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T-TTC and the NHS - any experience?
Hi all,
I'm not in a good place right now so am stepping back a bit. But I was wondering if anyone on here has any experience with navigating the NHS for any fertility testing, etc. I can't seem to find any actual information online and my GP is being pretty useless. I'm in a bit of a panic as time keeps moving on and want to make sure I'm advocating for myself as much as possible.
I don't know anyone IRL who has had any sort of difficulty having a family so I don't even know who to ask so I'm reaching out to anyone I can think of. I sent an email to a friend's mom who is a midwife in Glasgow so she's getting some information for me but I thought if I could find someone who is going through it personally that might help. I'm totally willing to go semi-private if that speeds things up but there's no way we could fund everything personally.
Thanks,
Pitt
BFP Apr 2012, EDD Dec 19 2012 * twin h/b at 6wk, 9wk scan * Baby A lost at 12wks, Baby B was my rainbow born at 36wks
Re: T-TTC and the NHS - any experience?
I start the process through the NHS though I'm too old now. Basically what you need to do is have your GP refer you for fertility testing at a local hospital. You need to tell him/her that you have been trying for X number of years w/o birth control and so now is the time to start the process. What they did with me is do some tests - blood work, scans and a special scan of my fallopian tubes. Basically you need to PUSH your GP to do the referrals and if the one doc in your practice won't do it, then ask to see someone else or complain to the practice manager.
I would also check out fertility friends - LOTS of info on there! Best of luck! I'm doing it on our dime currently and can talk to you about all the testing once it begins. I will say that the NHS screwed up with my DH's results as they didn't check for something very basic, which would have saved us a lot of years of infertility...make sure that when they test your DH's semen that they look for anti-bodies!!!
You'll need a referral from your GP and just be SUPER persistent. Do you have a good relationship with your GP? I know my GP was amazing and got me a referral for testing (which I didn't end up needing) but like when I called BUPA they told me "well call us after your next miscarriage and we can get you seen"-- Gee thanks for the sensitivity!
If you need anything let me know xoxo
ETA: I just saw your GP is useless. Could you try your local sexual health services? I don't know what they are in Edinburgh but in Glasgow it is the Sandyford.
it's called a kilt, he's scottish
I can't help with the NHS side of things but I can sympathise with not affording private treatment. We're in the same boat after both losing our jobs in 2010. I am getting further treatments on the public system and a lit of diagnostic testing etc. but only because I have switched doctors a couple of times, strongly requested specialist endocrinologists rather than gynos etc. I'm now waiting for an appointment to see a PCOS specialist who's running trials etc. All on the public system thanks to finally meeting the right doctor who knows this other doctors work.
She said I Will be very interesting for this specialist due to managing to lose a lot of weight without medication. There's no guarantee that this doctor will have all the answers but it was nice to finally meet one who said "this is the course to pursue so that we cam get you pregnant and a healthy baby".
PM or email me anytime.
Sorry your GP is useless. My very close friend went through this, it took her GP ages to finally refer her to a specialist (she ended up seeing an endocrinologist which was successful). So agree with was everyone else said about bugging the crap out of them. In England each PCT has its own rules as to what they fund- not sure about Scotland- for example with my friend they would only pay for one procedure so the Dr. recommended she went private for IUI as that is cheaper and if that didn't work then have IVF on the NHS.
Here in London there are advertisements for free IVF if you donate your eggs (you have to be under 35)- so just something to think about if you get to that stage (google egg donation for free ivf; lots of clinics in London come up). My friend said it's not totally free as you still have to pay for injections, etc. but does reduce the cost substantially.
Very best of luck.
Thanks all for the help. I am 'glad' to hear that I'm not being silly - it sounds like I have to be far more pushy than I'm being. I will channel my inner American!
Dublin - that's exactly why I'm getting so twitchy. I'm going to be 32 in April and while I know there's plenty of time, there's currently a THREE YEAR waiting list for IVF on the NHS in Edinburgh... and age 35 is what I keep hearing about. So I'd literally have to be on the list now to have a chance.
I am still an NHS fan and cannot fault any of my experiences with them so far, but I just feel like you have to self-advocate so much in this system and I never really know what I'm doing. I'm just so scared that there's something obvious that I don't know to do or don't know to ask for that would just fix this problem (UK - I keep hearing stories like yours too and it's just heartbreaking. How would you ever know to ask for that unless your GP told you to!)
Good luck to UK and Loopy... hope we all have good luck in 2012!
BFP Apr 2012, EDD Dec 19 2012 * twin h/b at 6wk, 9wk scan * Baby A lost at 12wks, Baby B was my rainbow born at 36wks
it's called a kilt, he's scottish