am pretty sure IVF won't be funded but I wonder whether IUI or tubal surgery (if required) are. If they are, then by going private now, will that mean I will not be allowed to go to the NHS for further treatment? If anybody knows the answer, I would be grateful. Thank you for reading and babydust to all of us.

Hiya im not sure on your question but just wanted to say hello and that i have also been ttc since Jan 2011, I don't understand why different parts of the uk do different things, My doctor has sent me to a fertility specialist and told me that i can only get fertility treatment from the hospital and not the doctors but on here i see loads of people getting chlomid from their doctors :/. If you dont mind me asking have you been giving any reason as to why you might not have conceived yet? x

 

[mk8]

Hi guys

Outcome us that I will be referred for an hsg next month if no bfp by then.

No reason given other than they don't know, it will happen blah blah. Rubbish docs!

Char baby- are you ovulating? What tests if any have you had?

 

[SazraD]

Hi guys, my GP has just agreed to refer me to a fertility specialist and I know different parts of the country are different but how long did you all have to wait for your appointment and what does the initial appointment involve? I am really thinking of paying to go private but then feel like I am just being impatient and should wait!

 

[Briss]

Hi guys, my GP has just agreed to refer me to a fertility specialist and I know different parts of the country are different but how long did you all have to wait for your appointment and what does the initial appointment involve? I am really thinking of paying to go private but then feel like I am just being impatient and should wait!

I went to my GP in May 2011 (have been TTC for 2 years by then), they run some blood/sperm tests, mine were ok but my husband's came as low SC so he was asked the repeat it. The second result was better but still low SC so we were referred to fertility clinic. Booked my appointment on-line, the first available was mid September (2.5 month wait). At the first meeting we were asked to complete a questionnaire (a really long list of questions about your and your family's health), then the doctor went through our responses and send my husband to do yet another sperm test (which he has not done yet) and I was sent to do lots of blood tests, then HSG, then cycle monitoring (doing scans throughout my cycle to determine ovulation), then In January I had my second appointment where we discussed results and she said they cant find what is wrong but I am an IVF candidate (straightaway no clomid or else nothing) and allowed 1 free IVF treatment but need to do hysteroscopy first (the first available appointment in April). So basically by the time they will put us on the list for IVF it is going to be almost a year from my first GP appointment (although I have to say I am in no hurry to go through hysteroscopy).

I have not done anything privately yet, we will see what is the wait for IVF and then decide

 

[MrsHY]

mk8, I'm sorry - I just happened upon this thread again and realised I never answered your question! The answer is no - they haven't found the cause of my sub-fertility yet (I simply refuse to use the term infertility!). I am in the 'unexplained' category. I read something fascinating the other day that said that some unexplained women may not have the proper lining in their tubes to move the egg down - or our egg shells may be too hard! Nobody actually knows though. Am having a consultation at the assisted conception unit on Thursday with a view to kick-starting IVF off - haven't tried IUI but the odds are so much lower than IVF and I'm afraid I'm just giving in to my impatience to have a baby...

 

[SazraD]

Hi guys, my GP has just agreed to refer me to a fertility specialist and I know different parts of the country are different but how long did you all have to wait for your appointment and what does the initial appointment involve? I am really thinking of paying to go private but then feel like I am just being impatient and should wait!

I went to my GP in May 2011 (have been TTC for 2 years by then), they run some blood/sperm tests, mine were ok but my husband's came as low SC so he was asked the repeat it. The second result was better but still low SC so we were referred to fertility clinic. Booked my appointment on-line, the first available was mid September (2.5 month wait). At the first meeting we were asked to complete a questionnaire (a really long list of questions about your and your family's health), then the doctor went through our responses and send my husband to do yet another sperm test (which he has not done yet) and I was sent to do lots of blood tests, then HSG, then cycle monitoring (doing scans throughout my cycle to determine ovulation), then In January I had my second appointment where we discussed results and she said they cant find what is wrong but I am an IVF candidate (straightaway no clomid or else nothing) and allowed 1 free IVF treatment but need to do hysteroscopy first (the first available appointment in April). So basically by the time they will put us on the list for IVF it is going to be almost a year from my first GP appointment (although I have to say I am in no hurry to go through hysteroscopy).

I have not done anything privately yet, we will see what is the wait for IVF and then decide

Thanks very much Briss, that's very helpful! It's just so daunting not knowing what happens next but at least I know they will start the ball rolling straight away. I don't have much faith in my GP's ability to want to help with this or other matters that I have had but it looks like the hospital will crack straight on. GL to you and thanks again!

 

[mk8]

mk8, I'm sorry - I just happened upon this thread again and realised I never answered your question! The answer is no - they haven't found the cause of my sub-fertility yet (I simply refuse to use the term infertility!). I am in the 'unexplained' category. I read something fascinating the other day that said that some unexplained women may not have the proper lining in their tubes to move the egg down - or our egg shells may be too hard! Nobody actually knows though. Am having a consultation at the assisted conception unit on Thursday with a view to kick-starting IVF off - haven't tried IUI but the odds are so much lower than IVF and I'm afraid I'm just giving in to my impatience to have a baby...

Hmmm, iui may be an idea for a few cycles. Have you had a post coital test?